The 2010 Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline, is going to be something special if only for the reason that the race is being held on the newly laid race track, in front of the magnificent Meydan pavilion. The state of the art Meydan structure has been readied in record time and the tracks have come up at a mind-boggling speed. For those who had attended the last year`s World Cup, the transformation is so remarkable that it is difficult to trace where the old pavilion existed. The Meydan pavilion has come up a few furlongs from the old structure and the tracks too have been brought forward.

Be that as it may, the stage is now set for the first ever running of the World`s richest race, the US$10million Dubai World Cup, at Meydan Racecourse on the All Weather track on Saturday. The field in fray is arguably the most competitive renewal since the race was first run in 1996. Last year, the race was won by long shot Well Armed from America who destroyed his 13 rivals, recording an astonishing 14-length record-winning distance.

Cigar`s victory in the inaugural race in 1996 took most people`s breath away and there was a similar reaction to Well Armed`s win - in what was the last race run at Nad Al Sheba.

The maximum field of 14 has been declared with Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, seeking his sixth win in the 2000m race, relying on Mastery, winner of both the Italian Derby and Doncaster St Leger last year. The trainer said: "He has been working very nicely on the Tapeta surface and is in great form at home. The trip will be a minimum for him but he is not short of speed and we are looking forward to running him."

Jockey Frankie Dettori added: "He traveled the world last year, winning the Italian Derby before ending up at the Breeders` Cup. Of course he beat me in the St Leger in between!

"Stamina is his forte and Meydan requires horses who stay so, granted a good draw, he has to be competitive on a surface he works very well on."

Also in the Godolphin blue, but representing new trainer Mahmoud Al Zarooni, is Allybar who won the middle leg of the Al Maktoum Challenge from Crowded House, having previously won a course and distance handicap (from Dubai Duty Free favourite Presvis). He will be ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi who said: "He was a bit unlucky last time and was progressing nicely before that. Obviously this is his toughest task to date but he should run well."

His last race was in the final round of the Al Maktoum Challenge on Super Thursday, over the same course and distance as the Dubai World Cup which was won by Japanese challenger Red Desire. She headed Gloria De Campeao, winner of Al Maktoum Challenge Round I and runner-up in last year`s Dubai World Cup, right on the line.

The Mike De Kock duo Mr Brock and Lizard`s Desire, as well as the aforementioned Allybar, were all in close proximity and all are capable of big runs. The South African trainer said: "They have both showed improved form throughout the [Dubai International Racing] Carnival but this is a big step up in class for both and I just hope they run well."
However, they face several new rivals proven at the very highest level and Olivier Peslier deserts Red Desire to partner Vision D`Etat on whom he won in Hong Kong and at Royal Ascot last year. The jockey said: "He is a classy performer and seems to have settled in well. The surface is new for him but he appears to act on it and can be competitive hopefully."

Henry Cecil is always a man to be respected and he saddles Twice Over, the mount of Tom Queally and winner of the Group 1 Champion Stakes in the UK last year. He was then an excellent third at the Breeders` Cup. Just in front of him on that occasion was Gio Ponti, trained by Christophe Clement and he appears the best of the American challenge.

Another Group 1 winner trained in the UK is Marco Botti`s representative Gitano Hernando who is the mount of Kieren Fallon and warmed up for this with a smooth success on a very similar surface at Lingfield and Fallon said: "He is a horse I have always liked and he deserves to take his chance."