Salem bin Ghadayer believes Matterhorn destined for Dubai World Cup tilt

Matterhorn registered his biggest career victory to date at the weekend by winning the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 at Meydan

Mickael Barzalona after guiding Matterhorn to victory in the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan on Saturday. Pawan Singh / The National

Salem bin Ghadayer has long considered Matterhorn to be his horse for the 2020 Dubai World Cup.

That belief was reinforced with a storming run to win the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on Saturday.

"To be honest with you, I believed him to be my Dubai World Cup horse from the time I received this horse at my stables in November," Bin Ghadayer told The National after Matterhorn registered his biggest career victory to bag the $600,000 (Dh2.2 million) prize at Meydan.

Matterhorn arrived in Dubai with a record of eight victories in his 20 career starts under Mark Johnston in England.

Seven of those wins were on the All-Weather while the solitary turf success was in a Listed event.

Under Bin Ghadayer's care, the five-year-old son of Raven's Pass stretched that record with a third placed finish in Group 3 company and a first Group 1 success.

“I was following the form of this horse when he was in England under the care of Mark Johnston. I have to say a big thank you to Mark for preparing this horse and to bring him to what he is now.

“I received this horse in very good health and in perfect condition. I just followed what Mark had done with the horse.”

Mickael Barzalona atop Matterhorn led for most of the 2,000-metre contest in Super Saturday's feature race, a prep for the Dubai World Cup, in what was only his second local start.

He will face a stronger opposition in the $12 million main event at Meydan on March 28 but his performance at the weekend will not have gone unnoticed by his rivals.

Bin Ghadayer entered three in last year's race and is likely to field at least that number again at the end of the month.

The Fazza Stables trainer is also considering Capezzano after his victory in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes at Meydan, in which Matterhorn finished third.

The Emirati is also mulling over last year’s runner up Gronkowski and Axelrod, his third entry in the race 12 months ago, after finishing second in his first start for the season in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar.

“All my horses that may be in the Dubai World Cup has the ability to win,” Bin Ghadayer saidd.

"Matterhorn has just run a big race and it's so difficult to single out any one of them. Mickael will have a tough decision to make but I would presume he would pick the right one on the day."