Solid Choice gets his chance in Al Bastakiya Solid Choice by Peter Ward With UAE 2000 Guineas winner Musir missing the Listed Al Bastakiya, a race the De Kock team have won with Royal Vintage in 2008 and the preceding year with Asiatic Boy who remains the only horse to have won the UAE Triple Crown, hopes rest with Solid Choice. Fourth to Musir in both his local starts, this 1900m trip should suit him and he did actually beat Musir in South Africa last year. De Kock says: "The UAE Derby is Musir's target and he owes us nothing so we are bypassing this but Solid Choice is capable of a good run." Biarritz has not been seen on the course since this night last year, when beaten 5l in the Group 2 Jebel Hatta (turf), but makes his belated return to action in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar, over a mile on the Tapeta. King of Rome, Frozen Fire and Golden Sword all take their chance in the first turf race, the Group 2 City of Gold (2485m – approx 1m41/1f) and will try and emulate Front House who took the prize for the team last year, as Oracle West had in 2006 and Greys Inn the previous year. The night's official feature is the Group 2 Maktoum Challenge III, a race De Kock won last year with the aforementioned Asiatic Boy, as well as in 2004 with Victory Moon. With Eagle Mountain not declared, both Mr Brock and Lizard's Desire  will bid for their third 2010 Carnival victory and both have a course and distance success to their credit. De Kock said: "Both horses have won twice at the Carnival and merit this step up in class. It is a stiff task but we need to find out if they are World Cup night horses and if so, which races are most suitable." Zirconeum runs in the concluding Group 2 Jebel Hatta, the second turf race and over 1m1f. This was the race Ipi Tombe used as a stepping stone prior to her Dubai Duty Free victory in 2003 and De Kock also won the following season with Surveyor.  He continued: "She should run well in an open looking race."