Super Saturday, the glittering prelude to World Cup night itself, is the one trainers, owners and jockeys have eagerly anticipated. Five Group (Graded) races with huge prize money along with a Listed and a Conditions event make for a high-octane card.

Masar faces dirt test

Rated higher than any of his 12 rivals, Godolphin colt Masar looks the class act in the Al Bastakiya, a race that has been won by several top horses like Asiatic Boy, Mendip and Mubtaahij. However, this is his first start on dirt and first in 127 days since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, USA.

Moreover, Masar is drawn in stall 10 and will need to break well under William Buick in order to get a good position so as to avoid the kick-back, which he will encounter for the first time in his career.

Stablemate Last Voyage, who like Masar is trained by in-form handler Charlie Appleby, looks the biggest danger, having already raced on the surface when a far-away third to Gold Town in the UAE 2000 Guineas last month following a sluggish start. His jockey Mickael Barzalona will try to ensure that does not happen this time.

Other notables include Satish Seemar’s Yulong Warrior, a smart maiden winner and well-rested since and Bahraini owner-trainer Fawzi Nass’ El Chapo, winner of the 2000 Guineas Trial in January, who has placed fourth in two subsequent starts.

Selections:

1. Masar; 2. Yulong Warrior.

In the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal over six furlongs on dirt, we will see two well-loved older guys against the younger generation. Ten-years-young Krypton Factor (Fawzi Nass) and his year younger compatriot United Color [Gopi Selvaratnam] are up against four-year-olds Yalta Taamol and Dubai One though it may be the reformed Ravens Corner and recent winner My Catch who are to the fore at the finish. Satish and Bhupat Seemar have worked wonders with the team to iron out the former’s starting gate issues, which may now pay dividends for owners Touch Gold Racing and Sean Ewing. I hope United Colors enjoys what may be his swansong.

Race 3 is on the turf over six furlongs. The Grape Escape (Hussain Al Dailami) looks the part in the morning and the second place run last week was a promise of more to come. Sir Maximilian (Ian Williams) loves his winters in Dubai and is rarely out of the money but these two have the strength and guts of Jungle Cat, Baccarat and D’bai for Appleby along with Silver Line, Steady Pace and Top Score for Saeed Bin Surour to contend with. But will any of them have the speed to match or overcome Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Ertijaal?

Race 4 The Burj Nahaar Group 3 sees the luckless Classic Emperor attempt to atone for the disastrous stumble from the gates last month which resulted in his unfortunate jockey Derek Leung landing on the dirt. Oisin Murphy is the pilot today and we’ll be keeping his fingers crossed that trainer Chris So won’t have a wasted journey from Hong Kong. He is up against some good local runners in Doug Watson’s Kimbear and Drafted — if the latter can return to the form that saw him gain two Carnival wins — and Dream Castle [son of the great Frankel (Saeed Bin Surour)]. German raider Ross (Peter Schiergen) is another who enjoys it in Dubai and he has been making his presence known in the mornings.

Race 5 Group 1 Jebel Hatta over nine furlongs on turf sees Saeed Bin Surour go to war with the ultra-progressive Benbatl, dual Carnival winner Leshlaa and my favourite, the lovely Hard Spun mare Promising Run. Appleby fields last time out winners Folkswood and Blair House who for this race retain their previous riders. Mike de Kock astutely steps Janoobi up in trip and he may well be dangerous here. But the biggest threat to them all could come from his fellow South African trainer’s Whisky Baron. This handsome horse has the profile to step up his game.

Race 7 Dubai City of Gold Group 2 over 12.5 furlongs on turf sees 2016 Eclipse winner in action, a class act who is never far away, Appleby pitches Frontiersman in against his well-travelled star and there is not too much between them. Saeed Bin Surour runs four in this and the best may be Best Solution. But the fly in the ointment for me is Called To The Bar, the winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Invitational last summer, who is French trained by a Swedish lady, Pia Brandt. He has also beaten none other than Vazirabad, in the Group 1 Royal Oak at Saint Cloud last May. He hasn’t run since July but he looks in excellent shape in morning training. His Swedish owners Fair Salinia have never had a runner in Dubai before and are in awe of the facilities available to train horses here. It is good promotion for the Dubai World Cup to have International winners and tonight we may see one.