Dubai Millennium and Lear Spear go head to head and put their Dubai World Cup credentials on the line at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday night in the Listed Al Maktoum Challenge Round III.
The race, run over the same course and distance as the Group I Dubai World Cup sees Dubai Millennium and Lear Spear make their 2000 reappearance against four others. Frankie Dettori will ride Dubai Millennium while Neil Pollard rides Lear Spear for David Elsworth.
Godolphin Racing Manager Simon Crisford has said that Dubai Millennium would have to win well to warrant the continuation of Dubai World Cup plans.
'He will have to win that in a very convincing manner to press ahead with Dubai World Cup plans,' Crisford said. 'If he is to have any sort of chance in the Dubai World Cup he will need to win that event very well.'
Lear Spear has been working very well at Nad Al Sheba in the lead-up to this event and reports are that he is handling the dirt surface very well. David Elsworth arrived in Dubai on Monday to oversee the horse's final preparations for the race.
Facing Dubai Millennium and Lear Spear are other Al Quoz runners in Goombayland (John Carroll) and Comeonmom (Daragh O?Donohoe) as well as the Paddy Rudkin-trained Eclair (Eddie Ahern) and the Bill Mather-trained Makaruka (Peter Brette).
