Godolphin’s strongest chance this year would appear to be Ribchester (IRE)

Robbed this week of last year’s victor, Japan’s Real Steel (JPN), there will be a new name on the trophy for the 1800m Group 1 US$6m Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World.

Godolphin have owned the winner on three occasions, all trained by Saeed bin Suroor who himself can boast five victories in the turf feature and they combine with Very Special (IRE), sixth in this race 12 months ago.

She will be ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, who won the 2013 renewal for the same connections, but Godolphin’s strongest chance this year would appear to be Ribchester (IRE), trained in England by Richard Fahey and the mount of William Buick.

Buick and Fahey’s charge won both the 1400m Jersey Stakes, at Royal Ascot and the 1600m Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, in Deauville, last summer with the latter appearing the one strongest piece of form on offer.

This is a new trip for Buick’s mount but he has looked in good order at Meydan this week. “He did all his serious work before leaving so has just been ticking over since arriving and we have been sending him out early when it is cooler,” said Fahey. “We think he is a better horse and, as long as he settles in the race, he will stay the trip.”

He is drawn one, next to arguably his main opposition in the shape of Zarak (FR), trained in France by Alain de Royer-Dupre and already a course winner this season having landed the 2000m Dubai Millennium Stakes on his local debut five weeks ago.

Ridden on all eight career outings by Christophe Soumillon, it was the jockey who appeared to nominate this target, as opposed to the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, over 610m further as the most suitable option.

“Zarak will stay further in time but has the speed for this shorter trip which I think suits him best at the moment,” said Soumillon. “Hopefully he is still improving and can run a big race.”

Trained by William Haggas for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mutakayyef (GB), is another strong contender from England. A Group 2 winner at Ascot in July, he was then twice third in Group 1 company, most recently at Woodbine in Canada last September.

“He showed last year international travel does not faze him,” said trainer’s wife, Maureen Haggas. “Jim (Crowley) rode him on Wednesday and was pleased so, hopefully, all is well ahead of Saturday.”

The course and distance Group 1 Jebel Hatta, on Super Saturday, was won in the dying strides by Decorated Knight (GB), trained by Roger Charlton and, thus, another from England with better than average claims.

The trainer’s only previous runner on the World Cup card was Cityscape, winner of the equivalent race to this in 2012. “It is nice to be back with a realistic challenger,” said Charlton. “Winning a Group 1 was the main plan and we did that on Super Saturday. This is a tougher ask but I am pleased with him.”

Photo: Dubai Racing Club