33 individual Thoroughbred Group 1 winners are among horses from 13 countries expected to run at the $30.5 million Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday, 30th March.
Chase Liebenberg captured Yuga Kawada on Ushba Tesoro, the 2023 winner
Defending champion Ushba Tesoro, Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador and Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Derma Sotogake are among a projected line-up of 13 for the $12million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline.
The locally trained contingent is headed by Kazakhstan-owned sensation Kabirkhan, winner of Gr1 Maktoum Challenge.
The $6million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic has a projected field of 12, with 2022 winner Shahryar aiming to become the first horse to win it twice. He is part of a formidable Japanese team which includes top fillies Liberty Island and Stars On Earth.
Taking them on from Europe is Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Auguste Rodin and Coronation Cup winner Emily Upjohn, while the Godolphin challenge relies on former UAE Derby winner Rebel’s Romance.
Lord North goes for an unprecedented fourth win in the $5million Dubai Turf, sponsored by DP World. The John and Thady Gosden-trained gelding faces a potential 14 rivals, including Arima Kinen winner Do Deuce and Lord’s North stablemate, the multiple Gr1-winning mare Nashwa.
There are two valuable sprints on the card, including the $million Gr1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Nakheel. Defending champion Sibelius faces last year’s fourth Hopkins, while the Japanese challenge is headed by impressive Riyadh Dirt Sprint winner Remake.
The $1.5million Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Azizi Developments, has an international look, with multiple Gr1 winner Casa Creed travelling over from America, Jasper Krone from Japan and several British runners, including Gr1 winners Regional and Emaraaty Ana.
California Spangle, winner of the Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup last weekend, journeys from Hong Kong.
See the projected fields here.
The card is bolstered by three Group 2s, beginning with the Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Emaar. The strong line-up features 2023 winner Isolate and Saudi Crown, third in the Saudi Cup last time out.
Devastating Saudi Derby winner Forever Young is the star attraction in the Gr2 UAE Derby, in which he is likely to be joined by US raider Pandagate, as well as UAE 2000 Guineas winner Mendelssohn Bay as well as Henry Adams and Navy Seal, both trained by Aidan O’Brien.
O’Brien runs Tower Of London in the Gr2 Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, in which his likely opponents include Gr1 Irish St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov, Gr2 Yorkshire Cup winner Giavellotto and Gr2 Lonsdale Cup winner Coltrane.
The traditional curtain raiser to the day is the $1million Gr1 Dubai Kahyala Classic for Purebred Arabians in which a likely field of 13 includes 2022 winner First Class and the unbeaten Saudi star Asfan Al Khalediah.
- Media release by Dubai Racing Club on Monday, 11 March 2024.
