In pictures: Dubai World Cup Carnival race night set to light up Meydan

Gulf News celebrates its 25-year association with Dubai horse racing by sponsoring an intriguing seven-race card at Meydan racecourse on Thursday. The card features several prep races for the $35 million Dubai World Cup meeting on March 28, with showcase events being the the $250,000 Group 2 Balanchine over 1,800 metres and the $200,000 Group 2 Firebreak Stakes over a mile. Throw in a high-quality Purebred Arabian contest in the form of the Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah and you have an action-packed meeting of the highest quality. Here we look at some of the horses to look out for.

Race 1 - 6.30 pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah (Group 2) Sponsored By Wheels (Purebred Arabians), 1 mile, dirt. Judging by his most recent Group 1 start where he was beaten by Ziyadd and Bandar, AF Al Sajanjle looks hard to beat should he overcome a wide draw in stall nine. He has gate speed and the services of multiple UAE champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, who knows Arabians so well, and should bring out the best in the Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda campaigner. Mirna, Wadeeaa and Rb Lam Tara are others to consider. Selections: 1. AF Al Sajanjle 2. Mirna

Race 2 - 7.05pm: Meydan Trophy Sponsored By Getthat (3yo), 1mile 1 furlong, turf. Godolphin’s First View should relish the switch to turf after two unsuccessful outings on the dirt and should hold off some strong rivals in American raider I Will Not and Bahrain-trained Al Mukhtar Star (pictured). A son of Exceed And Excel, First View has useful British form where he won twice on the poly track at Kempton. Al Mukhtar Star has tasted success in Dubai and can go close. Selections: 1. First View. 2. Al Mukhtar Star.

Race 3 - 7.40pm: tabloid! Handicap (4yo+), 6 furlongs, Dirt. Has the promise to sends pulses racing with so many top level sprinters. Bochart, My Catch and Lavaspin are all speed machines but it is Truck Salesman (pictured) who has so much appeal going by his performance in the Al Shindagha Sprint on his UAE debut over C&D late last month where he really tested the highly regarded Gladiator King. Selections: 1. Truck Salesman 2. Bochart

Race 4 - 8.15pm: Balanchine (Group 2) Sponsored By Gulf News (4yo+), 1,800 metres, turf. Godolphin has won this race, which is restricted to female racehorses, five times in the past and Magic Lily (pictured) looks like continuing the trend in the hands of in-form jockey William Buick. Winner of the Cape Verdi over a mile last month, the daughter of New Approach will take all the beating. French mare Nisreen finished second in that race and should go close again. Selections: 1. Magic Lily 2. Nisreen

Race 5 - 8.50pm: Reach Handicap, 5 furlongs (4yo+), turf. One of the preps for the Al Quoz Sprint on DWC day could go to the Simon Crisford-trained Roulston Scar (pictured), who was a commendable third behind Rusumaat and Blitzkrieg in the Dubai Sprint over six furlongs last week. He makes a quick return but the drop back in trip should suit him well. Waady chased home Equilateral in the Dubai Dash over C&D last month and gets another chance here. The evergreen Caspian Prince and Dream Today are also worth keeping an eye on. Selections: 1. Roulston Scar 2. Waady

Race 6 - 9.25pm Firebreak Stakes (Group 3) Sponsored By Gn.com (4yo), 1 mile, dirt. A prep for the Godolphin Mile, the race has attracted some classy contenders led by Capezzano, Muntazah (pictured) and Heavy Metal. Capezzano won the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge on Super Saturday, beating subsequent DWC winner Thunder Snow by nearly 10 lengths. He produced a poor effort in that race but should not be overlooked. Quip is an interesting UAE debutant for Doug Watson. Selections: 1. Muntazah 2. Capezzano

Race 7 - 10pm: Friday Handicap (4yo+), 1 mile 4 furlongs, turf. Dubai Future is a useful horse over long distances like this but this looks a tough contest with the likes of Jalmoud (pictured), Desert Fire and First Nation in the fray. A son of New Approach, Jalmoud won in Listed company in France last May and subsequently finished behind Ireland’s Japan in the Grand Prix de Paris. First Nation is a strong finisher while Desert Fire needs to get the trip. Selections: 1. Jalmoud 2. Desert Fire.