While the event has been staged since 1996 Meydan hosts the event for only the second time with 14 horses descending on the Emirates capital.

Worth a staggering $10 million there’s no shortage of talent looking for a ticket to Dubai every year for the World Cup.

Trained by the legendary Henry Cecil, Twice Over is one of the more fancied runners in the race and won the official lead up trial on this course over the same distance.

“Last year we came out for the race without time to acclimatise and, on reflection, it did not really work,” Cecil said.

“The first three in that race had all been competing at the Carnival since earlier in the year, whereas those of us who arrived late struggled.

“We have taken that very much into account and arrived in plenty of time with the view of running on Super Thursday.

“We thought he would need that run so for him to win as he did was a very pleasant surprise. Hopefully, he has improved in terms of fitness and we have to at least be hopeful.”

In that trial he was chased home by Musir which will again oppose him in the World Cup along with stable mate Golden Sword.

Jockey of Golden Sword, Kevin Shea, remains positive despite a horror barrier draw.

“The horse has little early pace and the plan was always to settle him in behind so the draw is not an issue. I am very hopeful of a big run,” Shea said.

On paper Musir looks a great hope after claiming the 2010 UAE Derby but surprisingly no horse which has ever won that race has gone on to claim victory in the World Cup.

Despite this it was an adamant decision by jockey Christophe Soumillion to ride this horse.

“It was no easy choice for Christophe but, if pushed, I would perhaps say he has picked the right one – but we are talking fractions. Musir has the better of the draw certainly,” Shea said.

There’s been plenty of shuffling around throughout the field as well with Cape Blanco, the winner of last year’s Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes, now to carry the pink colours of Fitriani Hay after her husband Jim bought a large share of the Aidan O’Brien trained runner.

The ability of the horse in unquestioned but queries have been raised about the length of time he has to prepare after only arriving in the UAE this week.

These claims were dismissed though by the man who will ride him, Jamie Spencer.

“He is a quality horse and an exciting prospect. I am not worried about the Tapeta surface as he works well on similar in Ireland,” he said.

Gitano Hernando will race for the last time under Marco Botti after being sold to Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov.

He finished behind Twice Over both on Super Thursday and last year in the Champion Stakes.

The Japanese have come in force for this year’s Dubai World Cup with three horses hoping to win the event for Japan for the very first time.

Buena Vista, runner-up on the program last year in the Sheema Classic will be partnered by Ryan Moore while Soumillon claimed to ride Musir. Transcend, is not without hope in a strong trio for the Japanese.

Of course Godolphin also makes a strong appearance with Poet’s Voice to be steered by the world famous Frankie Dettori.

He was well beaten by Twice Over last year in the Newmarket the only time he’s run this trip but settled poorly in that race.

Prince Bishop suffered a similar fate last start on Super Thursday.

The other runner is the largely overlooked Monterosso which won an event on Super Thursday and drops down in distance to tackle them in the World Cup.

Of last year’s contenders the American Gio Ponti came fourth but is yet to run this year and only twice has a horse won the Dubai World Cup with that lead up.

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