RB Texas Hold Em and Shahm in fine fettle for Purebred Arabians showdown at Carnival

Thursday's Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge preparatory race for Dubai Kahayla Classic

Shahm. pictured after winning the President of the UAE Cup at Longchamp in 2018, is the favourite to win the Al Ain Mile. Shutterstock 

With most of the thoroughbred luminaries set to appear in next week’s Super Saturday card, traditionally the dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup, the spotlight on Thursday’s penultimate Dubai World Cup Carnival fixture falls on the Purebred Arabians.

The Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 is the preparatory race for the Dubai Kahayla Classic, the Arabian showpiece during the Dubai World Cup night on March 28.

The $100,000 (Dh367,000) contest has drawn 13 runners including newcomers RB Texas Hold Em and Shahm – the two horses to watch.

RB Texas Hold Em arrived at the UAE champion trainer Doug Watson’s Red Stables in Dubai three months ago with an impressive record in the USA.

The five-year-old gelded son of the 2012 Dubai Kahayla Classic winner TM Fred Texas is a six-time winner from 11 starts and has finished out of the top three only once.

His successes include the Group 1 President of the UAE Cup at Churchill Downs and the Group 2 Delaware Park Arabian Derby in his last two starts.

“When I got him, the owner said ‘take your time,’ with the main goal obviously being the Kahayla Classic,” Watson said.

“I’ll be disappointed if we don’t win, but I’d be okay to finish in the first three or four and then go on to the Kahayla.

“He’s a cheeky sort, but he’s very talented in his work. If you watched his last two races in America, he looks like a nice horse. I hope we stack up against them and he runs well. He hasn’t run in a while.”

RB Texas Hold Em has had plenty of time to acclimatise but will be on the racetrack for the first time in more than seven months.

“It’s hard to tell until you get over there,” Watson added. “He’s fully acclimated, his coat looks good and he’s fresh and well. He ran under the lights at Churchill Downs, so I don’t have to worry about that.

“You just worry a little bit that he hasn’t run in a while, but he’s got the (120) rating, Grade 1 wins and is a proper horse.”

Shahm (rated 120) made a successful return after a 15-month absence before being flown out from France to Emirati trainer Majed Al Jahouri’s Al Wathba Racing stables in Abu Dhabi.

The seven-year-old son of Mahabb has five victories in 10 starts including a Group 1 prize at Longchamp in May 2018.

Abdallah Al Hammadi’s Goshawke looks the pick of the challenge to the two newcomers.

He was third in the race last year and finished a creditable fourth in the Dubai Kahayla Classic.

Goshawke has already run six times this season and was an eye-catching third to Rmmas in the Group 1 President’s Cup in Abu Dhabi in his most recent start on February 9.

The Group 2 Nad Al Sheba Trophy is the highlight of the remaining seven races for the thoroughbreds.

Godolphin are out in force with five of the nine entries in the race spearheaded by Charlie Appleby’s Secret Advisor, the choice of jockey William Buick, and Saeed bin Suroor’s Dubai Horizon, with Christophe Soumillon on the saddle.