Richard Hughes out for UAE 2,000 Guineas glory with Fintas

Richard Hughes is bidding for a Dubai World Cup Carnival winner at the first time of asking when he saddles Fintas in the Group 3 UAE 2,000 Guineas on Thursday.

The triple British champion jockey, who rode nine winners in the UAE during his career, is represented by a Shane Kelly-ridden colt who has two wins from three runs, all on the all-weather.

Hughes admitted he had not yet trained a suitable horse to run at the carnival, and on Wednesday said it would be tough to get off to a winning start.

"We’re going into it as the underdogs," he said. "It’s a high profile race and we’re hoping for the best. It’s four months since he ran and the others might have an advantage on us, but we’re hoping he does us proud."

Richard Hughes celebrates riding Sole Power to victory at the Dubai World Cup in 2015Credit: Warren Little

There is another British contender, the Simon Crisford-trained 2018 Group 2 Prix Eclipse winner Sporting Chance.

This will be the third run at the carnival for the son of Kodiac, who was third last week in the Meydan Classic Trial, but his first on the dirt track.

Crisford will be intrigued to see how the colt copes with it and said: "He’s fresh and came out of his run well last Thursday, but much will depend on how he adapts to the new surface.

"He’s worked on it and he’s worked nicely on the main dirt track, but it depends how he handles it. If he adapts to it I think he’ll run a nice race."

The one to beat is Walking Thunder, who has won each of his first three starts in convincing fashion and is already being talked of as a Kentucky Derby contender.

The son of Violence is trained by Ahmad bin Harmash, whose stable jockey Connor Beasley is seeking a fourth win on the horse.

Beasley said: “Everything we've asked of him he's done effortlessly, and he's won three times in the manner of a very good horse.

"The trainer describes him as ‘special’ and he could well be right. We'll find out a lot here but we go there full of confidence.”

Other contenders include Mulfit and Moshaher, while Saeed Bin Suroor hopes Estihdaaf can land the winning prize of £118,110.

Mulfit's trainer Sandeep Jadhav said: “We really like him and have given him plenty of time after a very encouraging debut. Walking Thunder has looked good but we're hopeful of a big run.”

American history

History beckons for North America, the likely favourite of the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2, as the seven-year-old looks to become the first horse to win all three rounds of the challenge.

It is the only round of the challenge not on North America's CV, as he won this year's first round last month, and took the third round last March.

Last month’s victory under regular jockey Richard Mullen was by a breathtaking nine lengths, and assistant trainer Bhupat Seemar was full of praise for North America.

He said: "He's improved for that first run, the extra distance is in his favour and he's been in great form at home, so we have to be very hopeful."

North America’s owner Ramzan Kadyrov is double-handed in the race with potential main danger Cosmo Charlie also wearing his colours. He won his latest two outings in November and December under Pat Dobbs, who is in the saddle again.

Trainer Doug Watson said: "He's in very good form and we've kept him fresh for this, but we all know North America is going to be hard to beat."

Overseas forces

British- and Irish-based trainers account for 17 runners on the card – there are 32 if Bin Suroor, Charlie Appleby and Ismail Mohammed are included – and Ian Williams runs Speedo Boy (3.05) and Double Up (5.25).

He said: "The race didn't suit Speedo Boy here last time when he was keen off a slow pace. He should have improved for the run and I'm hopeful of a better showing.

"Double Up missed his first engagement in Dubai due to an allergy and I'd have preferred to have got a race under his belt coming into this, but he arrives in good form. He's not badly handicapped on his British form and could run well."

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