Dubai: Dubai-owned Nafaqa will bid to unleash his Classic potential when he lines up to contest Thursday’s Group 2 Dante Stakes, one of the hottest trials for the Epsom Derby, the holy grail of British racing.

The son of 2006 Derby winner Sir Percy takes on the top three in the ante-post markets for the June 6 showpiece including Jack Hobbs (6/4), Elm Park (3/1) and John F Kennedy (7/2), and four other hopefuls Golden Horn, Ol’ Man River, Medrano and Lord Ben Stack.

A total of nine horses have won the Dante en route to making history in the Derby, with the most recent being Authorized in 2007.

Other famous horses to complete the double include Erhaab, Benny the Dip, North Light and Motivator.

Nafaqa is trained by Barry Hills for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who is looking for a third Derby victory and first since Erhaab in 1994. Nashwan was his first winner in 1989.

On his most recent outing, Nafaqa chased Kool Kompany to the line in the Group 3 Craven Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse.

A smart winner of the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster last October, he has always been seen as a Classic type of horse.

Richard Hills, assistant racing manager to Shaikh Hamdan, told the Sportinglife: “He is stepping up in grade on Thursday but he has every right to be there. We have always thought a lot of him and his form is smart. He was a close second in the Royal Lodge and won like a good horse at Doncaster.”

His jockey Paul Hanagan is hopeful of a big run from his horse and told At The Races: “He’s been running consistently and I think he’s improving with every run.

“He just needs this to keep dry. If it does it would be fantastic.”

Jack Hobbs looks the horse to beat following his 12 length victory in a handicap event at Sandown last month.

But his trainer John Gosden has cautioned racegoers not to be fooled by that performance.

“Jack Hobbs only won a handicap off 85 and I think people are getting carried away,” he said. |I think the bookmakers are just trying to create a market when there isn’t one.

“Jack Hobbs had only worked on the bridle at home — we don’t ask them to do too much — but he obviously has lots of ability.

“He has a huge frame and my concern is that it is all coming a bit early for him.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Hamdan’s Mahsoob exhibited a great temperament when he came from the back of the field to win the opening race at York on Wednesday.

The unbeaten colt overcame the disadvantages of a wide draw in stall 18 to score by half a length from Master Of Finance.

“I told Paul [Hanagan] to ride him with confidence and he did,” said Gosden. “He’s in the Hardwicke and the Prince of Wales’, but races like that are a big step up.