Dolkong is scheduled to make his Dubai World Cup Carnival debut at Meydan this Thursday with the Korean contingent hoping for a good performance following the disappointing start made by Ace Korea last week.

Ace Korea was well below his best in the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes and Dolkong has a tough task ahead of him the the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge over 1600M. The Simon Foster trained five-year-old, who was 2nd in the Korea Cup in September, last raced in the Grand Prix Stakes over 2300M in December when he ran a big race in 4th. overcoming both the widest draw and a luckless trip. He’s drawn well this time in gate 5 but the competition is stiff.

North America and Heavy Metal ran 1st and 2nd in this race two years ago with Korea’s Triple Crown winner Power Blade behind them in 3rd place. Last year, it was Heavy Metal who came out on top with North America in 3rd place. Heavy Metal would go on to win twice more at the 2018 Carnival, including the Godolphin Mile on World Cup night. For both of them it’s a first start since last March.

Muntazah was 2nd to Heavy Metal in that Godolphin Mile with Kimbear back in 6th. The Charlie Appleby trained Gold Town is another returning to action for the first time since last World Cup night, when he ran 4th to Mendelssohn in the UAE Derby. The rest of the field is comprised of very solid performers so Dolkong will need to be at the top of his game to be competitive. Pat Cosgrave, who partnered Main Stay to Korea’s first Carnival victory, and also rode Power Blade and Triple Nine in 2017, takes the mount.

The race will take place at 1:50am Friday morning Korea time.