Friday 24th March, 2023 – It’s great to be back in Dubai. I spent 18 years riding for Godolphin, so I had many winters out here, and it’s where my kids were brought up. Whenever I come out here it feels special and quite emotional.

Japan is well represented in this race with four of the eleven starters. Christophe Lemaire, who rode four Group winners at this meeting last year, is again aboard Songline, the defending champion.