Connections of Kocab are confident he can justify the decision to go head to head with American Horse of the Year Curlin in Saturday's Dubai World Cup.

Trainer Andre Fabre and Prince Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe opted against the longer 12-furlong Dubai Sheema Classic in preference to the $6million feature on the Nad Al Sheba dirt.

Kocab finished fifth in the Hong Kong Vase in December and is reported to be in rude health ahead of the biggest assignment of his career.

"It is a huge adventure for him," said Grimthorpe.

"He is the most consistent horse we have in training - he has only been out of the frame in two starts.

"He won very nicely on the fibresand at Deauville recently, but it is obviously a huge step up in class - but we are still hopeful.

"We had the choice of either the Sheema Classic or the World Cup.

"The Sheema looked very strong on turf form and in Hong Kong he didn't quite stay out the mile and a half, so the mile and a quarter suits him better."

Another set to test the mettle of the mighty Curlin is Vermilion, who has hit form at the right time.

The Sei Ishizaka-trained six-year-old has won four consecutive Group One dirt races in Japan after an eight-month break following last year's distant fourth to Invasor in the World Cup.

"He is twice as good as he was last year. We are confident he is the number-one dirt horse in Japan," said Ishizaka.

"We know Curlin very well and will try to be as close to him as possible.

"We are ready for a good fight on Saturday night."

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