De Kock and Appleby take aim at Championship

The 2017 Dubai World Cup Carnival goes through the gears on Thursday when Meydan hosts four Group races highlighted by the Group 2 Zabeel Mile, worth just over £200,000.

Safety Check, the winner in 2015 and 2016, had previously won the Al Fahidi Fort, and the same journey has been taken by Championship, who ran out an impressive three-and-a-half length winner of the Al Fahidi Fort from Flash Fire, who reopposes.

Championship was formerly with Richard Hannon but is now trained by Ahmad Bin Harmash, who said: "He's in great form and the trip could well be his optimum. The penalty obviously makes things more difficult but we're very happy with him and expect a big run."

Meydan card

Before the Al Fahidi Fort, Championship was just beaten by Light The Lights in the Singspiel Stakes. Light The Lights went on to finish a close second in the Group 2 Al Rashidiya but is deserted by Christophe Soumillon here.

He instead rides Mike de Kock stablemate Noah From Goa, a Grade 1 winner in South Africa and third on his local debut behind Championship in the Al Fahidi Fort.

De Kock said: "The extra furlong here will suit Noah From Goa and he has improved from that first run, which he needed after a year off.

"Light The Lights is probably better over a bit further but this looks a good spot to get him back on the track before the Jebel Hatta, in a fortnight, on Super Saturday.

"Both are in good form and should run well but Championship does the look one to beat."

The Charlie Appleby-trained Flash Fire, victorious in a 7f handicap on the first night of this year’s carnival, followed his Al Fahidi Fort second with a further runner-up effort in a 7f handicap last week.

Stablemate Cymric made a winning debut for the yard over course and distance, suggesting he retains plenty of the ability which saw him Group 1-placed as a juvenile for John Gosden in 2015.

Appleby said: "Both are in good form and should run well. Flash Fire produced his career best when second in the Al Fahidi Fort and, like Safety Check, stays this easy mile at Meydan.

"We were delighted with Cymric's first run and expect him to be thereabouts as well. It’s nice to have two good chances in such a race."

The main supporting race is the Group 2 Balanchine Stakes, won last year by Godolphin’s Very Special, who could successfully defend her crown.

Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, she won the Group 2 Cape Verdi Stakes three weeks ago when all six of her rivals here were behind her.