Kerrin McEvoy believes Numaany has an each-way chance in the UAE Derby on Saturday - but insists Godolphin stablemate Cocoa Beach is the horse to beat.
The latter will be ridden by UAE champion jockey Ted Durcan, while the Frankie Dettori-ridden My Indy completes Saeed bin Suroor's strong hand in the race.
Numaany has already enjoyed two trips around the Nad Al Sheba track, firstly finishing fifth in the UAE 2000 Guineas behind fellow UAE Derby hopes Honour Devil, Royal Vintage and My Indy.
He followed that up with a third-place finish behind Mike De Kock's Honour Devil and Royal Vintage.
"We will have to look for Cocoa Beach - it is a quality field," said McEvoy.
"Numaany is a horse I have ridden a few times at home. He ran in the Guineas and he stayed on very well.
"He stepped up a trip last time Frankie rode him behind the two of Mike De Kock's horses and that race would have brought him on a sharpened him up.
"He is in good form and an each-way chance."
Of Cocoa Beach, Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "She is a very tough filly and is improving all the time.
"I like her a lot and we are looking forward to her running a good race. The two South African horses are tough, but she has a good chance."
After splitting the first two legs of the UAE Triple Crown, Honour Devil and Royal Vintage, the mount of Kevin Shea, will go head to head for leading Dubai Carnival trainer De Kock.
Shea said: "Royal Vintage had not run for nearly eight months and ran a really good race in the 2000 Guineas.
"He only got beat by half a length but came back and turned it around.
"It's going to be a good race.
"He is looking good for the ground and next year he could be a World Cup horse."
Cocoa Beach will start from stall one, with Numaany, My Indy and Massive Drama outside.
Royal Vintage and Honour Devil will make their challenges from eight and nine respectively.
Jeremy Noseda's Strike The Deal, winner of the Richmond Stakes last year, will break from even wider in stall 11.
"I'm confident he will handle the dirt - my only question mark is the trip," said Noseda.
"Only time will tell, but I think it could severely test his stamina. I wish the race was over a mile!
"But the team in Dubai have been happy with him since he arrived there and he has an outside draw, which I was looking for," he added on www.jeremynoseda.com.
"It will just give him a chance to get into a rhythm early in the race before he possibly starts to have to face any kickback."
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