Mark Costello

SOLE Power, Toscanini and Elleval are the three Irish-trained runners on the Super Saturday card at Meydan.

Now a nine-year-old, Sole Power needed nine runs at Meydan over a four-year period before he finally got his head in front at the Dubai track last March in the Group 1 Al Quoz on World Cup day. His only other win last season came at the Curragh during Irish Champions Weekend and he remains tricky to catch on the right day.

This is his fifth year to run in this trial race (1.10pm) and, even with Ryan Moore booked, it seems most unlikely he could win it on his sixth attempt.

Toscanini is a bit of a character and it was no surprise he needed his recent run but he could be a surprise package here.

Robert Cowell’s Goldream looks a worthy favourite. The Prix de l’Abbaye winner always goes well fresh.

Elleval is a credit to trainer David Marnane and has been placed in three competitive handicaps at Meydan during the carnival. This step up to Group 1 company today (3.30pm) will surely see him outclassed – he was seventh in it last year following a similar preparation.

This race, the Jebel Hatta, is being billed as a standout opportunity for Godolphin’s Tryster to grab his first Group 1 win.

The all-weather specialist looked at home on the Meydan turf last time out, despite pulling hard. He is no value today – take a chance instead with Ertijaal, who has looked Group 2 class on turf before and can be excused his disastrous attempt on dirt a fortnight ago.

Perhaps the most interesting race on the card is round three of the Al Maktoum Challenge (2.55pm), trial for the Dubai World Cup at the end of the month. It features Keen Ice, the only horse to have beaten American Pharoah last season. It will be fascinating to see how Ryan Moore gets on in this dirt contest.

Trained by Dale Romans, Keen Ice took down American Pharoah in the Travers at Saratoga last August. He later finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and was a modest sixth in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park last month.

The Mike de Kock-trained Mubtaahij is closely matched with Keen Ice on last year’s American form and connections expect a big run from him.

The Group 2 City of Gold Stakes (2.20pm) is also worth watching for the reappearance of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Postponed.