Musir scored a decisive victory in the $200,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 on Thursday night at Meydan in Dubai, but it was his stablemate, Master of Hounds, who took a solid step toward the Dubai World Cup with a runner-up finish.

The first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge tops Thursday night’s race card at Meydan in Dubai, and topping the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge – at least in terms of interest – is Master of Hounds, who drew on the far outside of a 12-horse field entered in the one-mile race over the main track’s Tapeta surface.

Frankel, the undefeated English miler, topped the final 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and released Tuesday.

Mahbooba, a 5-year-old mare facing males, closed from off the pace to win Thursday’s $125,000 Al Rashidiya Trial on the opening evening of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.

The 16-day Dubai World Cup carnival begins at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, with the $125,000 Al Rashidiya Trial over about 1 1/8 miles on turf as the highlight of the program.

The carnival season culminates with the Dubai World Cup program on March 31.

In advance of March 31, the carnival features 23 races worth $100,000 or more, including seven stakes worth $175,000 to $400,000 on March 10, a program billed as a Super Saturday of preps for the Dubai World Cup program.

Victoire Pisa, the winner of the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March and two major stakes in Japan, has been retired after two disappointing races in the last five weeks.

A 4-year-old Japanese-bred colt by Neo Universe, Victoire Pisa will stand at stud in 2012 in Japan.

Owned by Yoshimi Ichikawa, Victoire Pisa won 8 of 15 starts in a three-year career.

Orfevre, the winner of the Japanese Triple Crown earlier this year, ended a remarkable 2011 season with a victory in his first start against older horses in Sunday’s $5.3 million Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.

The race marked the final start for Japan Cup winner Buena Vista, who could only manage a seventh in the field of 13.

Orfevre is expected to have an international campaign in 2012, with a race on the Dubai World Cup card in March and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris in October under consideration, according to trainer Yasutoshi Ikee.

A first-ever matchup between Buena Vista, the winner of the Japan Cup last month, and Orfevre, the winner of the 2011 Japanese Triple Crown, will be the focus of Sunday’s Grade 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse.

The Arima Kinen is worth approximately $4.9 million and is run over about 1 9/16 miles on a right-handed track.

Buena Vista, a 5-year-old mare, will be favored on the strength of her hard-fought win in the Japan Cup on Nov. 27, when she edged Tosen Jordan by a neck. Tosen Jordan is also part of the 14-runner Arima Kinen field.

Alfredo remained unbeaten in three starts and became the colt to follow for the Japanese classics of 2012 with a victory in Sunday’s Group 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at Nakayama Racecourse.

Ridden by Craig Williams for trainer Takahisa Tezuka, Alfredo won the $1.7 million Asahi Hai Futurity as the 2-1 favorite by two lengths over 8-1 Meiner Robusto. Leo Active, the winner of the Group 2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes at Tokyo on Nov. 12, finished third in the field of 16, closing well through the final three furlongs.