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A half-brother to Grade 1 winner Rutherienne, who won or placed in 17 graded stakes, as well as a pair of well-bred Ahmad bin Harmash trainees lead a dynamic dozen 2-year-olds on Thursday at Meydan Racecourse.

Over 1400m, it will be the first time that 10 of these have tried as far as said trip and the career debuts of seven runners. From a pedigree perspective, few stand out more than Musabbeh Al Mheiri-conditioned Zoyuz, a dark bay Ghostzapper colt who races for Nasir Askar. Out of the Rahy mare Ruthian, he is a half or full to 13 winners from 14 to race, including Rutherienne and G3 winner Ruthenia.

Al Rashid Stables' Ababil and Phoenix Ladies Syndicate's Jukebox King also jump off the page on a bloodline basis. Ababil, who breezed 10 seconds flat for 200m at the OBS April sale, sold for $150,000 and was bred by top USA-based owner-breeder Charles Fipke. Out of a Seeking the Gold mare, he is a grandson to a full-sister to G1-winning Perfect Soul.

Claiborne Farm-bred Jukebox King  (pictured above), on the other hand, comes from pure Claiborne stock, being by the famed American stud's stallion First Samurai out of Juke, by Mr. Prospector. Also purchased by his conditioner at Ocala, the bay colt breezed the same distance in 10.1 seconds, while appearing slightly more green than his stablemate. He was sold for $105,000, which is impressive considering his sire's average for 2-year-olds in training this year was $62,307.

"Ababil is doing very well in training," Bin Harmash said. "He doesn't have the right distance for his first meeting, but we are training him for longer ones. We buy our 2-year-olds with a focus on the UAE Derby at 1900m, so this is just a start. Every meeting we have two more 2-year-olds race and don't want to run them all at the same time. He has a lot of speed, but we will see how much he has in the race. He looks (like) a serious horse in his training. Jukebox King is doing very well, as well, but, like with our other horses, 1400m is not what he wants, but we will start here. This is the distance you have and they need to run, because we are pointing them to the UAE Derby.

"Normally, I like to see all my horses all showing a good speed in the race and to (try) in the end," Bin Harmash continued. "We have seen that so far with our horses, so that's good. We are buying for class racing, so we look down the road to the UAE 2000 Guineas, UAE Oaks and UAE Derby when I buy them as 2-year-olds."

Three juveniles who will get ample support from pick-6 players all exit the same Oct. 24 maiden: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Nicholas Bachalard-trained Laa Baas (second), H and B's Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained Al Modayar (fourth) and Kildare Stud's pace-setting Doug Watson trainee Cosmo Kramer (fifth), who is sure to be "outta control" in all the right ways if he pleases 'Seinfeld' fans with a victory.

Watson also starts Racing in Dubai Sale graduate Welcome Surprise, who will give owner EIB (Empire International Bloodstock) its Dubai debut. The son of Exceed and Excel out of a Street Cry half-sister to DWC Carnival winner Bin Battuta and champion Dream Ahead had four starts in England for Saeed bin Suroor over turf and all-weather, but managed a sole placing. A switch to dirt may be in his favour, as Godolphin Mile (G2) winner Heavy Metal was bred on a similar cross.

The field is completed by Helal Al Alawi-trained Al Khwaneeg, well-regarded Attribution, who disappointed on Oct. 24 (seventh) and looks to rebound for Salem bin Ghadayer, Al Rayhi-trained UK import Coast of Dubai, Askar-owned and Satish Seemar-trained Commanding and Mujeeb Rahman trainee Major Cinnamon