Musir could not have been more impressive when winning the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Group 2 Al Rashidiya, the 1800m turf feature at Meydan on Thursday evening, in front of a large crowd which included His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minster of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Jockey Christophe Soumillon oozed confidence throughout on the Mike de Kock-trained five-year-old son of Redoute’s Choice who was following up an equally impressive win in the Group 3 Al Maktoum Challenge Round I (1600m all-weather) on his previous start.

Dubai Duty Free sponsor Thursday's sixth meeting of the 2012 Dubai World Cup Carnival, which is appropriate considering the featured Group 2 Al Rashidiya has twice been won by subsequent Dubai World Cup night Group 1 Dubai Duty Free winners – the first of which was Right Approach in 2004.

The second to win both 1800m turf features was Presvis, who registered the notable double for UK-based trainer Luca Cumani last year and seeks to become the first horse to win the Al Rashidiya twice.

Dear Members of the Media,

The Dubai Racing Club is now taking applications for the 2012 Dubai World Cup meeting.

Applications must be submitted online through the following address: https://secure.sportssystems.com/events2/?eventKey=ac793e22-502b-4493-acc4-bd4ff98b8a42

Alternatively, please visit www.dubairacingclub.com and click on our dedicated Dubai World Cup section, where the Media Accreditation form is located.

Racemeeting to be Sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, 6:30pm Post Time

The Group 2 Al Rashidiya will serve as the highlight of the sixth Dubai World Cup Carnival racemeeting this Thursday, and will be sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, a pillar partner of the Meydan Group.

Post time is 6:30 pm for the racing programme that will feature six races and serve as the sixth of the Dubai World Cup Carnival’s scheduled 16-race days.

Singapore-based trainer Steven Burridge has made a flying start to the 2012 Dubai World Cup Carnival and saddled his third winner from only four runners when Ip Man broke the track record in the concluding featured 1400m Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group handicap at Meydan on Saturday evening on a card, like Friday's, sponsored by the Al Naboodah Group.

First City, making her UAE debut and first start for local champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe, secured a thrilling victory in the Group Two Cape Verdi Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, the 1600m turf feature of the fourth meeting of the 2012 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

The Cape Verdi, restricted to fillies and mares, produced the best finish of the night with Royston Ffrench producing First City to lead in the last strides and deny Pick Six favourite Mahbooba.

The excitement of the Dubai World Cup Carnival continues on Friday and Saturday, January 20-21 with both racemeetings sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group.

They are pillar partner supporters of the Meydan Group and title sponsors of the Group Two UAE Derby, held on Dubai World Cup Day, Saturday, March 31.

Each race card will offer six races with the Group Two Cape Verdi the featured event on Friday. The Cape Verdi is for fillies and mares that will be competing for the US$200,000 in prizemoney for the event.