Dubai: With less than five weeks to go for the 21st running of the Dubai World Cup meeting, several horses staked their claim for a shot at the big prizes on offer, with dazzling displays at the Al Tayer Motors-sponsored Carnival meeting at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday evening.

Leading the way was the Charlie Appleby-trained Tryster who has emerged as a legitimate contender to challenge 2015 champion Solow in the Group 1 $6 million (Dh22 million) Dubai Turf (former Dubai Duty Free), the joint richest turf race in the world, together with the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1).

An impressive winner of the Winter Derby (G3) and Easter Classic on the all-weather surface at Lingfield Park in England, the five-year-old son of Shamardal atoned for a couple of half-hearted performances when switched to the turf in the UK, with an emphatic victory in the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes.

“On paper, Tryster had to be very competitive in this race. The question asked by a lot of people was whether he could show on the turf what he has on the All-Weather and he has clearly done that tonight,” said Appleby.

“I am just delighted he has put up that sort of performance on the turf because it opens up a lot more options for him.

“On the performance (on Thursday) evening, he deserves a shot at those good races, but the competition on Dubai World Cup night is going to be a lot stiffer.

“The horse will have thrived for that because he is a big confidence horse. We will see how he comes out of it and possibly look at the Jebel Hatta (G1, 9f turf, March 5) or go straight for the Dubai Turf (G1, 9f turf, March 26).”

Godolphin jockey, William Buick, was also moved by Tryster’s performance on his Meydan debut and added: “He tends to miss the break and has done so again, but travels so strongly he can make up ground easily.

“He quickens so well which is always a potent weapon and hopefully the Dubai Turf on Dubai World Cup night will be the race for him. We are really happy he adapted at that quality on the turf.”

Meanwhile, ex-Godolphin trained Maftool, Dough Watson’s Faulkner and British sprinter Sir Maximillian look to have secured tickets to the World Cup meeting following their exploits on Thursday night.

Maftool, having his first start of reigning UAE champion trainer Musabah Al Muhairi, could be headed to the Godolphin Mile as a result of his attention-grabbing victory in the Range Rover Sport Handicap.

It was his first win since last year’s UAE 2000 Guineas, when previously trained by Saeed Bin Surour for Godolphin.

Faulkner, unraced when raced by Godolphin, has proved to be a revelation under the care of this season’s leading trainer Doug Watson, and was recording his third victory at Meydan in a 1900m dirt handicap.

“Faulkner is a real favourite in the yard,” said Watson. “It is a great result for the whole team as he has had a few niggling problems.

“We will miss Super Saturday and perhaps look at the Godolphin Mile.”

A third British-trained winner of the Carnival and big-race hopeful surfaced in the form of the Ian Williams-trained Sir Maximilian who was winning for the first time since landing a handicap over the same course and distance.