Dubai: Dual Group 3 scorer Mustajeeb will bid to deliver maiden Beeders’ Cup success for legendary Irish handler Dermot Weld when he runs in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Santa Anita, Los Angeles, next week.

The three-year-old son of Nayef was among 201 horses pre-entered on Wednesday for the 13-race festival, which takes place on October 31 and November 1.

Mustajeeb is the 13/2 second favourite behind Richard Hannon’s Queen Anne Stakes (G1) victor Toronado (9/4).

Owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, Mustajeeb has not finished out of the frame in seven starts. On his most recent start in the Boomerang Mile (G2) at Leopardstown, Ireland, the Shadwell-bred colt finished a half a length second to Mark Johnston’s Bow Creek.

Weld, who is one of Ireland’s most successful trainers with more than 3,000 wins, has won some of America’s major races in the past, but is yet to sample Breeders’ Cup glory.

His last US success came courtesy of Simple Exchange in the 2004 American Derby, which is run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Mustajeeb is a progressive horse who was one of many three-year-old stars that continued Shaikh Hamdan’s vintage summer in Britain when he won the opening Jersey Stakes on day two at Royal Ascot.

Weld is also likely to be represented by Shaikh Hamdan’s Tarfasha, who beat Irish Oaks (G1) heroine Chicquita in the Blandford Stakes (G2) at the Curragh last month.

Meanwhile, Team British Racing announced that it will be sending a 16-strong raiding party for next week’s extravaganza, which boasts prize money of $26 million (Dh95.4 million).

The ten British trainers represented include four that have already savoured success during the Breeders’ Cup’s 31-year history, including Sir Michael Stoute, Brian Meehan, Ralph Beckett and Charlie Hills.

Stoute, the most successful British trainer ever at this meeting with six wins, is represented by Dank, who will be defending her Filly & Mare Turf crown, and Telescope, who will bid to give his Barbados-born handler a fifth success in the Turf.

Four Breeders’ Cup first-timers — Hugo Palmer, Jamie Osborne, David Brown and Charlie Fellowes — will be hoping to make their mark in their first foray to America.

Palmer, who will saddle Group 3 Solario Stakes winner Aktabantay in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), said: “It’s hugely exciting to have a horse good enough to take to the Breeders’ Cup. I have only been training for three-and-a-half years and you could say that it is the culmination of a dream, though of course my aspirations and ambitions go some way beyond my first good horse, which is what Aktabantay is.

“He has been in absolutely fantastic shape since he finished sixth in a Longchamp Group 1 two-and-a-half weeks ago, that’s why he is heading for Santa Anita. His run at Longchamp was encouraging and unlucky in equal measure. He was buried on the rail and had to challenge wide and late and was only beaten by just over two lengths.

“The conditions of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf are exactly what he has been crying out for. He is undoubtedly a fast ground horse, so the fast ground should suit him, as should the likely strong pace. He is a very well balanced horse, so I can’t see why the tight turns should be an issue, and he has also been screaming out for this step up in trip.”

Former UAE champion trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has entered Godolphin’s Group 3 Pilgrim Stakes scorer Imperia in the contest.