The Super Thursday card, the dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup meeting and sponsored by the Derrinstown Stud of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was highlighted by the concluding rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge.

The featured Thoroughbred Group 2 Maktoum Challenge III, over 2000m on the Tapeta, was won by Japanese challenger Red Desire who finished fast and late under Olivier Peslier to lead in the dying strides and deny the gallant Gloria De Campeao. Mike De Kock's Mr Brock was just behind in third in a thrilling finish.

Peslier said: "I rode her work the other day and she really pleased me and that was a very good performance when you consider what she has beaten. She will hopefully improve from that outing and be a live [Dubai] World Cup contender."

The first turf race on the night, the Group 2 Dubai City of Gold over 2485m, was won by Godolphin's Campanologist in a driving finish under Frankie Dettori. He only hit the front close home but then had to hold off the late challenge of Pan River from Turkey to complete a treble for Godolphin, Dettori and trainer Saeed bin Suroor – with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, present to witness it.

Bin Suroor said: "He is a nice and game horse who will hopefully be back on Dubai World Cup night for the Dubai Sheema Classic. We have enjoyed a great Carnival to date and hopefully can keep it going."

Presvis was runner-up in last year's Dubai Duty Free and will bid to go one better after a very impressive victory in the Group 2 Jebel Hatta over the same 1800m turf trip. Carrying a Group 1 penalty, he was always travelling well under Ryan Moore and once unleashed in the final 200m he ran on strongly to lead close home to the delight of trainer Luca Cumani who said: "That was very pleasing and Ryan gets on so well with this horse. We will be back in three weeks for the [Dubai] Duty Free and have to be hopeful of a good effort."

The first Thoroughbred race was the Group 3 Al Bastakiya was won by Godolphin with Dettori partnering Mendip to a comfortable victory in the 1900m contest. The 3yo remains unbeaten and will head for the UAE Derby according to trainer Saeed Bin Suroor: "He is a horse we have always really liked and the UAE Derby is his main target."

That was on Tapeta as was the following Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal, over 1200m and the same trainer/jockey combination won again, this time with Desert Party, winner of the 2009 UAE 2000 Guineas. Bin Suroor said: "He has been off a long time so that is a very pleasing effort and hopefully there is improvement left as he would have needed the outing."

The opening race was the Group 1 Purebred Arabian version of the Al Maktoum Challenge, over the same 2000m Tapeta course and distance as the Dubai Kahayla Classic and it was won easily by No Risk Al Maury, owned by sponsor Sheikh Hamdan. Kandar Du Falgas and Paris Gagner were second and third for the same owner and all three will be back on Dubai World Cup night.

Gill Duffield trained the winner, ridden by Richard Hills, who said: "He is a very nice horse and a top Purebred Arabian. All being well, he is the one to beat on [Dubai] World Cup night."

The Group 3 Burj Nahaar, over 1600m on Tapeta, was won by Cat Junior who made every yard of the running under Hills, completing a double and who said: "He has done that nicely and I was always bowling along happily."