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Dubai Duty Free Race Attracts Top Runners

A full field of 14 is currently in the mix, and it is a truly international line-up. The USA, which boasts the best record in the race, has four representatives, including erstwhile favourite Gio Ponti, while three will attempt to become the first British-trained winner since Singspiel in 1997.

Of the remainder, two come from France, one Japan, two South Africa and two are trained right here in the UAE.

Therefore, I think that this year America's three year stranglehold on the race will finally be broken, with Gitano Hernando and Twice Over from the UK leading the charge.

Then we have the equally talented Vision D'Etat and Gloria de Campeao from France.

In short, I'm going to look towards Europe to find the winner this year with the new Tapeta surface expected to prove to their advantage.

The card's two existing turf races have maintained their high standards and at this stage there are nine Group I winners in the Sheema Classic alone, including last year's winner Eastern Anthem and second home Spanish Moon.

The Duty Free, to be run over 1800metres for the first time since 2001, has attracted last year's second and third, Presvis and Alexandros, as well as multiple Hong Kong Group I winner Good Ba Ba – who probably has the best form of the lot but needs to prove he can act outside of Sha Tin.

This year's edition of the Golden Shaheen, run for the first time around a bend, has perhaps the least exciting field, with few genuine Group I horses currently in the line-up, although the once-beaten Singapore raider Rocket Man is an intriguing entrant.

The Shaheen may have suffered from the first running on the card of the Group 3 Al Quoz Sprint, which is has attracted a cosmopolitan bunch, including Australian Group I winner All Silent and Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag.

The two Group 2 races, the UAE Derby and Godolphin Mile, both feature strong contenders from the yards of Saeed bin Suroor and Mike De Kock and it will be something of a surprise if De Kock doesn't take the Derby, with either 2000 Guineas winner Musir or Oaks winner Raihana. Bin Suroor, who won the Mile last year with Two Step Salsa, looks likely to do so again with Mahab Al Shimaal winner Desert Party.

• Dubai