If ever home advantage was going to prove key on Dubai World Cup night it is quite likely this could be the year with trainers based permanently in the UAE well represented.

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Leaving Godolphin aside, given they arrive on the track only for the Carnival (at which they have again done very well), the home team looks strong this year and their runners are certainly not just making up the numbers.

Musabah Al Muhairi, who clinched his first local trainers’ championship just last week, saddled a Super Saturday double for Sheikh Hamdan and both his winners at the ‘dress rehearsal’ meeting are back seeking further big race glory.

His main hope would appear to be Tamarkuz, winner of the Group 3 Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday, and seeking a third consecutive 1,600m dirt victory when facing 15 rivals in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile.

Paul Hanagan rides with Dane O’Neill aboard stable companion Nolohay, also owned by Sheikh Hamdan and a course and distance winner.

Al Muhairi said: “It has been a great season, especially in recent weeks and it is exciting to have good chances on World Cup night. Both of mine are drawn well and should run big races under conditions that suit.”

Frankyfourfingers, winner of the 1,800m middle round of the Al Maktoum Challenge for Salem bin Ghadayer, has drawn OK in seven but Surfer (16 – Satish Seemar), Layl (14 – Doug Watson), Forjatt (13 – Dhruba Selvaratnam), Haatheq (11 – Ali Rashid Al Raihe) and Gold City (10 – Seemar) have not fared so well.

After 21 races, no horse has won over this 1,600m drawn higher than seven. Shaishee won the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal at Meydan’s second meeting of the season for Al Muhairi and Sheikh Hamdan. O’Neill rides him with Hanagan electing to ride stable companion Muarrab for the same owner. They take their chance in the 1,200m Group 1 Golden Shaheen.

Sheikh Hamdan actually celebrated a treble on Super Saturday (as did Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor) and his Versac PY seeks to add the Kahayla Classic to his victory in the concluding round of the Al Maktoum Challenge on that occasion.

With Layl facing a stiff task from a bad draw, Watson still arguably saddles two of the most interesting local contenders on the card. Cool Cowboy will have his second outing for the trainer in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen, while Candy Boy makes his local debut in the Dubai World Cup itself.

“Both are in great form and working really well,” said Watson. “They both galloped on Monday morning which should have put them spot on for Saturday.

“Cool Cowboy ran a massive race on Super Saturday considering he had only done four serious gallops after missing a month late last year. He has come on a lot from that.

“Candy Boy excites us. We are not sure just how good he is but his American form looks strong. We missed Super Saturday to bring him here fresh and he is in great shape. “We are really looking forward to Saturday.”