Five of the world's better turf horses were on the track at Nad Al Sheba Saturday morning, preparing for assignments in the Dubai Duty Free or the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 28.

Comeback kid Kane Hekili goes in search of his fourth victory in a row at Tokyo on Sunday when he meets Vermilion and Casino Drive in the $1.95 million February Stakes, Japan's key prep for the Dubai World Cup.

NEW YORK - Selecting future winners - some well known, some not - in a format popularly known as "Ten to Follow" is a time-honored pastime among British handicappers. Herewith, in alphabetical order and sexually segregated, is offered a hopefully lucky "Thirteen to Follow" among European 3-year-olds about to emerge from winter quarters, some already group race winners, others still operating under the radar.

Colts

My Central gave the Italian racing and breeding industries a much needed shot in the arm at Nad Al Sheba on Friday night as she came with a late rush to defeat a strong field in the Group 3, $200,000 Balanchine Stakes.

Honour Devil was unable to overcome the effects of a near-11-month layoff at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday night as he slogged home a dull third in the Al Dana Investment Plate, a $110,000 mile allowance race that was taken by the back-in-form Dijeerr.

Montmartre, whose brilliant four-length victory in the Grand Prix de Paris last July 14 propelled him into summerlong co-favoritism with stablemate Zarkava for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was retired by his owner, the Aga Khan, on Wednesday.

By Arc and King George winner Montjeu out of 1 7/8-mile, Group 3 Prix Berteux winner Artistique, he sustained a leg injury in the Grand Prix and was put away for the year in September. A setback earlier this week prompted his retirement.

Deem and Front House will renew their budding rivalry at Nad Al Sheba on Friday night in the $200,000 Balanchine Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf contest that has been upgraded to Group 3 status this year.

On Feb. 5, Deem got the best of Front House with a 1 1/2-length victory in the newly upgraded Group 3 Cape Verdi Stakes at a mile, and the result could very well be the same this time around.

Daiwa Scarlet, a four-time Grade 1 winner in her native Japan, has been retired on the eve of what was to have been her Dubai World Cup prep, Sunday's February Stakes at Tokyo, as the Japan Racing Association announced that she was suffering from tendonitis.

Honour Devil, unseen since winning the UAE Derby last March, makes his long-awaited return to the races at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday night in the Al Dana Investment Plate, a one-mile dirt allowance worth $110,000 in which he will be facing eight seemingly outclassed rivals.

Regarded as the best locally trained hope for the Dubai World Cup, Honour Devil is an Argentine-bred son of Honour and Glory trained by Mike de Kock. He is 4 for 5 lifetime, with three of those victories coming on the Nad Al Sheba dirt, among them last year's UAE 2000 Guineas.

Desert Party moved past Vineyard Haven in Godolphin's Kentucky Derby plans at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday night as he thrashed the Champagne Stakes winner in the UAE 2000 Guineas, the first of three Derby preps that will be run in Dubai this winter.