Despite a strong field of eight runners accepting for the first round of the Group 1 Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge for Purebred Arabian horses it is difficult to look beyond Kaolino for the winner. Such has been the style and manner of the six-year-old son of Dormane's victories that Richard Hills has chosen to partner him in preference to last year's Kahayla Classic winner Bopp Moon.

The highly-rated Van Nistelrooy, Bopp Moon, former Maktoum Challenge winner Khoutoubia and Velte are also in the fray but Kaolino looks the undisputable banker for today's Pick Six followers. Kaolino ran out a convincing winner in his first two starts of the season at Jebel Ali before he took on the best in the Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah over a mile where he underlined his class with a dominating display to post his sixth successive race victory.

Velte, Khoutoubia and Van Nistelrooy finished behind Gill Duffield's ward with Bopp Moon sixth on his seasonal debut here. Should Kaolino repeat that form it will take an extra-special performer to prevent him from extending his winning streak. Bopp Moon, the chocice of Willie Supple, has done well over the longer trip and the mile looks to be a trifle short for him. Added to this is the fact that the Doug Watson-trained son of Dormane may be needing another outing like he did last season before going on to win the Kahayla.

Trainer Mazin Al Kurdi supplies four of today's eight runners but his best bets are Van Nistelrooy and Velte. Velte, beaten by Kaolino last time out here needs to find something extra to match his rival while Van Nistelrooy has not shown the required consistency. Rated 121, the highest in this classy field, Van Nistelrooy opened his campaign on turf in Abu Dhabi in the Group 1 National Day Cup where he finished ninth. Less then three weeks later he powered his way to win on dirt but followed that with a fourth-place finish to Kaolino.

Khoutoubia, the 2001 Maktoum Challenge winner is still a force to reckon with at ten years of age. The Allan Smith ward will be ridden by Brett Doyle but could find it difficult in today's classy field.