Xin Xu Lin leads Godolphin's charge at Meydan

Godolphin has 20 entries at Meydan Racecourse for the next Dubai World Cup Carnival fixture, highlighted by Mendip's inclusion in the Al Maktoum Challenge.

A Meydan outrider makes his way on to the main track. Such early morning rituals will continue to get busier as more and more horses arrive for the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

The training skills of Mahmood Al Zarooni and Saeed bin Suroor will be put to the test on Thursday when the Godolphin trainers saddle Xin Xu Lin and Alkimos respectively at Meydan Racecourse.

Xin Xu Lin came to Dubai last season with a tall reputation having won six Group 1 races in Brazil before finishing fifth behind Khawlah in the UAE Derby in March and has not run since.

Crowned South America's horse of the year for 2010/11, the five year old won the prestigious Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini at San Isidro racecourse in Argentina, which is run over 2,400 metres.

The Brazilian-bred colt has been set the task of getting his career back on track with an entry in the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge potentially alongside five other stablemates, including Mendip, who could clash with Musir, his 2010 UAE Derby conqueror, who also has been entered by Mike de Kock.

Other notable entries include Marco Botti's Fanunalter, who arrived Monday in Dubai with a huge shipment of European horses and Master Of Hounds, De Kock's four year old who went down by a nose to Khawlah.

Xin Xu Lin forms part of a bumper entry of 20 horses across the card from the Dubai-based operation as they look to improve on their haul of five winners last week at the opening two meetings of the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Alkimos was bought by Godolphin out of Luca Cumani's stable in June after finishing second to Pisco Sour in the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot and has not run since.

The four year old has been wrapped up especially for the Carnival and with a rating of 104 will start off his UAE career in the 2,000m handicap, the fifth race on the card.