Five horses to follow on Dubai World Cup night this Saturday

Another Dubai Racing Carnival reaches its thrilling conclusion on Saturday evening with a fantastic nine-race card on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan. The $12 million Dubai World Cup is the undisputed highlight, with American superstars Life Is Good and Hot Rod Charlie the leading players.

However, there are myriad British and Irish challengers headlining the rest of the card - including Lord North, Hukum and Real World - and we’ve taken a look at five leading prospects worth keeping on side.

Remember, you can watch every race from Dubai World Cup night on Racing TV.

Trainer: Charlie Appleby Race: Dubai Gold Cup (12.55pm)

The four-year-old could be a potential superstar and takes the next step up the ladder in the Dubai Gold Cup.

The son of Sea The Stars defeated subsequent Derby second Mojo Star on debut before moving through the ranks with success at Kempton, Listed glory at Saint-Cloud and victory in Group Two company at Longchamp in October. Yet it was his seasonal return at Meydan last month which really captured the imagination and he broke the track record when powering to victory by 5½ lengths.

Manobo is undoubtedly the class horse in this line-up and he could well develop into one of the leading stayers around when returning to the domestic scene. He looks one of the most exciting prospects on show.

Trainer: Adrian McGuinness Race: Al Quoz Sprint (1.35pm)

A Case Of You provided Adrian McGuinness with his first Group One success when landing the Prix De L’Abbaye at Longchamp in October and was then an unlucky fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, having to come from the back of the field and finishing strongly despite meeting trouble in running.

A smooth victory at Dundalk on his return was followed by a run full of promise on his Meydan debut when second in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint. While it is not going to be easy to reverse the four and three-quarter lengths he was beaten by Man Of Promise on that occasion, that was his first experience of the track and he may not have stopped progressing just yet.

Trainer: William Haggas Race: Dubai Turf (3.20pm)

This could be a defining season for Mohaafeth.

A four-time winner last term culminating with Group Three success at Royal Ascot, he was arguably underwhelming on his final two starts of the campaign when third in the York Stakes and fourth in the Juddmonte International.

However, it could just be that it was a case of too many runs given his season started on March 19 wheh scoring at Lingfield and this son of Frankel - despite his idiosyncrasies - is blessed with stacks of natural ability.

This is an interesting assignment for his first run of the year and Haggas has also reported that an issue with a compressed testicle has been sorted. A horse with an abundance of promise, this is a season where he now has to deliver on it.

Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam Race: Dubai Turf (3.20pm)

Second in the 1000 Guineas, Saffron Beach deservedly recorded a first Group One success in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket in October and Jane Chapple-Hyam’s stable star looks the type who has more to offer as a four-year-old.

Officially rated 115, Saffron Beach only has 5lb to find with top-rated defending champion Lord North on ratings and of course benefits from the fillies’ allowance.

Quick ground looks a real positive and she looks a leading candidate for this contest under newlywed Hollie Doyle against Japanese hopes Schnell Meister and Panthalassa.

Trainer: William Haggas Race: Dubai Sheema Classic (3.55pm)

This race is full of British talent with Pyledriver, Hukum, Yibir and Alenquer all engaged, but Dubai Honour is the one of serious interest.

He progressed rapidly through the ranks last term, winning a brace of Group events at Deauville and Longchamp before finishing a fine second in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October. The four-year-old again emerged with credit at the back-end of a long season when fourth in the Hong Kong Cup when short of room in the home straight.

It now remains a case of how much more improvement there is still to come from the Pride Of Dubai gelding. Haggas has suggested that cut in the ground would see his charge to best effect, but he remains one to watch in an excellent event and on a day when Haggas has a number of other live chances at Meydan as well as closer to home in the SBK Lincoln.