Newmarket, England: Golden Barows, a Japanese-trained son of Tapit, gets my nod in Saturday night’s $2 million classic, the Group 1 UAE Derby.

This imposing colt is coming off three straight wins, all over 1,600 metres in Tokyo. He was long odds-on for all three races and comes here with a big reputation.

Ryan Moore, who partnered him in what was an absolute procession when he broke his maiden four months ago, takes the ride again over 1,900 metres in Dubai.

Golden Barows stepped up to allowance company on his first start this year. He came across a sloppy track and won comfortably. A month later, he treated a Listed race much in the same manner, winning the Hyacinth Stakes by three-and-a-half lengths from Edenhall.

Golden Barows came from off the pace to take the lead with less than 200 metres to go and won as he pleased. Dear Domus was back in fourth, two places better than Tap Dance. Dear Domus had previously beaten Tap Dance by half a length to take a Listed event at Kawasaki.

There’s little between the top three local hopes — Mubtaahij, Maftool and Sir Fever. Mubtaahij had no trouble beating Sir Fever in the Al Bastakiya on Super Saturday and Mike de Kock’s charge could prove the best once more.

He had previously lost to Maftool in the UAE 2,000 Guineas, when he seemed a bit short on stamina, but the impression was quite the opposite as he stretched out to 1,900 metres three weeks ago.

Maftool bypassed the Al Bastakiya to come here fresh. Form-wise he is right in the mix, but stamina must be a worry. He won the Sommerville Tattersall Stakes over 1,400 metres in England last year.

Sir Fever is quite the opposite, as he is a runner who would ideally like a longer distance than the UAE Derby offers. He was an outstanding champion in Uruguay, winning all of his ten races and producing his career best in the Gran Premio Nacional, staged over 2,500 metres.

Sir Fever met defeat for the first time on Super Saturday and perhaps he needs both more time and longer distances to acclimatise.

Invasor, who like Sir Fever won the Triple Crown in Uruguay, was unplaced in the UAE Derby before developing into a top class older horse, completing the Breeders’ Cup Classic-Dubai World Cup double.

— The author is the editor of Newmarket-based independent racing and handicapping publication globeform.co.uk