Dubai: It is another busy weekend of racing in the UAE with Friday's Jebel Ali Sprint card and Sunday's Abu Dhabi meeting sandwiching Super Saturday at Meydan, the second biggest meeting of the UAE season and the dress rehearsal for Dubai World Cup night three weeks later.

For the first time, the eight-race card includes three Group 1 races, two for Thoroughbreds, including the Maktoum Challenge III and its Purebred Arabian counterpart.

Both races are over 2,000 metres on the Tapeta, the same course and distance as the $10 million Dubai World Cup and the Godolphin trainers are particularly well represented in the Thoroughbred version.

Saeed Bin Surour has won this race on three occasions with subsequent Dubai World Cup winners and Frankie Dettori partners his Prince Bishop who was fifth in this race last year before a remote 10th in the World Cup itself. A handicap winner on his return to action this year, from stablemate Spring Of Fame who is again in opposition, he was only fifth in the Maktoum Challenge II, most recently behind stable companion Mendip who will again be ridden by Kieren Fallon.

Bin Surour said: "They are nice horses who go well on the Tapeta. It is a good race as you would expect but they are in good form and should run well."

Fellow Godolphin handler Mahmoud Al Zarouni has both Capponi, seeking a Carnival hat-trick, and Monterosso among the maximum field of 14. The latter was a turf winner on this card last year before an excellent third in the World Cup itself. He has not been seen since and his trainer said: "World Cup night has been the target all year and this race was always the plan for him. He goes well fresh and is well drawn so can hopefully run well.

"Capponi has been improving all year but this is a big step up in class."

South African Mike De Kock is seeking a third win in the race and has both Irish Flame and Bold Silvano in the field. The latter won the Maktoum Challenge II last year before injury ruled him out of both this race and the World Cup. He has had just the one start since and De Kock said: "He needed his run badly over an inadequate trip. He has been pleasing us at home and we are hoping for a big run.

"Irish Flame has not done himself justice on turf in Dubai so we are trying him on the Tapeta as he works well on it."

Green Destiny has his first start for Herman Brown, as does Silver Pond for Doug Watson.

The other upgraded Thorough-bred race is the concluding Group 1 Jebel Hatta over 1,800 metres on turf. The trial for the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night, it was won last year by Wigmore Hall who was a luckless third in the Duty Free behind Presvis, winner of this race in 2010 and third last year.

De Kock has three runners, including River Jetez who was runner-up in the Duty Free last year but she has yet to run this year and stablemate Mutahadee looks a more likely winner.

Dubai Gold, runner-up in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last year looks a big danger, as does Albaasil who is very highly regarded by Doug Watson.

Watson's charge was second last time to De Kock's Viscount Nelson who should go well in the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold with the same trainer's Musir the one they have to beat in the 1,600-metre Burj Nahaar on Tapeta.

In Friday's Jebel Ali Sprint Satish Seemar saddles both Spin Cycle and Terrific Challenge, who won the race for him in 2011 and 2010 respectively. Both are capable of running well again but Russian Rock, who won the prep race a fortnight ago for Musabah Al Muhairi, looks a more likely winner under Wayne Smith.

Kilt Rock has four course wins to his name this season but was well beaten in the prep race after missing the break. Trained by Doug Watson, he could be a big danger to all.