Godolphin's best

Dubai: Godolphin's Saeed Bin Surour is set to secure a fifth successive trainer's title at today's Dubai World Cup Carnival finale.

The Emirati handler, who has notched 17 winners this season, arrives at the matinee meeting with four runners, including course and distance winner Tahaamah and 2010 Newbury Rose Bowl Stakes winner Al Aasifh.

The former looks hard to beat in the 2,200m GNB Handicap, where Dubai-based handlers Ali Rashid Al Raihe, Doug Watson and Satish Seemar provide the main challengers.

A four-year-old son of King's Best, Tahaamah showed plenty of character to win his last start at Meydan two weeks ago. Always travelling well on the all-weather under Frankie Dettori. He stayed on to win by a neck from the Wayen Smith-ridden Paschendale.

Two-time UAE champion trainer Al Raihe is represented by Sharaayeen, who bids for his second success of the term, having won an 1,800m handicap at the course in February. Retiring jockey Richard Hills takes the ride in the colours of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance.

Watson sends out Dr Faustus (Pat Dobbs) and Jutland (Pat Cosgrave), while Seemar saddles three — Radegund Abbey (Richard Mullen), Achill Bay (Harry Bentley) and Layali Al Andalus (James Doyle).

Bin Surour also looks to have a leading chance with Al Aasifh in the concluding Gulf News Handicap over a mile, where co-Godolphin handler Mahmoud Al Zarouni is responsible for Samurai Sword, his only runner of the afternoon.

A former Listed winner in the UK, Al Aasifh is looking for his first win in the UAE in four starts. Dettori takes the ride.

Solid claims

While Capital Attraction, who is trained in Abu Dhabi by Ernst Oertel, seeks his third win of the season, Al Rashid's Rutland Boy looks to have solid claims.

The four-year-old son of Bertolini was an impressive winner of his two previous starts and on that form will take all the beating in today's 1,600m contest. Jamie Spencer will be in the saddle.

"He's a very genuine horse and a mile is his best trip," said Al Raihe. "This looks like a good race and we hope that he can reproduce his previous form and run up to expectations."

South African handler Oertel was also hoping for a good performance from Capital Attraction, who was previously trained by Sir Henry Cecil in the UK

‘Done well at Meydan'

The trainer said: "He certainly likes the Tapeta and has done well for us at Meydan this season. Hopefully he can run well."

In-form jockey Silvestre De Sousa will partner the American-bred five-year-old for the first time.

Former champion trainer Doug Watson, who has enjoyed a profitable season where he has sent out 32 winners, is represented by Famous Warrior and Steed.

The former won at this course last season, while Steed makes his Meydan debut after two outings at Jebel Ali, including his last start in the Listed Jebel Ali Mile.

Watson said: "Famous Warrior has had some bad draws at the Carnival so it is nice to see him in five. Steed is an interesting new horse who will hopefully like the surface."

Les Troyens (Dettori) represents Bin Surour in the six-furlong Friday Handicap where Musabah Al Muhairi's Celtic King bids for back-to-back wins at Meydan.