Dubai: The last time that a horse with Dubai connections won the Epsom Derby (G1), Britain’s premier and richest Classic, was the Jim Bolger-trained New Approach who triumphed in 2008.

New Approach also became the first Derby winner for Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Now Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who has seen his famous colours carried to victory on two occasions with Nashwan in 1989 and Erhaab in 1994, believes that Dubai-owned horses have strong claims of adding to those triumphs at the 237th running of the famous race on June 4.

“I like the chances of the two Godolphin horses Cloth Of Stars and Moonlight Magic in particular and I think that Massaat [2nd in the English 2,000 Guineas] will also run well,” Shaikh Hamdan said on board the luxury Al Fahidi yacht on the eve of the annual Al Gaffal traditional dhow sailing race.

“The Derby is a race every trainer, owner and jockey wants to win, but it’s not an easy race to win. You need a very special horse that has ability, soundness, turn of foot and staying power. It’s hard to find all those qualities in a horse.

“But you still try to win the Derby and I think that Godolphin’s French horses [Cloth Of Stars, trainer Andre Fabre] has a good chance.”

Godolphin last won the Derby with Lammtarra, who raced in the green and white colours of Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum. Saeed Bin Surour was the trainer but he is unlikely to have a runner at Epsom this year after Prize Money was beaten in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood on Friday afternoon.

John Ferguson, Godolphin’s Racing Manager told Racing UK recently: “Cloth Of Stars will come to Epsom for ‘Breakfast With The Stars’. He will have a gallop around the track, which I think Andre did with Pour Moi. He’s certainly taking the same route and he’s very happy with him.

“We have Moonlight Magic, Jim Bolger’s colt by Cape Cross who is very similarly related to Sea The Stars and Galileo. He won the Leopardstown trial very well.

“Jim entered him in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and then decided he didn’t need that and to come to Epsom and make that the number one priority,” he added.

“John Gosden is going to run Linguistic on Saturday in the Fairway Stakes at Newmarket and we will see how he runs.

“It is the definite intention to run Cloth Of Stars and Moonlight Magic, that’s the plan.

“We have got a strong team this year and I’m looking forward to the blue colours being there at the sharp end.”

As the countdown to the Derby picked up speed following the latest acceptors stage a field of 22 hopefuls remained in the fray with several contenders likely to be supplemented on Monday.

Irish handler Aidan O’Brien, chasing a sixth Derby triumph, has eight contenders engaged including The Gurkha, impressive winner of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) last weekend.

Sir Michael Stoute, another trainer who has a strong Derby record with five wins and last triumphed with Workforce in 2010, has a trio remaining led by bet365 Classic Trial winner Midterm, who disappointed last time in the Dante Stakes when injuring a hamstring,

He also has Lingfield Derby Trial third Across The Stars, who represents Dubai businessman Saeed Suhail who won the Classic in 2003 with Kris Kin and Ulysses, an impressive maiden winner at Newbury on May 13.

The £75,000 supplementary entry stage for the Derby on Monday could see impressive Dante Stakes winner Wings Of Desire (John Gosden) added to the field along with Godolphin’s Cloth Of Stars and Humphrey Bogart (Richard Hannon), successful in the Lingfield Derby Trial.

Wings Of Desire and Cloth Of Stars are the two stars who are expected to prep at the Breakfast With The Stars event on Tuesday, May 24.