MIKE de Kock won the Listed Singspiel Stakes over 1800m on turf at Meydan with Light The Lights almost exactly a year ago; Sanshaawes was fourth, but he’s not expecting the same result when the 2018 Carnival kicks off on Thursday evening.

Christophe Soumillon is back as retained jockey for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and rides Light The Lights. Colm O’Donoghue has been book for Sanshaawes.

Light The Lights (nearest camera), wins 2017 Singspiel Stakes.

Mike commented: “Both runners are way above their best racing weights and will improve for the run.”

The same goes for Gr1 winner Noah From Goa (Soumillon), who returns from injury and surgery in a handicap over 1400m on turf (Race 6), and will have Suyoof (Jim Crowley) for company.

Mike said: “Noah From Goa is looking good and he’s sound, we’ve built him up steadily but he will be all the better for the outing. Suyoof did no travelling last year, he stayed in Dubai. He’s been in work for quite some time, he is well and is the fitter of the pair.”

Mike explained his strategy for the season:

“Our horses are all between 20 and 30k overweight but they are the best, the soundest I’ve seen them. We haven’t had access to the turf track until 6 January, I didn’t want to work them hard on the sand or Tapeta considering all the injuries we and others suffered last year.

“We’ll race our runners into top shape, there are enough Carnival races and the weights will come down quickly. They’ve been doing slow work and treadmill exercise, but they’re lacking fast work and grass gallops.

“I’m really happy with their looks, however, we have a string of happy horses. They will take a run or more to come to hand but hopefully come the last part of the Carnival we’ll have some good firepower unlike last year when there were several problems to deal with at the end.”