The return of leading Dubai World Cup night performers Shea Shea and Soft Falling Rain took a step closer on Monday when the two Mike de Kock runners were among the entries for the bumper Super Saturday card at Meydan Racecourse.
Shea Shea has been entered to defend his title in the Meydan Sprint, a turf sprint over 1,000 metres in which he broke the track record 12 months ago.
Shea Shea then broke his own record when winning the Al Quoz Sprint three weeks later ahead of a fruitless campaign in Europe.
Sole Power is also set to take his chance without the services of Johnny Murtagh, who retired last week, having duelled with his South African rival throughout the summer in England after finishing fourth in the Al Quoz Sprint. Sole Power beat Shea Shea in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, but trailed him in both the July Cup at Newmarket a month later and in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August.
De Kock has frequently stated that Soft Falling Rain has the speed to be successful over shorter distances than the 1,600m over which he won last season’s Godolphin Mile.
The South African trainer has entered Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s colt in both the 1,600m Burj Nahaar and the Mahab Al Shimaal, over 1,200m.
Fellow South African raider Variety Club has also been given an entry to the Burj Nahaar, having proved his credentials on Tapeta with a devastating win in the Firebreak Stakes last month.
The three South African horses are the highest-rated runners on the US$1.83 million (Dh6.7m) card, which features two Group 1 races, the Jebel Hatta and the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3.
Variety Club has also been entered in the Jebel Hatta alongside fellow South African raider Heavy Metal and there could be a first appearance at Meydan for the Australian runner Linton.
Saeed bin Suroor is chasing a 10th victory in the $400,000 Al Maktoum Challenge and the Godolphin trainer will be relying on Prince Bishop and African Story, the first two across the line in Round 2 of the World Cup trial last month.
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