Powell all set for Dubai World Cup Carnival debut

Brendan Powell is looking forward to saddling his first ever runner at the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

The Upper Lambourn-based trainer has been invited to Meydan and his five-time winner Dark Emerald will fly the fly for the Newlands yard.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival, which starts on Thursday 8 January, is an 11-race meeting series and culminates in the 20th Dubai World Cup on Saturday 28 March.

Powell told www.cdhorseracingtours.com: " Dark Emerald is due to run in a race on the grass on Thursday 15 January, I shall be joining him out there at Meydan as we prepare for his first race, which will be over a distance of a mile. He's then likely to run again either at the end of the month or the beginning of February.

"It's something new and very exciting for everyone at the yard, we're all looking forward to the experience and were thrilled to be selected after we'd filled in the form to get the invitation to run out there. Everything will be new and it's going to be a case of getting into a routine and getting to know the facilities.

"It would obviously be fantastic to win out there, but just to be able to pick up some prize money would be great for a small yard like ours.

"Dark Emerald is a very straight forward ride and it would be great to get either Adam Kirby or Pat Smullen to ride him," Powell suggested.