It may not carry Carnival status but at least two of the races at Meydan this evening would merit a place at the international extravaganza and South African Mike De Kock, who has five runners on the card, agrees.

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These include Journeyman and Mastermind who face 11 rivals in a 1,200m turf handicap. 

The mount of Wayne Smith, Journeyman was not beaten far over 1,400m on dirt on New Year’s eve, while Mastermind will be having his first local outing and first run since April last year.

Mastermind will be having only his third career start and de Kock said: “Mastermind is a nice prospect and a new addition to our Dubai team. He will certainly 
improve for the outing as he is carrying plenty of condition.

“Journeyman ran well enough the other day and will appreciate the return to turf and 1,200m.”

Kilt Rock, trained by Doug Watson, is the only course and distance winner in the field having won a similar ‘non-carnival’ race last February and will again be ridden by Pat Dobbs.

De Kock also saddles two in a 1,600m turf handicap with Wayne Smith riding Lehaaf and Paul Hanagan aboard Almoonqith for main employer Sheikh Hamdan. Both have already had a start on dirt this season.

De Kock said: “Both my pair needed their first run and will certainly appreciate returning to turf. It looks a competitive race but they should run well.”

Hanagan actually had the choice of five runners owned by Sheikh Hamdan including Mundahesh, the choice of the owner’s second jockey, Dane O’Neill, and trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe.