Frankie Dettori is hoping Godolphin's new purchase Electrocutionist will handle the dirt surface in the Group Two Maktoum Challenge III at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday.

Formerly trained in Italy by Valfredo Valiani, he won the Group One Juddmonte International at York last season before changing hands after finishing third in the Canadian International.

"He's having his first run for us and it will also be his first run on the dirt," Dettori told At The Races.

"It will be interesting to see how he will do.

"He's got a dirt pedigree which is encouraging and he has been training on it OK. But until he runs on it in a race you don't really know how he will do.

"He's got to travel really well on Thursday if he is to take his chance in the (Dubai) World Cup, this is the first test though."

Group One winner Cherry Mix, the mount of Dettori, and Sights on Gold both represent Godolphin in the Group Three Dubai City of Gold.

"He is carrying a Group One penalty for winning in Italy last year but so does Collier Hill," Dettori added.

Collier Hill's trainer Alan Swinbank is just fearful that the race might come a bit too soon for his admirable eight-year-old, who landed last season's Irish St Leger.

He finished third in the $5million Sheema Classic on World Cup night last season, when beaten just over two lengths, and the Richmond handler says that race will be the ultimate aim once more.

"We've been invited for the Sheema Classic again," Swinbank told PA Sport from Dubai.

"Hopefully he can go that bit closer this year. He is fit and well and he certainly enjoys it more out here than he did when he went hurdling a few years ago.

"It might just come a bit too soon for him on Thursday as some of the others have had a race and we also have a penalty but he won't be disgraced, that's for sure.

"He loves the sun on his back and he goes so well for Dean McKeown - I think that is what brought about his improvement last year."

John Oxx's Alayan also takes his chance in the 12-furlong grass contest along with Mark Johnston's Crosspeace.

Godolphin's trainer Saeed bin Suroor also introduces another of his high-profile acquisitions in Valixir, who won the Group One Queen Anne Stakes last year.

The five-year-old lines-up in the Group Two Jebel Hatta along with Hazyview, who makes his debut for Alec Laird after being purchased from the Tattersalls Sales last autumn.