AIDAN O’Brien has saddled the winners of 313 Group or Grade 1 races around the world. They cover nine different countries, but just one of these was recorded in the UAE. In 2013 St Nicholas Abbey won the Dubai Sheema Classic, and today the Ballydoyle maestro will attempt to repeat the feat with Magic Wand and Hunting Horn.

Six years ago Aidan also came away with success in the Group 2 UAE Derby. That was with Lines Of Battle and he saddles Van Beethoven today. Lost Treasure and I Can Fly complete the raiding party from Ballydoyle, though Tipperary has a sixth challenger with David Marnane’s Tato Key in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen, carrying a winner’s prize of almost £1.2 million.