The 1,400m conditions race on tomorrow's card at Jebel Ali looks a thriller with six course and distance winners among the nine declared, including Mujaazef, the winner of the race last year.
Mujaazef is one of three in the race for the champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe and one of four for the owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, whose retained jockey Dane O'Neill takes the ride.
Mujaazef's stable companion Alazeyab carries the owner's third colours with Harry Bentley in the saddle, while stable jockey Royston Ffrench is on the trainer's third runner Five Cents.
Doug Watson saddles Sheikh Hamdan's other two runners with Tadhg O'Shea on Ouqba and Pat Dobbs on Quartier Latin, back from a 616-day lay-off.
Watson said: "Both of mine have had enforced absences but are ready to get back on the track and this race looks ideal."
Musabah Al Muhairi also has two declared, with Wayne Smith, the stable jockey, electing to ride Atlantic Brave, the runner-up last year, over Ibn Battuta.
"There is little between our pair … but Atlantic Brave seems further forward than he was this time last year and always goes well at Jebel Ali," Smith said.
Al Raihe, Watson and Al Muhairi have all made quick starts to the season, as has Satish Seemar who saddles Escape Route with Richard Mullen in the saddle.
Dhruba Selvaratnam trains Otaared, the seven year old seeking his sixth course and distance win and seventh on this track.
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