California Chrome will break from the rail Thursday night when he spots seven rivals 15 pounds in a 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) dirt handicap at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

California Chrome will begin in earnest to take care of unfinished business when he races Thursday night in the sixth race on the Meydan card in Dubai.

The 2014 Kentucky Derby winner has for months been pointed to the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26. He finished second as the favorite in that race last year, upset by the highly unlikely winner, Prince Bishop, after which his glittering career went off the rails.

California Chrome had his final workout in advance of his planned start in Dubai next week with a half-mile workout in 47.20 seconds at Meydan Racecourse on Friday.

The 2014 Horse of the Year, California Chrome is scheduled to start in a $150,000 handicap at about 1 1/4 miles on dirt at Meydan next Thursday as a prep race for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26. California Chrome was second in the 2015 Dubai World Cup.

Friday’s workout was California Chrome’s fourth workout since arriving in Dubai in late January.

Tryster won for the seventh time in his last eight starts and won the first turf stakes of his career in Thursday’s $200,000 Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.

Ridden by William Buick, Tryster (7-2 with British bookmakers) closed from the back of a field of 10 to take the lead in the final furlong of the Grade 3 race at 2,000 meters, or about 1 1/4 miles. Tryster finished 2 3/4 lengths in front of Haafaguinea, who had won three of his previous four starts.

Haafaguinea, a 6-year-old gelding who has won three of his last four starts, will start in a group stakes for the first time in his career in Thursday’s $200,000 Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.

The Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes is run at 2,000 meters, or about 1 1/4 miles, on turf, and has drawn a field of 10.

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, recorded his third workout in less than two weeks at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Friday, working seven furlongs in 1:24.40. The workout ahead of a $150,000 handicap on Feb. 25 has left trainer Art Sherman somewhat surprised by the 5-year-old’s energy.

“I didn’t realize he’d train like he is over there,” Sherman said. “He’s changed into a big, strong horse that wants to beat you. Now, we need some racing luck.”

There were two Group 3 races on the seven-race card at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday night in Dubai, but the horse that grabbed the most attention was Polar River, who blasted home a 13-length winner of the listed UAE 1000 Guineas.

According to a ruling on the Japan Racing Association website, jockey Luis Contreras has been suspended in Japan after testing positive for the painkiller oxycodone on Feb. 6.

Contreras had been granted a short-term license to ride in Japan from Jan. 5 to Feb. 29 and had won two races there.

Contreras, a 29-year-old native of Mexico, was Woodbine’s leading rider from 2011-13 and ranked second in the Woodbine standings in 2014-15. He was voted the Sovereign Award as Canada’s outstanding jockey in 2011-12.

From start to finish there are interesting horses in the seven races on the Thursday night World Cup Carnival card at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Race 1, the UAE 1000 Guineas, brings out Polar River, the promising filly who has started her career with two dirt wins and could be considered for the Kentucky Oaks. Race 7 is a turf handicap over about nine furlongs of no awesome quality, but among its entrants is Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul, who makes his Dubai debut.

California Chrome worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Friday, preparing for his first of two starts in that country on Feb. 25.

Trainer Art Sherman said at Santa Anita on Saturday that California Chrome galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.40 in his Friday workout. Art Sherman’s son and assistant trainer, Alan, is with California Chrome in Dubai overseeing training.

“He said Chrome’s doing amazing,” Art Sherman said of his conversation with Alan.