In seven days’ time the wait will finally be over. Action gets under way at Nad Al Sheba for the Winter Racing Challenge before the ultra-competitive International Racing Carnival in January.

The temperature should be spot on next week and most trainers have a good idea which of their charges is likely to represent their yard on opening night. I was lucky enough to visit Doug Watson’s Red Stable during the week. From there the spike of the world’s tallest building could just about be seen from behind the barn that is currently home to a squadron of quality horses who, it will be hoped, can tower over their rivals.

Now is always an exciting time as expectations are high, on the evidence I have seen, Watson has a quality string. While he narrowly regained his champion trainer status last campaign, this year has the potential to be his best yet.

Having experienced the thrill of the build-up to the Dubai World Cup meeting for a number of years now, I can only assume that the final days leading up to the official thoroughbred championships taking place at Santa Anita this weekend – The Breeders’ Cup – are just as special.

With famous names, horse and human, from all corners of the globe descending on one place, the buzz when you catch a glimpse of your favourite animal or the time when you “accidentally” (on purpose!) walk past Garret Gomez or John Velazquez in between gallops is a real treat to fans of the sport of kings.

This week has seen an abundance of retirements on the equine front. After teasing much of the racing community, it was officially announced on Monday that Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe heroine, Zarkava, has run her last race and a life in the paddocks awaits. I’m in two minds whether I support the decision or not.

It’s true this outstanding three-year-old filly owes connections absolutely nothing; her unbeaten record of seven from seven, with five victories at the highest level slotted in for good measure, speaks for itself, but on the other hand, with such a large international racing programme it would have been fantastic if her owner had given her the chance to prove her worth on the world stage. Then she could really go down in the books as a true great.

It’s worth pointing out that she has never raced away from French soil. In my opinion, Alain de Royer-Dupre’s charge has a long way to go before being considered in the same league as, let’s say the exceptional mare Ouija Board.

After nearly six months out of the plate I saddled back up at Green Stables this week and I have to say perhaps I’m not getting as old as I thought I was, as my bones and muscles seem to have settled back into their previous routine without too many aches and pains.

Plenty of familiar faces greeted me on my return to action and I was thrown in at the deep end when my first mount of the new season, a former Godolphin charge called Minefield, was cantering on the track.

They say it’s like riding a bike and I suppose in most senses it is, but the routine of tacking up displayed a momentary lapse in my mind as once I’d placed my pads and saddle on the horse’s back and went to "pull out" I suddenly realised I had forgotten the all important girth.

I can’t believe a year has gone by since race fans witnessed atrocious conditions at the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Monmouth Park last October, and before we know it, the countdown to the thoroughbred world championships is well under way.

If there was anything to get the pulses racing ahead of the eagerly anticipated event at the end of the month it was none more so than at Belmont Park and Santa Anita on Saturday which saw the mighty Curlin destroy his rivals in the Jockey Club Gold Cup under conditions which represented a dismal scene from Burnham on Sea rather than a Grade One race track.

Nevertheless, the Steve Asmussen-trained powerhouse clocked another victory in the G1 contest and also added another large wad to his bulging bank balance.