Abu Dhabi: Trainer Majid Al Jahouri’s hopes of retaining the Kahayla Classic, the traditional opening race and Arabian showpiece on the Dubai World Cup card, this weekend suffered a huge setback as Thakif was withdrawn at the last minute due to injury.

The news completes a double blow for Emirati Al Jahouri and his patron Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, as last year’s winner Rabbah De Carrere will also be out of action after undergoing surgery.

Thakif had earned his ticket for the event in impressive fashion as Harry Bentley led him to a resounding win in the HH The President Cup race at Abu Dhabi Racecourse last month.

With that win, the seven-year-old chestnut son of Mahabb had completed his third win in as many appearances for the season and had emerged as one of the favourites for the Kahayla Classic.

“Thakif was training well and looked in good shape until a few days before the declarations were to be announced,” said Al Jahouri.

“He suddenly looked unhappy and unwell and a veterinary test revealed he was suffering from a knee injury. It isn’t serious but enough to keep him out of the race.

“Indeed, we are gutted because he was the horse with the best form from the local entries. So it was very unfortunate that he had to miss the race he had been prepared for.

“Rabbah De Carrere is recovering from keyhole surgery in one of his legs and won’t be ready until next season.”

Al Jahouri will now pin his hopes of Kahayla Classic glory on Raaziq.

In last year’s race, which jockey Olivier Peslier won for Al Jahouri on Rabbah De Carrere, Raaziq finished fourth. His best performances this season were second-place finishes in the first two rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge.

The six-year-old chestnut son of Munjiz’s last win came in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (G1) in March last year.

“We have to forget Raaziq’s last two starts but we are hopeful he will run a big race for us,” said Al Jahouri, who will face a stiff challenge from Valiant Boy, owned by Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy National Security Adviser. Valiant Boy has been flown in from the United States.

The son of Darwesh, trained by Elizabeth Merryman, is in phenomenal form and is a winner of eight races.

Also figuring in the strong line-up is last year’s runner-up Djainka Des Forges, trained by Julian Smart. The six-year-old chestnut mare owned by Qatar’s Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Thani last ran on February 26, when she was second in a Group 1 race in Doha.

Another horse under the Qatari flag and trained by Smart is Taraf, though the five-year-old grey mare finished a disappointing fifth in her last Group 1 race back home after registering back-to-back victories earlier this year.

Manark and Versac PY, both owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, can also spring a surprise.

Trained by Erwan Charpy, Manark comprehensively won his last Group 2 race a month ago by 9.25 lengths, while Versac PY won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 in the first week of March.

Another notable runner is Its far from Over, owned by Khalfan Hamad Al Qubaisi, who won the Emirates Championship in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.