'Knowledgeable and passionate' Sheikha Hissa watches Shadwell stars prepare

Should either Mohaafeth or Hukum win one of Saturday's two marquee races on turf for the late Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell Stable, the scenes of celebration will live long in the memory.

On Thursday morning the member of the sheikh's family to whom the torch has been passed, Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum, visited the training track behind Meydan racecourse to see Sheema Classic contender Hukum do an easy breeze under Jim Crowley, accompanied by trainer Owen Burrows and Shadwell's principal racing brains Angus Gold and Richard Hills.

Half an hour earlier William Haggas spoke of the pleasure he derives from bringing a horse of Mohaafeth's potential to this meeting as the son of Frankel prepares to drop back in trip in the 1m1f Turf, a move his connections hope will unlock his talent.

The Sheema Classic and the Turf – in which Shadwell also field the Mussabeh Al Meihri-trained Alfareeq and last year's Lincoln winner Haqeeqy, now in the care of John Hyde – have attracted exceptionally strong fields, but Mohaafeth and Hukum hold legitimate chances.

"We're under no illusions, we've still got to find half a dozen pounds with the top Japanese horses but we're in there fighting," said Burrows, who sent Hukum out to win his prep race in the Group 2 Dubai City of Gold three weeks ago.

Hukum (Jim Crowley) works on the turf training track at MeydanCredit: Edward Whitaker

"His work's been good. He enjoys it and is a pleasure to deal with. Everything we hoped would happen has; we've managed to win the prep run and he looks as if he's come forward plenty."

Burrows added: "I've always felt this race would suit my lad and it's just a pleasure to bring the horse out and represent the family. Today is a year ago to the day since Sheikh Hamdan passed and what a fitting tribute it would be if Hukum managed to get his nose in front."

Burrows is embarking on his first season with external owners in addition to those horses he trains for Shadwell, whose racing and breeding operations are going through a slimming down process.

"It was a big thing for me and my team to win three weeks ago and it was a big deal for the whole Shadwell operation as Hukum was the first horse we'd bought over here since Sheikh Hamdan's passing. Without sounding too sentimental, it would be a dream to think something like that could happen."

His chief patron's visit to the training track carried no air of formality.

"It's a pleasure to be here and Sheikha Hissa is wonderful to deal with," said Burrows. "She's very knowledgeable; very, very passionate and it's wonderful to be involved. It's a smaller operation now and it's great to have a runner. Hopefully it won't be my last."

Further Shadwell representation comes in the shape of a pair of Doug O'Neill-trained runners, Mubakker in the Godolphin Mile and Khuzaam in the Al Quoz Sprint.

But more than plain familiarity or any one-eyed Anglocentric bias, the betting tells you that at 5-1, Mohaafeth in the Turf is the operation's best chance of carrying off a significant piece of silverware.

William Haggas: fields a powerful team on World Cup nightCredit: Edward Whitaker

"We all want to support this great meeting," said Haggas. "And we want to have a shot at $5 million as well. Mohaafeth is a Shadwell horse and it's great to bring a decent horse here for Sheikha Hissa to enjoy.

"We've been campaigning him over further and for quite some time I've been quite keen to drop him back in distance. He shows me a lot of speed at home despite being by Frankel out of a Sea The Stars mare."

Haggas may even need to devise a way of keeping Mohaafeth and the unbeaten Baaeed out of one another's way.

"I want to bring Mohaafeth back further to a mile when he gets home. The plan for Baaeed is to run in the Lockinge and then the Queen Anne. It's all dreamy stuff for now. It's gone very well with him for the moment, he looks terrific. But he's not doing anything quick at the moment, he's just biding his time.

"Baaeed and Mohaafeth are unlikely to run against one another. We hope that Baaeed has done enough already to stand at stud. Mohaafeth hasn't, so he needs to up his game."

The strength of the older division at Somerville Lodge is emphasised by the fact that, even as Baaeed is taking things slowly, Haggas fields five runners on World Cup night, with My Oberon joining Mohaafeth in the Turf, Dubai Honour and Alenquer doubling up in the Sheema Classic.

Asked if he was worried about placing so many talented eggs in the same basket, Haggas said: "We have to make the most of the opportunities that come around. If any of those four horses wins the Turf or the Sheema, they won't win that in England if they go round 15 times.

"We're trying to make stallions or win prize-money. Mohaafeth and Alenquer are still colts but Dubai Honour and My Oberon are geldings. All they can do is win money."

Such economic and competitive logic has made Haggas an increasingly familiar presence at the major international meetings. He said: "It was a toss up whether to come here with Dubai Honour or go to Australia and, because of his owner, we decided to come here.

"I look at the Tancred Stakes [at Rosehill, Sydney] on Saturday and think, 'My God, if only'. He's got to run for money now."

Read these next:

'The level is so high in Japan' – record Japanese team to lay down Dubai marker

Is Life is Good ready to become America's (and China's) horse?

Frankie Dettori booked to ride Pyledriver in Sheema Classic

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets