Dubai: Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) pays a second visit of the season to Meydan Racecourse on Thursday for a classy Dubai World Cup Carnival card highlighted by the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge series.

Representing the official preparation route for horses on the Dubai World Cup campaign trail, the three rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge are split into Thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian divisions.

Thursday’s Thoroughbred contest is worth $250,000 (Dh918,250) in prize money and will be held over 1,900m on the Meydan dirt, a slightly shorter trip than the 2,000m of the Dubai World Cup race.

The Group 2 contest was won in 2015 by Frankyfourfingers trained by Salem Bin Gadayer and ridden by Frenchman, Mickael Barzalona.

The Purebred Arabian version of the race, which preps runners for the Dubai Kahayla Classic, is held over 2,200m and classified as a Group 1. In 2015 it went the way of eventual Kahayla Classic runner, Richlore trained by Salem Al Katbi and ridden by Adrie de Vries.

On the undercard is the high-class Group 2 Cape Verdi turf race for fillies and mares as well as the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes on the dirt. Both will be held over 1,600m.

EGA is also a sponsor of the Racing at Meydan programme and was in attendance at the track on New Year’s Day.

EGA’s Khalid Eisa Bu Humaid (senior vice-president for Communication & Government Relations) said: “A proudly Emirati company and one of the nation’s industrial flagships, EGA is proud to sponsor Dubai Racing Club’s annual Racing at Meydan and Dubai World Cup Carnival meetings again for the 2015/2016 season as part of the support we provide to a broad range of community-oriented events and activities.

“By partnering with these high-profile events for the past nine years, we strongly believe that we contribute to the socio-economic growth of the UAE while promoting the nation’s passion for equestrian excellence.”

Malih Al Basti, Meydan Group vice-chairman and chairman of the Meydan Racing Committee, said: “This Thursday’s Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting is the first of the current term to feature four Group races and represents one of the classiest cards so far.

“We always look forward to welcoming our sponsors to the track and we are proud to host EGA at such an important meeting of the global racing calendar.”