Dubai: Saturday cannot come soon enough for newly-crowned UAE champion jockey Ted Durcan, who is set to have a "very nice" book of rides at the $21 million Dubai World Cup meeting.

Durcan clinched the championship for an unprecedented seventh time on Friday and is now relishing the prospect of riding at the big night.

"I'm very, very excited. I think I will have five very nice rides," Durcan told Gulf News yesterday.

"World Cup night is very special, but it's also very hard to have a winner. Every race is very competitive, so you're hoping you have the right horse and that everything goes well. Obviously you also need some luck in running."

Relishing a challenge

But it is a challenge that he is relishing.

Barring some eleventh-hour changes, Durcan is set to ride New Zealand's champion mare Seachange in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1), British raider Gower Song in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic, Cobalt Blue in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr 1), Santhal in the Dubai Kahayla Classic (Gr 1) for Purebred Arabians and Cocoa Beach in the $2 million UAE Derby (Gr 1).

"It's as nice a book of rides as you can wish for," said the likable Irishman.

"Seachange may not have delivered in her prep, but her connections are confident that she has improved immensely from that effort and that she will run a massive race in the Duty Free.

"Gower Song is another nice horse who also has improved since her last start. She's absolutely flourishing and Mr Elsworth has her in prime order. It's going to be a strange race with a full field of 16 set to run. But as long as we have luck in running she will have a big chance."

Durcan said he was also looking forward to riding Santhal for former UAE champion trainer Erwan Charpy, and Cobalt Blue for another former champion, Satish Seemar.

'Very nice horse'

"Santhal is a very nice horse and he will come back strong after a six-week break, which Erwan had always planned before the big race," he said. "Cobalt Blue is an exciting horse from the States. He seems to be working very well and we're hoping for a nice run from him."

Durcan declined to single out any horse as his best chance but said: "I'm fortunate enough to have been chosen to ride such proven top horses."

The Irish rider is also awaiting the green signal to renew his partnership with Godolphin's UAE Derby hope Cocoa Beach, with whom he won the UAE 1000 Guineas and UAE Oaks. "You would have to think she has a great chance," said Durcan. "She's a lovely improving filly who has responded with everything that has been asked of her. Whoever rides her won't be disappointed, because she has a great attitude and I'm sure she will run a big race."

Fact File

 UAE Championships Year Wins Prize money 2008 27 Dh4,782,513 2007 33 Dh4,926,596 2005 44 Dh7,072,950 2004 39 Dh6,823,235 2002 56 Dh4,313,923 2001 56 Dh4,034,745 2000 58 Dh2,868,990

Noteworthy wins

Godolphin Mile (Conflict), Dubai Duty Free (Rhythm Band) Durcan, Queen Mary Stakes (Flashy Wings), Prix Morny (Silca's Sister), Epsom Oaks (Light Shift).