Racing in Al Ain on Saturday is officially highlighted by the Al Ain Derby, a Prestige contest over 1800m for the 4yo Classic generation in which a select field of five has been declared, including Yas Xmnsor, to be partnered by Omani apprentice Saif Al Balushi for trainer Khalifa Al Neyadi.

One of three colts among the quintet of runners, Al Neyadi's charge arrives in good heart having won a similar Prestige contest, the Emirates Colts Classic, over 1600m on the Abu Dhabi turf, as recently as Monday.

He is actually seeking a third consecutive victory having scored in a 1400m Al Ain maiden on his previous start when opening his account at the fourth attempt.

Fourth in that Abu Dhabi contest just five days ago was Es Lattam , to be ridden on this occasion by Antonio Fresu for trainer Ibrahim Aseel. The fact that the colt was staying on strongly on Monday suggests the extra 200m will suit and his sole victory, after just four starts, was on dirt, on his Sharjah 1000m debut at the end of October.

The third colt in the field, Af Ghanayem , will be having just his fourth career start and represents the powerful trio of Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, the owner's retained jockey, Tadhg O'Shea and Ernst Oertel who trains the vast majority of the Al Nabooda string.

Well beaten on his first two starts, over 1000m at Sharjah and 1400m here at Al Ain, he then won his maiden at this venue over 1600m a fortnight ago after which his trainer suggested he is potentially a smart colt in the making.

Both the fillies declared have won once, perhaps headed by Mahmouda who is trained by Abdallah Al Hammadi for Al Ajban Stables, a combination who have enjoyed a prolific Al Ain season thus far.

She will be partnered by Richard Mullen seeking to double her career tally and add this prize to her success in the Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic, a 1400m Prestige contest on the Abu Dhabi turf.

That was the middle start of her five career outings and she does have dirt form having finished runner-up, on her second start, over 1200m at Sharjah.

That Sharjah contest was won by Wadheha, for Majed Al Jahoori and Al Wathba Racing, who then chased home Mahmouda in the Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic. This will be the first start since for Al Jahoori's charge whereas Mahmouda has run twice in the interim.

The main support race is a 1600m handicap and Al Hammadi appears to hold the aces, saddling three of the eight runners for Al Ajban Stables.

Heading the weights and attempting to concede lumps of weight to his rivals is Mullen's mount, Goshawke, the undoubted class act in the race, albeit one arguably on the wane but, nevertheless, a great servant to connections over many years.

Approaching the veteran stage of his career, the 8yo entire has five victories to his credit, including two rounds of the Arabian Triple Crown on the Abu Dhabi turf in 2018.

The standout success on his CV was on dirt, in the 2200m Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 of 2019 but he did not win again until his first start of the current campaign in a conditions race here at Al Ain, over 1800m, in November.

However, he has not built on that in four subsequent outings and is actually contesting his first ever handicap and, arguably, weakest race since winning his maiden over 1600m on the Abu Dhabi turf in early February 2018.

Stablemate Octave  chased Goshawke home in that November contest and he arrives here in winning form although this is a different test to the 4100m handicap, the second round of The Al Ain Marathon Series, he won a fortnight ago.

Away from the Al Hammadi runners, Asif, AF Ramz and Farasah all hold claims in a fascinating contest.