Ayr Gold Cup absentee Magnus Maximus back for Dubai mission

Magnus Maximus, a late absentee when well fancied for the Ayr Gold Cup, reappears at Meydan on Thursday.Trained by Robyn Brisland, the six-year-old won his last two starts at Chelmsford and Ascot in the style of a rapidly-improving sprinter.Unfortunately for connections he was forced to miss his appearance in Scotland, and Dubai has been on the agenda ever since."We targeted Dubai for a while," said Brisland."He took the travelling well and he's having the time of his life out here, he's fresh and well. "It was so unfortunate he had to miss the Ayr Gold Cup, but he got cast in his box and ricked his neck.We were gutted when it happened, he was in the form of his life and looked to have a really good chance. "This is a step into the unknown for the horse, the owners and me, but so far we're enjoying it."He's done us proud and I feel he's a better horse this year, sprinters tend to improve with age and I hope that's the case with him."Among his 13 rivals in the EGA Al Taweelah Trophy, a five-furlong handicap on turf, are Caspian Prince and Sir Maximilian, first and second at the Carnival two weeks ago.Caspian Prince, Sole Power, Maljaa and Line Of Reason are other familiar names in the line-up.Cymric, last seen at Glorious Goodwood for John Gosden, has his first run for Charlie Appleby in the EGA Potlines Trophy."Cymric has been gelded since his last run and has settled in nicely to his new surroundings," Appleby told www.godolphin.com."This is his first run for me, so it will be something of a fact-finding mission, but I have been pleased with his work."He has ticked every box so far and we are looking forward to getting him on the course. If he can rekindle some of his juvenile form, he will be a serious player on Thursday."Brendan Powell's Carnival regular Dark Emerald also features.Round two of the Al Maktoum Challenge sees the eight-year-old Le Bernardin attempt to repeat his victory in the first round.David Elsworth has a runner on the card in Master The World, who comes up against the Mick Channon-trained Epsom Icon and George Baker's Belgian Bill in the Jebel Ali Trophy.