William Buick was full of praise for his Dubai World Cup contender, Rattle N Roll, after riding him at Meydan on Thursday. The Godolphin jockey was in high demand by the press before and after the session, with trainer Kenny McPeek equally pleased with the way the horse handled the dirt track. Buick noted that the horse was fresh, eager, and moving well. He acknowledged Rattle N Roll’s strong finish in the Saudi Cup, where he secured fourth place, and expressed optimism that the additional furlong in Saturday’s race would be beneficial. He emphasized the importance of positioning in the race and the hope that being drawn in stall two would work to their advantage.

The Dubai Sheema Classic will see Calandagan stepping up in distance again after an impressive season last year. Trainer Francis Graffard recalled the colt’s dominant six-length victory at Royal Ascot over a similar trip and his strong performances against some of the best in the world. Graffard is determined to avoid repeating past mistakes and plans to allow Calandagan to settle into his natural rhythm rather than pushing him forward early. Despite facing a formidable field, he remains hopeful that his horse will produce a strong finish.

Rebel’s Romance, the reigning Sheema Classic champion, is seeking to make history by winning back-to-back titles. Buick highlighted the challenge of traveling and competing at the highest level across multiple countries, something Rebel’s Romance has mastered with victories in elite races in Hong Kong, Germany, and the United States. The race will feature top contenders from Europe and Japan, but Buick is confident in his mount’s consistency and ability to perform on the grand stage.

Trainer Owen Burrows believes Deira Mile has improved significantly since his last race in Saudi Arabia. The colt, who had a light workout on Meydan’s turf track, is expected to perform better over a slightly shorter trip. Owner Ahmad Al Shaikh remains optimistic about the horse’s chances, citing strong form and confidence in a top-four finish despite a highly competitive field.

Christophe Lemaire is preparing for multiple key rides on World Cup night, including Cervinia in the Sheema Classic and Brede Weg in the Dubai Turf. He remains confident that Cervinia’s recent run should be overlooked, as she was not fully engaged in racing mode at the time. He believes the mare will be far more competitive under ideal conditions in Dubai. Similarly, he has high expectations for Brede Weg, who possesses a sharp turn of foot and should benefit from the extra distance in the Dubai Turf.

Nations Pride, a four-time Group 1 winner, is set to take on Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior in the Dubai Turf. Buick believes his mount is often underestimated despite a proven track record across multiple countries. He expects Nations Pride to show further improvement since his last run, acknowledging the challenge but remaining hopeful for a strong performance.

Doug Watson is preparing Colour Up for the Dubai Golden Shaheen, hopeful that the veteran sprinter can deliver a strong showing against top contenders like Tuz and Straight No Chaser. Watson remains positive about the horse’s training progress and believes he can finish in the money. Additionally, he has several runners across different races on World Cup night, all of whom have been training well in recent weeks.

In the UAE Derby, Christophe Lemaire is optimistic about the chances of Admire Daytona, who previously finished just a nose behind one of Japan’s top dirt prospects. Lemaire believes that despite a slightly unlucky run last time, the colt has the ability to compete strongly and make his presence felt in a tough field.

Trawlerman returns to the Dubai Gold Cup with hopes of improving on last year’s third-place finish. The seasoned stayer has delivered commendable performances in elite company, including close finishes behind Kyprios in major European staying races. Trainer Thady Gosden is confident in the horse’s condition and ability to handle the Meydan track, while Buick also expressed enthusiasm about his mount’s chances.

Germany’s Straight is stepping up in distance for the first time in the Dubai Gold Cup. Having run well against Rebel’s Romance and Shin Emperor in previous outings, connections are eager to see how he handles the longer trip. While the hot weather is a concern, his camp remains optimistic about his ability to compete at this level.

Saudi Arabian trainer Naser Mutlaq has been closely monitoring his Kahayla Classic contender, Tilal Al Khalediah, who is in excellent form ahead of his title defense. Despite the withdrawal of stablemate Asfan Al Khalediah, Mutlaq remains confident in his charge’s ability to perform strongly in the prestigious contest.

As World Cup night approaches, final preparations are underway, with connections fine-tuning their plans to ensure their horses arrive in peak condition for one of the most anticipated events in international horse racing.