The Newmarket handler saddled Masar to win the recognised trial for the Qipco 2000 Guineas last season. The New Approach colt went on to finish third in the Rowley Mile Classic before claiming Investec Derby glory at Epsom.
Zakouski created a big impression when making a successful racecourse debut at Kempton in November - and while he faces a big step up in class on his first start on turf, he is set to go off favourite for Wednesday's one-mile Group Three.
The standard is set by another Godolphin runner in Saeed bin Suroor's Royal Marine. The son of Raven's Pass rounded off his juvenile campaign with a Group One success at ParisLongchamp, but does need to bounce back from a disappointing first run of 2019 on the dirt at Meydan.
The William Haggas-trained Skardu, Hugo Palmer's Set Piece, Gay Kelleway's Global Spectrum and Jackstar from Tom Dascombe's yard all put their unbeaten records on the line.
Haggas said of his runner: "Skardu has done well over the winter, I am very happy with him. All he has done so far is win a maiden, which I wasn’t expecting as he ain’t that flash at home, but he won easily in a good time against a good field.
"He has come to hand a bit quicker than I expected - a month ago I did not think he would be ready for the bet365 Craven but the dry weather and the dry ground has helped him. He will come on for what he does on Wednesday as it’s not his Derby at all – it’s a trial for a better race.
"He’s entered in the 2000 Guineas, though that’s not to say that he’s a definite runner – we will be much wiser about that after the Craven. I suspect the opposition will be very strong – I know Zakouski is very fancied."
Confiding (Martyn Meade), Momkin (Roger Charlton), Prince Eiji (Roger Varian) and Watan (Richard Hannon) complete the field.
