Bold Silvano back in action at Meydan

Preview: UAE, Thursday (live on ATR/RUK)

Meydan

BOLD SILVANO, who missed last year's Dubai World Cup through injury when favourite, has his first run for over a year in the Firebreak Stakes at Meydan on Thursday.

Injured after his sole UAE start and victory in last year's Maktoum Challenge RII, Bold Silvano faces eight rivals in the Group 3 race over 1m on Tapeta.

Trainer Mike de Kock said: "We have given him all the time he has needed and are very pleased with him.

"We really thought he was a World Cup horse last year and hopefully he will get the chance to prove it this year. We have picked the shorterrace as the ideal place to return. He has done an awful lot of work in his preparation but his build-up has been very long and steady and a bit different to how we normally train them.

"He will undoubtedly improve for the run butwe need to get him back on track and this is the ideal opportunity. All being well, Maktoum Challenge RIII will be the Super Saturday target but we will play it by ear and see how he goes this week."

Bold Silvano is a best-priced10-1 with Coral for the Dubai World Cup next month.

The Group 3 UAE 2,000 Guineas is over the same course and distance as the Firebreak Stakes and Dark Matter, representing Singapore and trainer Steven Burridge, will seek to make it three wins from three UAE starts under Ted Durcan. Winner of the 7f Tapeta trial, Dark Matter then switched to turf to beat his elders in a handicap.

Durcan said: "He has done everything asked of him so far and that was a big win last time against some seasoned handicappers. This has always been the target and we have to be hopeful."

He was chased home in the trial by Godolphin duo of Kinglet (Mahmood Al Zarooni/Mickael Barzalona) and Rassam (Saeed Bin Suroor/Frankie Dettori) who head the opposition again, while the fourth Mehdi (Brian Meehan/Kieren Fallon), fifth Surfer (Satish Seemar/Richard Mullen) and sixth Mickdaam (Mike De Kock/Christophe Soumillon) all bid for revenge.

Bin Suroor sounds hopeful that Rassam and Dettori will go close. He said: "That was only his second career start in the trial and he was just far too keen before tiring close home. He will have improved physically and mentally for that experience and hopefully will settle a lot better and allow Frankie to tuck him in midfield early on."

Of Kinglet, Al Zarooni said: "He was staying on nicely last time and has already won over a mile so the extra furlong should help him."