IF you want to know what one million euros can secure in horse flesh, then Doncaster is the place to be this afternoon.

Thahab, a son of Dubawi, cost that mighty sum at the Arqana yearling sales last year and is owned by the Qatar-based Al Shaqab Racing, whose vast number of horses include Treve, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, and The Wow Signal, trained at Norton by John Quinn and winner of the Coventry Stakes and the Group 1 Prix Morny.

Frankie Dettori, Al Shaqab’s retained jockey, takes the mount on Thahab, who comes from a very successful female line.

It is anybody’s guess just what ability she may have, but the fact that trainer Richard Hannon is prepared to unleash her at this late stage of the season suggests that he surely feels she can do herself justice.

Victory for the juvenile this afternoon in the Betdaq Maiden Stakes will recoup precisely £3,881 of that enormous purchase price, but it may also fuel dreams for next season and much bigger targets. One thing is for certain, all eyes will be on Thahab in this seven furlong contest.

North Yorkshire apprentice Kevin Stott has established a good recent rapport riding for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation. He has ridden three winners from five rides in the distinctive blue colours and he has a couple of chances to add to that impressive tally on Town Moor.

Stott teams up with Best Example in the opening Socialites Zero Stoptober Nursery Handicap and the juvenile is napped to take advantage of his rider’s 5lb allowance.

On his latest start, Best Example ran out a decisive winner over seven furlongs at Musselburgh. This step up to a mile should suit him and he is expected to take plenty of beating for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

Stott also rides Ghazi for bin Suroor in the Betdaq Handicap over an extended mile and a quarter.

Something of an unknown quantity, Ghazi won his only race last season as a two-year-old, a maiden at Newmarket in August. That was over six furlongs and he now has to prove his stamina and his well-being. He is, though, an interesting proposition in his first handicap after a lengthy absence.

In the Betdaq Betting Exchange £30 Free Bet Handicap, Novirak makes plenty of appeal in the hands of Freddie Tylicki.

James Fanshawe has run the six-year-old only three times this season, but he has shaped well on each occasion at Newbury, Haydock and, most recently in Listed company at Newmarket in the race won by the useful Pallasator.

The sprinters will be on show in the Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager Handicap and opportunity may finally come knocking for Jamaican Bolt, trained near Malton by Geoff Oldroyd.

The six-year-old, who enjoys some give in the ground, finished finished fourth at York on his penultimate start and was beaten less than a length into third by Englishman at Haydock last week.

At Newbury, Inniscastle Lad may prove the solution to the Sir Gerald Whent Nursery Handicap.

Michael Appleby’s recent Nottingham winner Dame Lucy (3.55), the mount of Oisin Murphy, and Aiyana (5.30), who has won her last two races, are two others for the notebook.

Selections

Doncaster today
1.20 Best Example (NAP), 1.50 Star Of Seville, 2.20 Crystal Malt, 2.55 Thahab, 3.30 Jamaican Bolt, 4.05 Novirak, 4.40 Ghazi, 5.10 Unex Michelangelo.

Newbury today
1.35 King To Be, 2.10 Firmament, 2.45 Smart, 3.20 Inniscastle Lad, 3.55 Dame Lucy, 4.30 Hostile Fire, 5.00 Court Room, 5.30 Aiyana.

Today’s other meetings
Fakenham and Wolverhampton.

Tomorrow’s meetings
Doncaster, Newbury, Aintree, Chepstow, Stratford and Wolverhampton.