Dubai: Five days after watching Mohaymen cement his status as the favourite for this summer’s Kentucky Derby (G1) trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will be hoping that Godolphin-owned Frosted can follow suit and reveal himself as the leading contender for next month’s Dubai World Cup (G1) when he runs at Meydan on Thursday.

A Darley home-bred, Frosted faces eight rivals on his Dubai debut in Round Two of the Al Maktoum Challenge (G3), a race that Moon Ballad and Prince Bishop used as a stepping stone to World Cup glory.

A former UAE champion trainer when previously based in Dubai, McLaughlin knows what it takes to win the world’s richest race, having won it in 2007 with Invasor.

In Frosted he has a horse that represents the highest American form given his wins in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and Pennsylvania Derby and efforts behind Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes (G1).

“Frosted has settled in really well and is training great,” said McLaughlin. “He has been off the track for a while but looks fit and ready to go. We think he is ready for a big effort in what could be the first of three Meydan outings.

“We will seriously consider Super Saturday and the concluding round of the Maktoum Challenge [March 5] but will wait and see how he gets on on Thursday and how he comes out of the race.”

Godolphin jockey William Buick takes the ride on the short-priced international favourite.

Carnival powerhouse Mike de Kock has won the race three times in the past but is yet to sample victory in the Dubai World Cup itself, although he looks to have a serious contender in last year’s UAE Derby winner Mubtaahij who makes his seasonal debut in the supporting Group 3 Firebreak Stakes on Thursday.

Interesting name

The South African champion relies on a horse with an interesting name, Prayer For Relief, who was eighth behind Tamarkuz in the Godolphin Mile (G2) last season and a closing third behind Le Bernardin and Layl in the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge (G2) over a mile on January 7.

Doug Watson, a former assistant to McLaughlin and the leading trainer this season, saddles both Layl and Faulkner who was fourth on that occasion.

“Both are in really good form. Frosted is a serious horse obviously but our two should run well,” said the American handler.

Paul Hanagan rides the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Munaaser, an impressive winners of a dirt handicap at the track as he chases a first success in the historic contest which was first run in 1994.

“We were pretty hopeful that day. Obviously this is a better race but he is in great nick and should be competitive,” said the former two-time British champion jockey.

Like Frosted, Mubtaahij, will be looking to advertise his Dubai World Cup credentials when he runs in the Firebreak Stakes (G3) over 1,600m on dirt.

It will be the four-year-old son of Dubawi’s first start since his fourth place effort to American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes last June.

“He has been working nicely and this was always the plan for his comeback,” said De Kock. “He has thrived for his break and we are really looking forward to getting him back on the track.

“Hopefully, he is our Dubai World Cup horse this year.”

Among his opponents on Thursday are Al Maktoum Challenge Round One winner, Le Bernardin, and Meydan specialist One Man Band, winner of three starts on the dirt this season.

The Group 2 Cape Verdi for fillies and mares has attracted seven contenders led by the Scandinavian-trained Icecapada, bidding for a third consecutive win after arriving in Dubai on the back of two Listed victories in Sweden.

Opposing her is dual French scorer Si Luna who will be partnered by three-time race winner Christophe Soumillon.

 

Fact box: GN Selections

Race Horse

1. 1. Versac Py; 2. Richlore.

2. 1. Ertijaal; 2. Saayerr.

3. 1. More Aspen; 2. Very Special.

4. 1. Frosted ; 2. Prayer For Relief.

5. 1. Star Empire; 2. Battersea.

6. 1. Mubtaahij; 2. Le Bernardin.

7. 1. Tannaaf; 2. Sanshaawes.

Day’s Best: Ertijaal.

Saturday 7th May 2016