Super Thursday: Stars come out tonight

DUBAI The eyes of the racing world will be firmly fixed on Nad Al Sheba tonight for Super Thursday, the second biggest meeting of the season with seven races replicating those on World Cup night in just over three weeks time.

MAKTOUM CHALLENGE

Four races have attracted maximum fields of 16, including the featured Group 2 concluding round of the Maktoum Challenge, the 10-furlong prep race for the Dubai World Cup itself.

Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour sets a puzzle by running Kirklees in this race for his dirt debut, having won well on turf last time. He is a fascinating runner and his trainer hopes he will act on the surface: “He is in great form and we think the surface will not be an issue. It is a good race but he should go well.''

Bin Surour won this with a similar dirt debutant in Electrocutionist in 2006 and that horse went on to win the World Cup, as did Dubai Millennium and Street Talk. Mike De Kock's Asiatic Boy, winner of the UAE Triple Crown in 2007, chased home Curlin in the World Cup last year and will aim to go one better in three weeks time. He was third in Maktoum Challenge II last time, when tiring close home on his seasonal return and is reportedly a lot fitter this time – however, he has a bad draw.

De Kock explained: “He needed that first run badly and has come on a lot since then. He is fit and well and we would be quite confident, if it was not for that wide draw. That is a definite concern in a big field.'' Happy Boy, trained by Mubarak Bin Shafya, was a place in front of Asiatic Boy last time and delighted his jockey Ahmad Ajtebi: “That was a very good run and he remains in good shape. The extra furlong will suit him.''

CITY OF GOLD

Both turf races carry Group 2 status with the 12-furlong Dubai City of Gold preceding the Maktoum Challenge. Germany's Quijano, winner of this in 2007, looks certain to go well as does Herman Brown's Mourilyan who was second in this last year for John Oxx. Stable companion Kings Gambit can go well, along with Luca Cumani's Purple Moon and De Kock's Front House.

BURJ NAHAAR

De Kock also has World Cup aspirations for Honour Devil, last year's UAE Derby winner, and he runs in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar over a mile on dirt. He too faces the maximum 15 rivals but is at least drawn one.

AL BASTIKIYA

The Al Bastakiya is traditionally the UAE Derby trial but this year may not be that accurate a guide; Godolphin's Jose Adan will be popular representing “the boys in blue'' and Medici, representing Saudi Arabia, could be a big danger the Dubai-based team's hopes.

MEYDAN CLASSIC

The Meydan Classic is a new race for three-year-olds and the 1,500m turf event looks tailor-made for Godolphin's City Style, but Medici's trainer, Jerry Barton, introduces an interesting runner in Naval Officer.

MAHAB AL SHIMAAL

Diabolical won the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal over six-furlongs on dirt last year for Godolphin and could be the one to beat again this year with Frankie Dettori in the saddle.

JEBEL HATTA

The Jebel Hatta concludes the card and the 1,777m turf feature features another clash between Brown's Jay Peg and Japan's Vodka, first and fourth respectively in last year's Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night. Balius is an interesting new recruit locally, while Valedictum from Australia is just another to consider in a wide open contest.