Battle-hardened Red Cadeaux looks as bright as a button

Beaten a whisker by Dunaden in the 2011 Melbourne Cup, he landed a deserved Group One success when winning the Hong Kong Vase last December and he has done everything right in his training since arriving in Dubai.

Ed Dunlop’s seven-year-old looked as bright as a button engaging in mile-and-a-quarter spins on the Tapeta surface pioneered by former Yorkshire trainer Michael Dickinson and has the battle-hardened side to his make-up that should stand him in good stead in this tactically-demanding contest.

There is never any quarter given in the world’s richest race, but Gerald Mosse brings a new dimension to the Newmarket raider, who appeals as the best of the three UK runners.

Monterosso, the former Mark Johnston-trained horse before switching to Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, won this race 12 months ago and bids for a repeat success under Mikael Barzalona.

Yet the raiders from the UK, and Godolphin, will not get it their own way – American Bill Mott managed to win the first Dubai World Cup, but still has unfinished business in a race worth £3.6m to the winner.

Superior mare Royal Delta encountered traffic problems during last year’s event and could only finish ninth behind Monterosso, but went on to collect her second consecutive Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.

She hits Meydan on the back of a pleasing prep run at Gulfstream and Mott, whose wonder-horse Cigar landed the 1996 renewal, is delighted to have returned.

“We decided we’d come back before she’d left last year, but we’re pleased she has earned her way again after she was voted champion, won a Breeders’ Cup and ran well throughout the year.”

Referring to 12 months ago, Mott said: “It was frustrating and disappointing, but I couldn’t take anything away from her. We had a little bit of a rough trip, but that’s racing luck.

“We’re here for a reason and that’s to give her the opportunity to see if she is good enough.”

The biggest threat to Japanese star Gentildonna in the Dubai Sheema Classic looks like being the Aidan O’Brien-trained 
St Nicholas Abbey.

A notable and close second to Cirrus Des Aigles a year ago, the one-time Derby hope remains in rude health at the age of six and despite being no match for Frankel at York, stayed on from a poor position to take third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

O’Brien said: “He ran very well when second in the same race last year and seems in good form. We’re happy with him and hoping for another good run from him.”

However, Alain de Royer-Dupre seems very sweet on the prospects of Shareta, who landed the Yorkshire Oaks last August, beating John Gosden’s The Fugue.

Another York winner, Gordon Lord Byron, who won the City of York Stakes on Ebor day last year, is tipped to take the Dubai Golden Shaheen under Northern Racing College graduate William Buick.