Areem is one of three horses who defend their titles at the opening fixture of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan on Thursday night.
The six year old – an easy winner of the 1,600-metre Al Maktoum Challenge round one for Purebred Arabians 12 months ago – is one of three runners for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed in the 11-runner line-up.
Areem joins Barbecue Eddie, who runs again in the thoroughbred edition of the Maktoum Challenge, and Fityaan, who also bids to win the Longines Masters Collection, the five-furlong sprint that is the second race on the card.
Ahmed Ajtebi has forged a close relationship with Areem and will be in the saddle for the sixth time, having partnered his mount to victory in the National Day Cup for the second time in Abu Dhabi last month.
“This has always been the plan after the National Day Cup,” trainer Majed Al Jahouri said. “The 1,600m is as far as he wants to go so he will be campaigned accordingly.”
Areem is one of four Purebred Arabian winners for Al Jahouri this season, with Rabbah De Carrere, who will race under Silvestre De Sousa, a recent high-profile winner after taking the Mazrat Al Ruwayah at Meydan last month.
Alongside stablemates Areem and Rabbah De Carrere, Naseem will be ridden by Harry Bentley.
Abu Dhabi will also be represented by Shayel Aldhabi and Munzade, both of which hail from Ernst Oertel’s yard.
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