So looking at the thoroughbred races in order we start with the G2 Godolphin Mile. This used to be the preserve of Godolphin but they don't have a runner here. The favourite is the American Saudi Crown, trained by Brad Cox and the ride goes to Florent Geroux. He was fifth in the Saudi Cup but won the Pennsylvania Derby Gr 1. It's a pretty open race with Saudi Crown on 6/5 in the UK and the locals looking to challenge here in the form of Doug Watson's Isolate who ran 6th in the Saudi Cup, won the Al Maktoum Mile and won this race in 2023. Luis Saez rides and they are on 5/2. You can use a pin for the others – maybe Walk of Starts on 10/1 for Seemar-O'Shea.
The G2 Gold Cup is over the 3200m turf with 16 starters headed by Coolmore's Tower of London. He has been leading his stablemates out on the track every morning and Ryan Moore will be aboard on Saturday. He recently won the G3 Red Sea Turf in Bahrain, was 4th in the St Leger and won the Ulster Derby. He's a Galileo and on 3/1. Siskaany is a Godolphin 6yo who has twice won the Nad Al Sheba Trophy over 2800m, won the Belmont Invitational last June and came second to Broome in this race last year. Appleby-Buick and on 9/2. Eldar Eldarev won the Irish St Leger in a 4 runner race and won the UK version in 2022 and is on 5/1, and Roger Varian has called on James Doyle, returning after an injury time out, for the ride. Trawler Man is on the same quote – he's a Godolphin horse but with the Gosdens and Kevin Shoemark will ride. He won the Long Distance Cup last October and the Rose Bowl and the Persian Punch in September. A possible roughie is the French runner Sober from Andre Fabre's yard but his best form has been on soft ground however he won the Prix Kergolay which is a good test of stamina on very soft ground.
The Al Quoz turf sprint is the first of the G1s and 12 will line up for the 1200m contest.
Hong Kong's California Spangle comes into this from a win in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup and Tony Cruz has kept Aussie jockey Brenton Avdulla in the irons. They are on 5/2.
Godolphin's Star of Mystery is a 3yo filly so has a weight advantage. She was second in the Nad Al Sheba Sprint and won twice in January. Frankie Dettori rides and they are on 11/4. Casa Creed is American and they usually are well placed in sprints as they are good starters. He's an 8yo with Bill Mott training and Luis Saez riding and 9/2 available. His last 5 finishes are 2-3-1-1-3. English runner Frost at Dawn is very versatile and beat Star of Mystery when they last met by 2 ½ lengths over 1000m.
The UAE Derby is G2 over 1900m and looks like being one of the more exciting races as it features the Japanese star 3yo Forever Young. He's from the yard of master trainer Yahagi and will be partnered by regular jockey Sakai. By Real Steel who is a successful sire son of Deep Impact, at his last outing he won the Saudi Derby and at home the Zen Nippon Nisai Yushun last year, a G1 on dirt. One that has had plenty of attention this week is Pandagate, by Arrogate who won impressively in his debut race and also in his latest start. Trainer Christophe Clement and son Miguel have mapped out an ambitious program for him which will continue with the Wood and go on to the Belmont. They are on 7/1 as is Wilson Tesoro, by Real Warrior who won an Allowance in February by 3 ½ lengths and was just beaten a nose in his latest run.
The Golden Shaheen is G1 over 1200m on dirt and is another relatively open race. Wesley Ward's sprinters generally are respected and this time he's bringing Nakatomi who is very consistent (3-3-2-1-3) and has booked Jamie Spencer for the ride. He was beaten by Sibelius in February and is on 4/1. Japanese runner Remake has been something of a revelation when traveling – certainly he doesn't get many top level dirt races at home. He won the Seoul Sprint last September and then the Riyadh Dirt Sprint in February. His record is now 1-2-1-1-2 and he will have his regular partner Kawada on board. Sibelius is going for the double here having won this race last year. Since then he's won the Pelican and the Mr Prospector. Ryan Moore will ride for Jerry O'Dwyer. Our roughie here is Hopkins on 10/1 – he was 4th in this race last year and has two seconds to his name so far this year. Baffert is the trainer and Saez the jockey.
