12.20 Godolphin Mile Sponsored By Emaar (Group 2) (Dirt) 1m

Commissioner King heads the markets for Bhupat Seemar and Tadhg O’Shea off his win on Super Saturday. He can hold off stable companion Mendelssohn Bay again here.

James Doyle has a stellar selection of mounts including the hat-trick-seeking David Of Athens for Wathnan Racing and he could be the danger.

SELECTION: Commissioner King Next best: David Of Athens

12.55 Dubai Gold Cup

Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors (Group 2) 2m

This looks a good spot for Al Riffa to get back in the winner’s enclosure, but he must see out the two-mile distance. The only time he tried it was with top weight and a none-too-inspiring ride in the Melbourne Cup. Declan McDonogh steps in for the mount in the absence of Dylan Browne McMonagle. A patient ride should see him involved, but the distance is the concern. Stable companion Sons And Lovers was a tough winner of Riyadh’s Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap over a mile and seven last month.

Caballo De Mar coped with soft ground and two and a half miles in winning the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran. Though there has been substantial rain, the turf track is expected to dry out. Dubai Future won this last year and his third in the Gold Cup at Ascot was decent, but younger rivals should have his measure.

SELECTION: Sons And Lovers

Next best: Al Riffa

1.30 UAE Derby Sponsored By Jumeirah (Group 2) 1m 1½f

The last four runnings have gone to Japanese runners and their unbeaten favourite Pyromancer is the mount of James Doyle for Godolphin.

Brotherly Love bids for compensation for his half-brother’s nose defeat for Jamie Osborne, but he was well beaten in the 2000 Guineas here.

Bhupat Seemar’s wide-margin January winner Salloom is well supported, while the American-bred Devon Island for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby has two earlier wins over Brotherly Love this season. The son of Practical Joke was five lengths behind today’s rival Six Speed when favourite for the 2000 Guineas. Wide-margin UAE Oaks winner Labwah is an interesting runner.

SELECTION: Pyromancer

Next best: Devon Island

2.20 Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored By Azizi Developments (Group 1) 6f

There was a neck between Lazzat and the American runner Reef Runner in the seven-furlong Group 2 Turf Sprint at Riyadh in February.

Jerome Reynier’s speedster won his first outing in the Wathnan Racing silks in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes last summer, but his chance was hindered by a wide draw in Riyadh.

Jockey James Doyle said this week: “He’ll be looking for a bit of revenge for Saudi, but he was drawn really wide there and had to use up a lot of petrol.

“He’s uncomplicated and it doesn’t really matter to him whether it’s a straight track or whatever, but a nice draw in the middle is a plus.” (Drawn 7 this time).

Francis Graffard’s Rayevka was a bit disappointing in the sprint on Super Saturday behind shock 50/1 winner Native Approach. Ed Walker’s Northern Champion has two Meydan wins in lesser company to his name this winter. Japanese runner Lugal is the second choice in betting, but he is not the most consistent.

SELECTION: Lazzat

Next best: Northern Champion

2.55 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored By Nakheel (Group 1) 6f

Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato looks likely to land one for America here.

Never out of the first three, the Jose Francisco D’Angelo-trained gelding was an easy winner at Del Mar and a fast surface should hold no fears for him. El Nasseeb has solid form over the winter and looks the biggest danger.

SELECTION: Bentornato

Next best: El Nasseeb

3.35 Dubai Turf Sponsored By DP World (Group 1) 1m 1f

Ombudsman is reported to be well primed for his first target of the year, even though he was beaten on his debut last season. He boasts outstanding credentials on his Royal Ascot and York form, even though softer ground was a concern last season. The Gosden’s readied Lord North for three wins in this.

Quddwah was an easy winner of the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes, but this is still a big step up in class.

As the Japanese representative, Gaia Force is respected but he doesn’t look the same quality as recent challengers and his best form is over a mile.

The 2024 winner Facteur Cheval remains competitive at top level, but was no match for Royal Champion in the Group 1 Neom Turf Cup. Ed Walker’s Fort George put up a decent effort against Rebel’s Romance and could be the one to follow the favourite home.

SELECTION: Ombudsman

Next best: Fort George

4.10 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) 1m 4f

The best horse in the world, Calandagan, returns to the same starting point as last year. He had an outstanding 2025, ending up with the best of wins in the British Champions Stakes and the Japan Cup, but he was beaten comprehensively here last season by 14/1 Japanese raider Danon Decile. Presumably, the Graffard team will have him primed and ready this time and he is hard to oppose against this opposition.

Ethical Diamond has his great American Breeders’ Cup win to live up to. Was that a one off or can he step up again on perhaps softer conditions as Danny Tudhope comes in for the ride?

Giavellotto, fourth in the Arc and second in the Hong Kong Vase, is a solid performer if he just might lack a turn of foot at top level.

James Doyle takes the mount saying: “Calandagan will be tough to beat, but I have a very willing partner, who goes into the race in great order.”

SELECTION: Calandagan

Next best: Giavellotto

4.45 Dubai World Cup

Sponsored By Emirates Airline (Group 1) 1m 2f

Now five, Forever Young looked as good as ever in winning the Saudi Cup, though the second probably didn’t stay there and he bids to improve on last year’s third place in this race. That placing was a bit of a surprise given he had won a high-class Saudi Cup previously.

The Americans are here in the shape of last year’s shock winner Hit Show and the progressive four-year-old Magnitude.

Hit Show returns off a Grade 2 Fair Grounds win, though he was beaten by Magnitude in the Clark Handicap last November.

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Gun Runner was just beaten by Arrogate in this race in 2017.

Their runner Magnitude’s two most recent victories came in the Grade 2 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs at the end of November and in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park. He missed a lot of his three-year-old season and has scope for improvement if the favourite is below par.

“I’m pretty confident that he’ll run well, he pretty much always does,” racing manager David Fiske said on Blood-Horse. “He came out of the Razorback better than when he went into it.”

Imperial Emperor, a son of Dubawi, stepped up on previous form to win the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge in January.

Meydaan improved hugely last time on the dirt to defy his breeding. A repeat of that performance could put it up to Forever Young if he isn’t on top form again.

SELECTION: Meydaan

Next best: Forever Young