Maktoum Challenge, Jebel Hatta highlight Super Saturday

Super Saturday, the official dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup

(UAE-G1), takes place at Meydan on Saturday and spectators will be treated to

two Group 1 contests on the card.

The official feature is the third and final round of the Al Maktoum Challenge

(UAE-G1) over the same 2000-meter course and distance as the world's richest

horse race, the $10 million Dubai World Cup staged in three weeks time.

Godolphin handler Saeed bin Suroor has a phenomenal record in this race,

first contested in 1994, and is seeking to it for an 11th time.

Godolphin are actually seeking a 14th success in the contest, which before

the Dubai World Cup was inaugurated in 1996, was the biggest race on the U.A.E.

racing calendar.

Bin Suroor saddles two this year with last year's Dubai World Cup winner

African Story (Pivotal) looking to bounce back from a disappointing debut in the

middle round of the Al Maktoum Challenge (UAE-G2) over 1900 meters.

He was only seventh on that occasion whereas stable companion Prince Bishop (Dubawi),

who won the first and second rounds last year, was a close second. Stable jockey

James Doyle rides African Story with William Buick aboard Prince Bishop, the

same jockey bookings as for the second round.

"I was disappointed with African Story last time," bin Suroor said. "He just

did not seem to like the kickback early in the race. Hopefully he can get a good

position early on this time and then we expect him to run a huge race.

"His preparation has gone very well and he is in great form."

African Story won the 1600-meter Burj Nahaar on this card in both 2012 and

2013, but was only eighth in Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 last year when Prince

Bishop won well.

"Prince Bishop ran well last time and we were very pleased with him," bin

Suroor said. "He was finishing strongly on that occasion and the extra 100

meters will suit him. He has always run well in Dubai and is also going very

well at home."

As well as winning this race last year, he was fifth in the same contest in

2011 and third in both 2012 and 2013.

Second round winner, Frankyfourfingers (Sunday Break), will try and emulate

Prince Bishop who won both races last year and Hunter's Light (Dubawi) who won

both in 2013. Mickael Barzalona again rides.

Doug Watson has enjoyed a fantastic Dubai World Cup Carnival and two of his

stars, Henry Clay (Dubawi) and Storm Belt (More Than Ready) are among the nine

declared with stable jockey Pat Dobbs riding Storm Belt and Sam Hitchcott on

Henry Clay

"Both remain fit and well and we are pleased with them," Watson said. "They

deserve a chance in this illustrious company and we know conditions suit them

both. We are really looking forward to it."

South African Mike de Kock is seeking a fifth win in the Jebel Hatta

(UAE-G1), over the same 1800-meter turf course and distance as the $6 million

Dubai Turf (UAE-G1) and is mob handed with no less than six of the 12 declared

runners.

They are headed by last year's winner Vercingetorix (Silvano), who went on to

be second in the, then, Dubai Duty Free, suffering his first career defeat in

the process. He has already won the Al Rashidiya (UAE-G2), over the same course

and distance, this year and looks the one the other 11 have to beat under

Christophe Soumillon.

"Vercingetorix is in top order and must have a big chance of repeating last

year's win," de Kock said. "These are his optimum conditions and we expect

another very big run from him."

He is joined in the field by last year's third Anaerobio (Catcher in the

Rye), ridden by Richard Mullen, who tried to make all last season only to tire

close home. Flying the Flag (Galileo) won a 2000-meter turf handicap last time

under Johnny Geroudis who keeps the ride.

The sextet are completed by Darwin (Big Brown), ridden by Paul Hanagan,

Johann Strauss (High Chaparral), who is the mount of Dane O'Neill, and 2014

two-time Dubai World Cup Carnival winner Sanshaawes (Ashaawes), who will be

ridden by Gavin Lerena.

"Flying the Flag won a nice race last week but is stepping up markedly in

class in what is his last chance to earn an invitation for Dubai World Cup

night," de Kock said.

"We hope Darwin will stay 1800 meters but there has to be a bit of a question

mark, whereas Johann Strauss should relish the trip.

"He is a really exciting horse but we have just had to rush him a little bit

to get here which is not ideal.

"This will probably be Anaerobio's last race and Sanshaawes could also be

approaching the end of his career but we hope he can grab a place here."

Godolphin and bin Suroor, who have also won the race four times previously,

rely on multiple Group 1 winner Hunter's Light.

He has reverted to turf his year and rewarded connections by winning both his

Meydan starts, including the 2000-meter Dubai Millennium Stakes on his most

recent outing. James Doyle is seeking to maintain his 100 percent strike rate on

the horse having partnered him to both victories this year.

He looks the main danger to the de Kock battalion.

"He has won both his starts well this year and this race has been the target

since his second win," bin Suroor said. "Obviously this is a much stronger

contest but we would really like to win another Group 1 with him.

"His work has been very good and he should produce another good effort."

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