Next year's UAE Derby will be the richest Derby in the world following news that Sheikh Mohammed intends to quadruple the prize money to US $2 million.
He made the announcement at a Dubai press conference prior to Saturday's Dubai World Cup meeting which features, for the first time, the mile-and-a-half event for three-year-olds.
The idea of the UAE Derby came to Sheikh Mohammed after the disappointing performance of Worldly Manner in last year's Kentucky Derby. He will use the event as a stepping stone for such races in the future.
"We thought last year after running Worldly Manner in the Kentucky Derby we must prepare a race in Dubai to get our horses a bit more forward," he said.
"So we thought of the UAE Derby which takes place on Saturday worth US500,000.
"The race is not yet launched and already we can announce that next year's prize money will be US2 million.
"That is how we are thinking ahead."
The offer of better prize money is just one of the options organisers of Saturday's event _ which not only features the richest race in the world but offers a total pool of US12 million for the seven races _ are putting together to attract even more of the cream of world racing to the country.
Over 50 foreign raiders from 11 countries will fight it out against the cream of Godolphin's crop for a share in the spoils over distances from six furlongs upwards.
"Four or five years ago when I set this race up we had an aim, we had a goal. We had to work hard for it. We had to convince the trainers to come here, we had to convince the owners and, you know, unless you can do something about it you can't get what you want.
"So we worked towards this aim and we are here now.
"And I'm saying now, in two years time this will be even bigger and better and we will host many more horses."
Another plan is to increase the length of the meeting and add more races.
"We are thinking now of racing on Thursday, having a day off on Friday and returning on Saturday."
The Sheikh is full of hope for the chances of Dubai Millennium, the odds-on favourite for Saturday's big race, declaring the colt as the best horse his Godolphin organisation have had under their wing.
"I firmly stand by what I say about him. I always speak from my heart and say what I think. If I am wrong I am wrong but I stand by what I say about Dubai Millennium.
"I have been watching horses since I was six years old. The way he carries himself, the way he trains, I think he is the best horse we have ever had.
"I am not saying he is going to win, this is only his second race on sand. I hope he is going to win."
The Sheikh also confirmed his faith in former Newmarket trainer David Loder who heads the Godolphin two-year-old operation in Evry, France, despite the relative lack of success from that age group last year.
"I am very pleased with this project. I know I have the right people there and David is a very good trainer.
"This project is for the future, let us not judge it now.
"I have never been as worried as David, for the first time, had to train backward horses and I think he has done a good job."
