Dubai: The eagerly awaited 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival (DWCC) gets underway at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday evening with a star-studded seven-race card highlighted by the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 for both Thoroughbreds and Purebred Arabians, each over 1600m on the dirt and upgraded Singspiel Stakes (G3).

Eight have been declared for the Thoroughbred Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 Presented by Longines Master Gents Collection, headlined by Godolphin’s dual Group 1 winner Thunder Snow.

Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, seeking a ninth win in a race first run in 1994, the winner of last season’s UAE Derby (G2) and UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) won France’s Criterium International (G1) as a juvenile before embarking on a successful 2017 campaign.

Again in France, he won the Prix Jean Prat (G1) in July but finished his season with a disappointing effort on soft ground in Ascot’s prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1). Regular pilot Christophe Soumillon rides Thunder Snow on Thursday evening.

“We have given him a nice break since Ascot when the ground was very soft and did not suit him,” said Suroor.

“He has been working well recently and we are really looking forward to running him on Thursday. We know he likes the Meydan surface, so that is not a concern and we are very happy with him.”

Jockey Pat Cosgrave rides stable companion Confrontation (post 3), who is having just his second start for the yard. Winner of the 2016 Firebreak Stakes (G3) on his local debut when trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, he failed to beat a rival in the same race last year.

Bin Suroor said: “He was disappointing last year, but is in great form at home and we wanted to try him again in good company.”

Trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer, whose team is in scintillating form, has both Heavy Metal and Long River, the latter a winner of the 2000m Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (G1) on Super Saturday last March.

Royston Ffrench rides Long River with Mickael Barzalona opting to ride Heavy Metal, successful in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile in December over the same 1600m course and distance as Thursday’s race.

Bin Ghadayer said: “Both are in great form and proven under these conditions. Heavy Metal has had the benefit of a run, which he won, this season and Long River is fresh and well after a nice break.”