Dubai: With the 2013-2014 UAE racing season nearing its conclusion, Meydan Racecourse stages its final meeting prior to the Dubai World Cup, on Thursday evening.

All six are thoroughbred events with the main highlights being a pair of handicaps worth Dh90,000 each.

Bahraini trainer Fawzi Nass, fresh from saddling Asmar to win the Al Bastakiya, the prep for the UAE Derby (G2), looks to have strong claims with Tonabrocky in the Ipic Stakes - Empowering Our Future Handicap.

The Pivotal colt made an impressive UAE debut in the Longines Saint Imier Handicap over 2000m on the all-weather, and is taken to repeat under jockey Pat Cosgrave.

Former UAE champion trainer Doug Watson is two-handed with Ostaad and Udabaa, who should go close.

“They are both in good form at home and seem fresh and well for this time of the season,” said the Red Stables handler. “Udabaa has hardly run a bad race all season and is well drawn. We are dropping him slightly in trip but that should not be a problem.

“Ostaad is not well drawn but won well last time over 1400m and has won over this trip in England. Both should run well.”

Both runners are owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who has a total of four runners in the race.

His retained rider Paul Hanagan opts to ride Ostaad, while the owner’s second jockey, Dane O’Neill, rides Amaan, who is trained by Frenchman Erwan Charpy.

Emirati handler Ahmad Bin Harmash has enjoyed a promising first season with nine winners and saddles course and distance winner Ducab.

He will be ridden by stable jockey Adrie De Vries who said: “Hopefully the return to these conditions will suit him and we have a nice draw in one. He should run well in an open-looking contest.”

Champion trainer elect Ernst Oertel is also represented by a course and distance winner in El Mansour, the mount of reigning champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea.

The joint feature is the Ipic Trophy Handicap, a 1200m contest, which has also attracted a strong field of 14 runners.

The Satish Seemar-trained Genius Step and Oertel’s Touch Gold are both in search of hat-tricks. Seemar has a second runner in Al Razi.

Richard Mullen partners Genius Step, twice a course and distance winner this year, while Watson sends out former Dubai World Cup Carnival scorer Famous Warrior.

Watson commented on the seven-year-old’s chances: “He ran well for a long way over 1200m on turf last time and we will probably try slightly different tactics this week. We will be a bit more patient with him and hopefully he will be running on at the end.”

Racing starts at 6.35pm and entry to the public areas of Meydan is free.