Dubai: Ribchester can secure his place among the pantheon of Godolphin’s greatest horses by winning Saturday’s $2 million (Dh7.35 million) Breeders’ Cup Mile, one of nine Grade 1 contests staged on the biggest day in American racing at Del Mar in California.

Already the winner of three of Europe’s most sought after Group 1 races, the Lockinge, Queen Anne and the Prix Du Moulin de Longchamp, Ribchester will bid to end his racing career by claiming the highest victory at the meeting known as the World Thoroughbred Championships.

Ridden by Godolphin’s retained jockey and regular rider William Buick for North Yorkshire-based handler Richard Fahey, the four-year-old son of Iffraaj will start from Gate 10 in the 14-runner field.

Buick commented on the outside draw: “I think starting from 10 gives us options. Ribchester is one of the most exciting horses I have ever ridden, and he deserves to go out on a high.”

Godolphin left the decision to run at the Breeder’s Cup until late, awaiting the go-ahead by the stable founder and mentor, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Ribchester has had a cramped European season but appears to take his races well and will be starting Saturday’s race just two weeks after running second in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot. His shock defeat was attributed to the heavy ground.

The United States will be the fourth country this season that the Godolphin star has competed in following the UAE, England and France.

Godolphin have confirmed that this will be Ribchester’s final group/grade 1 stakes race of his career before he enters Kildangan Stud in 2018 as a Darley stallion.

“He’s a tough cookie, with a great constitution,” Fahey told Racing Post. “I’d just love to give him another opportunity on good ground. His best performance was in the Queen Anne, and I’d love the opportunity to run him once more on ground like that.

“I always feel that when we have to run on soft ground, it slows the rhythm of the race down and blunts his speed a bit. He’s just an enthusiastic racehorse. He goes from nought to 35 in four strides, and he’s the same at home. I’ve never known a horse like him. He has to go in front, because he can’t go slow. He’s like a supercar, and when you touch the pedal, he’s gone.”

Ribchester takes on some strong opposition led by leading North American contender World Approval, who gained automatic qualification for the Breeders’ Cup Mile with an impressive win in the Woodbine Mile (G1). The five-year-old son of Northern Afleet will be seeking a fourth Grade 1 victory on his first Breeders’ Cup appearance.

Irish-trained Woodbine Mile runner-up Lancaster Bomber is another European representative, The Aidan O’Brien trained galloper finished second last year to Oscar Performance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita Park. He will need to bounce back from a disappointing 14th in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

O’Brien, who made history by becoming the first trainer to saddle 26 Group/Grade 1 winners in a season last month, also saddles Roly Poly, a smart winner of the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (G1) at Newmarket.

Roly Poly was ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) last year at Santa Anita.

Other contenders include Zelzal, sixth in the Prix de la Foret (G1), Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1) winner Suedois and Heart to Heart, second in the same race by half-length.