Anaerobio heads the entries for the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday.
The defending title-holder is one of three entries in the US$250,000 (Dh918,000) event from the Mike de Kock stable and makes his seasonal bow on the turf having last run in Dubai when fifth to Just A Way in the Dubai Duty Free in March.
The seven year old has been entered alongside stablemates Zahee, who ran poorly on the dirt surface on the opening night of the Dubai World Cup Carnival 12 days ago, and Red Ray, a newcomer from South Africa.
Red Ray has finished in the first three at Group 1 level in South Africa four times and has been out of the podium placings only once in his 10 career starts.
He is effective at 1,000 metres and up to 1,600m but De Kock said that Thursday’s 1,400m could be the four year old’s best distance.
“He is very versatile,” De Kock said. “He is an impressive-looking horse and there is a lot to work with.”
Musabah Al Muhairi has also entered three. Shaishee, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, switches to turf following a good third in a 1,400m dirt handicap 12 days ago, while stablemates Mushaaref, who is also owned by the Minster of Finance, and Modern History, could also take part.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed owns Modern History and he could also be represented by Decathlete, a recruit from Andre Fabre’s French stable for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer.
Ghadayer has saddled nine runners at Meydan this season for two seconds and a third. Decathlete was eighth behind Shaishee on the opening night of the Carnival on his first start since October.
Safety Check, who won a 1,400m handicap on the first night of the Carnival, has been entered by Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, while Ali Rashid Al Raihe may run Ertijaal and Encipher, a rare Carnival thoroughbred runner for the Royal Cavalry of Oman.
Eastern Rules, trained by Irishman Michael Halford, is the only European entry in the turf race.
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