The initial stages of any racing campaign are the most important. They provide the trainer with the vital information necessary to add the finishing touches in preparing his team, which more than likely, will house higher-profile runners and targets for the weeks following.

In this context, Thursday night's meeting at Meydan was a big one for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby. He saddled five runners -- and he was looking for signs that the 16 horses he has shipped out from Britain for the Dubai World Cup Carnival are on schedule to meet upcoming targets.
 
He need not have lost too much sleep. He ended the night with a winning treble, and the promise of better things to come at the Carnival, which commences at Meydan on January 5.

A total of 11 Carnival days climax with the running of the Dubai World Cup on March 25.
 
Appleby's three winners were Capezzano, Van Der Decken (who defeated stablemate Fly At Dawn) and Somerset House. All produced sparkling performances on the night, and each will be aimed at a major target in the New Year.
 
"They all looked good beforehand, and they had all worked well. I couldn't be happier," Appleby said.
 
"At this stage, you are hoping they have done enough, but after seeing that, I am pleased with where they are. It gives us a good platform for the Carnival ahead," he added.
 
Both Van Der Decken and Fly At Dawn will now be aimed at the 2,000 Guineas Trial at Meydan, while Capezzano, a son of Bernardini, will be considered for the Al Bastakiya, possibly as a prep for the UAE Derby.

"I think Capezzano will be looking for something a bit further (in distance), while we will try to find a small race for Somerset House along the way," he pointed out.
 
The Appleby team will be led in Dubai by Godolphin stalwart Safety Check, winner of 10 of his 25 starts, and lightly-raced Emotionless, who will attempt to make up for lost time. During 2016, in which he suffered setbacks, Emotionless ran only twice.
 
Appleby will find himself commuting to Dubai from Britain, certainly in the early stages of the DWC Carnival. He has a large team of young horses in training at Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket, in preparation for 2017 in Europe.