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A New Year is underway and, at Trillium Place, that means it's time for the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
Trainer David Simcock has been a long-term supporter of the Carnival and has been rewarded with some high-profile successes.
The stable's biggest triumph at Meydan arrived last March when Trade Storm landed the Group 2 Zabeel Mile. And the six-year-old Simcock charge is one of three horses shipping to Dubai today.
He will be joined by the progressive Sheikhzayedroad and new recruit Starboard with the trio all set for action during January.
Trade Storm, last seen when finishing third in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, will once again be campaigned in lofty company.
David said: "Trade Storm has trained very well. He will start off in the Al Rashidiya, a Group 2 over 9. But it is very common knowledge that he will always benefit from his first run.
"The Al Rashidiya will lead nicely into the Zabeel Mile (Feb 27) and the Jebel Hatta (March 8), leading up to the Duty Free (March 29). That's the plan with him.
"Conditions will really suit him out there and he will have an international campaign during the whole of 2014.
Sheikhzayedroad was another improver for the Simcock team in 2013, winning twice and also finishing third in a Group 3 at Glorious Goodwood. His last run was at York in the Ebor Handicap in which he was ninth, but beaten less than six lengths on unfavourable soft ground.
Now five, Sheikhzayedroad will tackle a $120,000 mile and a quarter handicap on January 16 to get his Dubai campaign underway.
David said: "Sheikhzayedroad starts off in a mile and a quarter race. He'll step up in trip as he carries on through the Carnival, heading to a mile-and-a-half race next and then he'll step up to a mile and six. If everything goes right, he might well run in the Gold Cup on World Cup night.
“He improved 23lb last year and ran his best race at Goodwood when things didn't really fall for him. Then he ran on soft ground in the Ebor which he wouldn't have appreciated. But the track, ground and conditions out there should be absolutely ideal for a horse like him.”
Starboard is a relative newcomer to the Simcock string, having initially been trained in Newmarket by John Gosden before continuing his career in France where he was good enough to win a Group 3. He wasn't placed in his subsequent five races and his first run for David will come in a nine-furlong handicap at Meydan on January 23.
The trainer said: "I've been finding out about Starboard...a talented horse. He obviously lost his way but has actually become quite nicely handicapped now off 105.
"We will campaign him in handicaps from nine to ten furlongs. He has always been ridden prominently – we might do things differently.
"He is a horse that carries a bit of condition and definitely will improve for his first run.
“They are all horses that are likely to need their first run and they'll carry on improving as the Carnival continues."