Dubai

The 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas are the most eagerly anticipated first Classics of the season and several contenders will be hoping to emphasise their credentials for next month’s showpiece races when they line-up to contest the trials at Meydan tonight.

Emirati handler Saeed Bin Surour has an abundance of talent under his care at Godolphin’s Al Quoz Stables and currently saddles the favourites for both trails in Promising Run and Steady Pace.

Steady Pace, who was a notable third behind John Gosden’s Shalaa in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes on Turf at Newmarket racecourse last September, must have strong claims provided he can adapt to Meydan’s dirt on his first outing over the surface.

Together with South African training titan Mike de Kock, Bin Surour has sent out five winners of the 2,000 Guineas and is quietly optimistic that Steady Pace has the talent to measure up to the test on hand.

He faces seven rivals led by fellow Godolphin trainee Rouleau, who was fifth in the Middle Park, unbeaten British raider Calder Prince and the much-campaigned filly Illegally Blonde, who represents former National Hunt jockey turned trainer Jamie Osborne.

Like Steady Pace, Promising Run has strong UK form having captured the Group 2 Shadwell Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket, but will also be making her dirt debut.

Godolphin are dually represented with Charlie Appleby sending out two-time polytrack scorer Pure Diamond.

De Kock relies on Australian-bred Almashooqa, who was a respectable runner-up in the Grade 1 Golden Slipper at Greyville, South Africa.

Tonight’s second meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival also features the Listed Dubawi Stakes over 1200m and the 1800m Singspiel Stakes.

Reigning UAE champion trainer Musabah Al Muhairi is responsible for the international favourite Muarrab, who was second to re-opposing Reynaldothewizard in the race last year.

The seven-year-old son of Oasis Dream won the Listed Jebel Ali Sprint last year and most recently announced his well-being with a 5 1/4 length demolition of his rivals in the Garhoud Sprint over course and distance four weeks ago.

Former two-time British champion Paul Hanagan, retained rider for the gelding’s owner, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance said: “He has been in great form and won very well last time. This looks a decent renewal but, hopefully, he is still improving and this will be a good test.”

Reynaldothewizard, who won the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in 2013 in addition to back-to-back triumphs in the Dubawi Stakes, makes his much-anticipated seasonal debut.

Richard Mullen, who has partnered the ten-year-old in 16 of his 17 local career starts remains hopeful and said: “He seems very well and as fit as we can get him at home.

“He has been bucking and squealing so is obviously full of himself and we will find out a lot tonight regarding how much ability remains.

“Obviously he is ten now and taking on the younger generation but we know conditions really suit him. Muarrab looks the one to beat but we will hopefully run a big race.”

Big Baz and Limariom are among the favourites for the Singspiel Stakes, one of the early preps for the Group 1 Dubai Turf.

GN Selections

Race Horse

1. 1. Stormardal; 2. Nathr.

2. 1. Promising Run; 2. Almashooqa.

3. 1. Steady Pace; 2. Rouleau.

4. 1. Muarrab; 2. Let’sgoforit.

5. 1. Big Baz; 2. Limario.

6. 1. Think Ahead; 2. Cat O’Mountain.

7. 1. Forries Waltz; 2. Musaddas.

Day’s Best: