Dubai: The Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic - the joint richest turf race in the world with a purse of $5 million (Dh18.75 million) - is perhaps the only one of the seven races tonight which wears an open look.
Hong Kong's Vengeance of Rain won the race last year and another classy contender from there looks set to repeat the act in the Nakheel-sponsored race this time.
The John Moore-trained Viva Pataca comes in with tremendous credentials, including two wins over Vengeance of Rain since his Sheema triumph.
The six-year-old bay son of Marju has 13 victories in 25 starts, with the last being an impressive win in the Hong Kong Gold Cup on February 24 to beat Floral Pegasus and Bullish Luck, both running in the Dubai Duty Free - the other richest turf race in the world.
However, Viva Pataca's jockey Darren Beadman will have to tackle a start from gate 12 and that, along with a few strong rivals, could stand between the current No 1 Hong Kong campaigner and a first win for Moore away from home.
Viva Pataca was given a sharper piece of preparation than is usual so close to a big race. with Moore describing it as a "blow-the-cobwebs-away" exercise.
German raider Quijano, the globe-trotting Youmzain, Oracle West and Sushisan are coming back to tackle the Sheema Classic distance again and, along with Doctor Dino, American hope Better Talk Now and Australia's Sun Classique, come under the banner of strong contenders.
South African trainer Mike de Kock sends out Oracle West for his third campaign in this race while his Sun Classique, winner of two races here in the Carnival, seems to be better-placed, despite the former's second-place finish to Vengeance of Rain last year.
Since finishing third in the Sheema last year, Youmzain has raced in Ireland, England, Germany and France where the five-year-old bay lost by a head to Dylan Thomas in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Trained by former England international footballer Mick Channon, Youmzain could well be the one most likely pose the biggest challenge to Viva Pataca.
While Quijano can be expected to better his seventh-place finish in this race last year, Doctor Dino and Better Talk Now are the ones most likely to make their presence felt in the final frame.
Quijano's jockey Andrasch Starke said: "He is in better shape than he was when he ran so disappointingly last year, and if he runs up to his Hong Kong form against Doctor Dino I can see him finishing in the three."
Richard Gibson, who saddles Doctor Dino, said yesterday: "There may not be much pace in the race, but that doesn't really bother me as my horse has a turn of foot. He's in good form and I hope he'll be thereabouts."
Godolphin's Gravitas and West Wing and Argentina's Latency could provide a surprise.
Viva Pataca's jockey Darren Beadman will have to tackle a start from gate 12 and that could stand between the No 1 Hong Kong campaigner and a first win for trainer John Moore away from home.
