The line-up for Saturday night's Group 1 Dubai Duty Free (sponsored by Dubai Duty Free) - one of the richest turf races in the world - is truly a world-class field and the 1,777-metre race is likely to end on an exciting note.
In what is expected to be a mouth-watering contest, the DDF brings together 11 accomplished Group 1 winners and Godolphin make a serious two-pronged attack to end a 7-year winless streak.
Awesome form
Literato and Creachadoir are the two Godolphin runners who have come into this race with awesome form and Frankie Dettori takes the ride on the former, which has been installed as a favourite. Nine wins in 11 starts and beaten to second in the other two, Literato looks the one which could give Dettori a win in this race which he last won in 1997 on Tamayaz.
While Creachadoir, under Kerrin McEvoy, is another highly-rated contender, Godolphin will be keen to end their poor run in the DDF. But Jim Bolger's Finsceal Beo and French raider Darjina are two fillies with immense quality and could be the one's to dent Godolphin's hopes.
Japanese trainer Hiroyoshi Matsuada saddles Admire Aura in his bid to win back-to-back DDF races after Admire Moon's win last year while fellow Japanese hope Vodka is another that could provide a twist to the finish.
Doug O'Neil and garret Gomez, who combined to score in the Godolphin Mile last year are pinning their hopes on Grade two winner Notional in this race while Seachange represents the Southern Hemisphere.
The Charles O'Brien-trained Lord Admiral has won twice at the Carnival and is another one capable of a top finish while the Tony Cruz pair of Floral Pegasus and Bullish Luck is worth following.
While picking a winner in this race is a tricky affair, Dettori did explain why he chose Literato. "It was not easy to separate our two, but in the end I was swayed by Literato's great run in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket. That is top-class form, and he has been going well at home this spring," said the Italian ace.
'Favourable signs'
Commenting on Finsceal Beo's chances, Irish handler Jim Bolger said: "It depends whether we have got her back to the form she showed last spring, but all the signs have been favourable and she is a dual Guineas winner who has got lots of class."
Mick Channon's Majestic Roi is another class filly which won a Group 1 and is back after nearly a 6-month break while Linngari is hoping to improve on his second-place finish behind Admire Moon.