Dubai History will be on veteran handler Barry Hills’ mind when he saddles the progressive Nafaqa in Thursday’s Group 3 Craven Stakes, one of the highlight’s of Newmarket’s spring meeting and a leading trial for the Group 1 2,000 Guineas.

Eleven years ago Hills saddled Haafhd, who like Nafaqa (meaning: expenditure) is owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, to win the 1600m contest en route to following up with a monumental victory in the English Classic three weeks later.

A son of Derby winner Sir Percy out of a Mujahid mare, Nafaqa appears to have the requisite credentials to follow in the illustrious footsteps of the classy Haafhd (protector).

Hills’ protégé first announced himself as a true big-race hopeful when thrashing Toocoolforschool in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster last September, a result that received a massive boost following the losers subsequent victory in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury in the same month.

Nafaqa faces six rivals on Thursday including the Richard Hannon Jr-trained pair of Moheet and Kool Kompany, Aidan O’Brien’s War Envoy and White Lake, who represents 1998 Epsom Derby-winning owner Shaikh Mohammad Bin Obaid Al Maktoum.

Hannon’s father, Richard, won the Craven in 2012 and 2013 with Trumpet Major and Toronado while the Richard Jr. won the race last year with Toormore.

Hannon told website: “Moheet is only a maiden winner, but he looked pretty smart when winning his only race at Salisbury last back-end, and he has done really well physically through the winter.

“His work has been good this spring and we are looking forward to seeing how he shapes up in grade.

“Kool Kompany is proven in Pattern company as he barely missed a dance last year, but obviously this is his first attempt beyond six furlongs and he showed so much speed that we can’t be sure that he will stay the mile.”

Trained by two-time Derby-winning handler Luca Cumani’s White Lake won his maiden at York but could only finish fourth behind Nafaqa, at Doncaster.

Nonetheless, the Italian-born handler remains optimistic and said: “White Lake is in very good form, I am very happy with his condition and we will find out on Thursday just how good he is.

“I think that he will stay further but he appears to have enough speed to be effective over the mile and the current good ground should be perfect for him.

“He ran a bit below what he is capable of when fourth behind Nafaqa at Doncaster but I think that there was a reason for that as he got agitated beforehand.

“Adam (Kirby) has not ridden him in a race before but he has sat on him plenty of times at home and he likes him.”

Charlie Hills, the son of Barry Hills, saddler Aces, who chased Estidhkaar and War Envoy home in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

“He’s done very little wrong and is lightly raced. With a high cruising speed and a good temperament, we’re looking forward to him this year,” said Hills. “He obviously needs to step up, but he’s a horse we like.

“It’s a competitive race, as it should be, and we’ll have a better idea of where we are going after it.”

Thursday’s card also features the Group 3 Abernant Stakes over 1,200m and the Group 3 Sefton Stakes over a mile, in addition to the 200,000 Tattersakks Millions 3-Y-O Trophy.