Saturday’s $10m Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates, the 20th running of the planet’s richest horse race, is already guaranteed a place in the history books as the first renewal to be contested on dirt at Meydan.

However, more historic value could be added with last year’s hero, Godolphin’s African Story (GB), bidding to become the first dual winner of the race and a seventh for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

To clarify, Bin Suroor’s charge is actually only the second horse to seek a second victory in the 2000m contest, after Silver Charm landed the prize in 1998 but was well beaten the following year.

Three of Bin Suroor’s previous Dubai World Cup winners landed the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on their way to victory in the crowning glory of the UAE season, as did African Story this year – on Super Saturday three weeks ago.

He was chased home on that occasion by stable companion Prince Bishop (IRE) and Bin Suroor is clearly looking forward to Saturday’s big race.

“African Story won this last year on the all-weather and proved he can win on dirt on Super Saturday,” said the trainer. “With good horses like him, the surface really makes less difference as the best horses will handle any surface.

“He has a nice draw in three, while Prince Bishop, from stall one, will hopefully break better than he has the last twice.”

America has won the race on nine occasions and would appear to offer a strong challenge with both California Chrome (USA) and Lea (USA) holding obvious claims.

Winner of both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes last year, the first two legs of the American Triple Crown, California Chrome seemingly ran out of stamina in the concluding heat of the series, the 2400m Belmont Stakes when he eventually finished fourth.

Arguably his best performance was also a defeat, a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, before regaining the winning thread in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

Second to the very useful Shared Belief on his sole start to date this year, he has been pleasing Art Sherman, the oldest trainer to saddle a Kentucky Derby winner.

“He has taken everything in his stride and is in great form,” said Sherman. “I am delighted with stall nine as he likes to run from the outside and, obviously, we have all the early speed inside us.”

Trained by Bill Mott, winner of the inaugural Dubai World Cup in 1996 with Cigar, Lea also holds serious claims.

“It is great to be back with a serious contender,” said Mott. “We are drawn in the middle which is perfect.”

The Japanese boast dirt specialist Hokko Tarumae back for a repeat attempt at the world’s richest race, while turf star Epiphaneia is swapping surfaces.