Dubai World Cup meeting at their feet
DUBAI A total of 114 horses from 13 countries, including 35 individual Group or Grade I winners, are set to contest the 29th Dubai World Cup meeting, held at Meydan Racecourse on April 5.
Dubai Racing Club has announced the likely fields for all nine races, which combined, are worth US$30.5 million (S$40.6 million) in prize money, making the annual racing extravaganza the world's single richest race day.
The night's crown jewel, the US$12 million Dubai World Cup (sponsored by Emirates airlines) over the 2,000m on dirt features a showdown between two Japanese champions - 2023 winner Ushba Tesoro and Forever Young, winner of the 2024 Group 2 UAE Derby (1,900m) and the recently run Group 1 Saudi Cup (1,800m), the richest race in the world with a purse of US$20 million.
Incidentally, Ushba Tesoro ran a distant third to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup. Runner-up Romantic Warrior is opting out of a rematch in the Dubai World Cup, having elected for the US$5 million Dubai Turf (sponsored by DP World) instead.
Hong Kong's 10-time Group 1 winner and the world's highest stakes earner at US$26.6 million figures among six Group 1 winners lining up in the 1,800m contest on turf, including defending champion, French globetrotter Facteur Cheval and Godolphin's Nations Pride.
The US$6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (2,410m) will see Rebel's Romance aim to become the first horse to win this turf event twice - he won in 2024.
The Godolphin-owned and Charlie Appleby-trained Dubawi seven-year-old faces a likely six other Group 1 winners, including Japan's Danon Decile, Durezza and Cervinia.
The card's two 1,200m sprints also look hugely exciting, with South African-turned US star Isivunguvungu among the field for the turf version, the US$1.5 million Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (sponsored by Azizi Developments), as are British Group 1 winners Regional and Audience.
Defending champion Tuz and Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Straight No Chaser will lock horns in its dirt counterpart, the US$2 million Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (sponsored by Nakheel).
The star-studded card also features three Group 2s, all carrying purses of US$1 million each, the Godolphin Mile (sponsored by Emaar) which has attracted US Group 1 winner Raging Torrent, the Dubai Gold Cup (sponsored by Al Tayer Motors) over 3,200m on turf, and the UAE Derby (sponsored by Jumeirah) over 1,900m.
The curtain raiser is the Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic (sponsored by Zabeel Feed) for purebred Arabians and staged over 2,000m on dirt, which numbers seven Group 1 winners among the likely field.
"The strength and depth of horses aiming for the Dubai World Cup meeting this year is superb," commented Ali Al Ali, CEO and board member of Dubai Racing Club.
"We are delighted to have horses from 13 racing jurisdictions represented, including several returning champions.
"We wish everyone safe travels and can't wait to welcome everyone to Dubai for the most exciting day of our year." DUBAI RACING CLUB
