Dubai: Oxford University team captain Alice Stables succinctly outlined her team’s tactics for next month’s Vision Varsity Horse Race against traditional rivals Cambridge University by saying they were simply “to win”.

Stables was speaking ahead of the much-anticipated event, which will be run as the first race on day two of the inaugural Dubai Future Champions Festival, which will be staged at Newmarket Racecourse in the UK on October 9 and 10.

Boasting prize money of more than £2 million (Dh11.39 million), it features Europe’s two richest Group 1 two-year-old races, the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes and the Dubai Fillies’ Mile.

Oxford and Cambridge are involved in what is arguably the oldest inter-university rivalry in the world, adding to the excitement of the Vision Varsity Horse Race, where teams of five jockeys compete against each other in a mile handicap.

Stables and her team have a score to settle against Cambridge, who triumphed 12 months ago.

“I am very excited about the Vision Varsity Horse Race and our team tactics are going to be simple — just win,” she said at a pre-event press conference.

“A friend of mine was captain of the Oxford team last year and, when I came along to support her, it was the first time that I had ever set foot on a racecourse.

“I was blown away by the whole event — to be honest, I was really jealous. And as soon as the e-mail was sent out earlier this year asking for competitors, I was straight in there.”

James Alexander, captain of the defending champions, is the only rider to have taken part in last year’s race.

“Riding in last year’s race was incredible. I don’t remember a great deal about the race but I do remember the cheers starting to build as we reached the two furlong marker and, once I was past the post, I became aware of a crescendo of noise coming from behind me.

“Any Oxbridge student will tell you that in sporting terms the Varsity Match is the biggest thing and with me, as with most other people, it will represent the pinnacle of my sporting career.”

All the riders who will be seen in action are current students at Britain’s two top universities and many of them had never ridden a racehorse before training for this race began in the spring.

Amy Starkey, Regional Director of Jockey Club Racecourses East Region, said: “Following the success of last year, the 2015 Vision Varsity Horse Race is set to be another great occasion, which will launch a fantastic afternoon on the second day of the inaugural Dubai Future Champions Festival.

“The team members are all very enthusiastic about the task in hand and have obviously worked very hard to get to where they are now.

“Talking with them all about their training to date has been fascinating and Newmarket Racecourses and Dubai are extremely thankful to all the trainers involved, who have been so accommodating with the students.

“The inaugural Dubai Future Champions Festival is going to be a fantastic couple of days and we are very grateful for the generous and continuous support of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum [Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai].”

Newmarket Racecourses has been generously supported by Shaikh Mohammad, allowing all those in full-time education with a valid NUS (National Union of Students) card free tickets to the day’s racing.