Japanese star can rise to the Challenge

Dubai Japanese superstar Vodka gets her seasonal debut and also her first taste of racing over an artificial surface, as she takes on the boys in this final prep for the Dubai World Cup, round three of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Group 2).

Racing against males is nothing new to Vodka, who peaked at the right time when landing the prestigious Japan Cup (Group 1) over 2400 metres in Tokyo last year.

Coming off two good runs in the slipstream of the classy performer Company over shorter distances, Vodka stayed the Japan Cup distance well enough to beat Oke Bruce Lee (previous G1 winner) in a photo finish.

Another Group 1 winner, Red Desire, filled third spot, while the dual Breeders' Cup Turf winner Conduit checked in fourth. Having shown her best form mainly at distances up to 2000 metres previously, Vodka proved her stamina that day. She was third in the Japan Cup in 2008 and fourth in the big race back in 2007.

These are notable achievements, not least since history shows that the Japan Cup is an incredibly tough race for fillies and mares.

The 2,000 metres on the Tapeta track might be just perfect for her. She was unplaced behind Gladiatorus in the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba last year, when she tired badly after having been the only horse to give the impressive all-the-way winner chase from the outset. That was not her true form at all. If Vodka is close to peak fitness this week, she will take all the beating.

Cavalryman, who joined Godolphin from Andre Fabe last backend, is a very interesting runner. A steadily improving son of Halling, he put up his best performance in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at Longchamp, where he stayed on well over 2400 metres (12 fur.) to take third, beaten only by the European champion Sea The Stars and Youmzain. Cavalryman passed the post 2 lengths behind the winner.

If Sea The Stars's name had been on the ante-post lists for the Dubai World, it would have been at the top and at very cramped odds, so why is Cavalryman 20-1 for the big race on March 27.

Saeed bin Suroor, the Godolphin trainer, is looking forward to today's race.

"Cavalryman ran some really good races in France last year, winning a Group One and coming third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He has settled in well and I have been pleased with his preparation," he said on the stable's website.

"He will need Thursday's race but, at the same time, we need to see if he handles Tapeta or not with regard to his future plans. I am hopeful that he can show his class."

Godolphin's second runner Allybar has improved well this winter and already won twice at Meydan, most notably when coming out best in a solid edition of the Al Maktoum Challenge Round II (Gr 2) two weeks ago. Having taken advantage of a slow pace and heavily favourable weights to beat Presvis in January, Allybar stepped right up to beat Crowded House by half a length in the Maktoum II, and he is probably improving still.

Bin Surour commented: "Allybar is unbeaten so far this season and I have been pleased with both of his wins at Meydan. He is a nice horse, who is improving with every race, and we need to find out if he can continue that progression."

Gloria De Campeao, runner-up in the World Cup last year (albeit well beaten) and now coming off a gutsy win in the Maktoum Challenge Round I (G3), must also be in with a chance. He outstayed his rivals over a mile here in January, when winning by half a length from the fast finishing Forgotten Voice (who runs in race 4, the Burj Nahaar).