Horse racing fans and even normal tourists from around the world are in Dubai to witness one of UAE's showpiece events
30 Mar 2024 15:08
Kuumar Shyam (Dubai)
The Dubai World Cup (DWC) is one of the top three richest horse races globally. Held on the fourth Saturday of every March since 1996, this year will be the 28th staging of DWC. The feature event on March 30 will be the last of nine races, with a cheque of $12 million attached. First race begins at 3.30pm and the total prize money is $30.5 million. The 2023 winner Ushba Tesoro will defend his title at the Meydan Racecourse in the 2,000-metre Group 1 race even as the age factor is on the higher side against the Japanese horse. He is also trying to be the first horse after only Thunder Snow to win back-to-back DWC titles. The ticketed event is also a major opportunity for people to be at their fashionable best; prizes of up to Dh200,000 are given to the most well-dressed. The race day action will be broadcast live to 150 countries.
Here is the latest from the course as we bring you live updates (Keep refreshing periodically for the latest):
And here is what the schedule looks like for the rest of the evening.
No
Time
Race
Class
Prize (in $)
1
3.30pm
Dubai Kahayla Classic
Gr 1
1million
2
4.05pm
Godolphin Mile
Gr 2
1m
3
4.40pm
Dubai Gold Cup
Gr 2
1m
4
5.15pm
Al Quoz Sprint
Gr 1
1.5m
5
5.50pm
UAE Derby
Gr 2
1m
6
6.25pm
Dubai Golden Shaheen
Gr 1
2m
7
7.10pm
Dubai Turf
Gr 1
5m
8
8pm
Dubai Sheema Classic
Gr 1
6m
9
8.35pm
Dubai World Cup
Gr 1
12m
Total
30.5m
Judging by the outpouring of people despite the sunny afternoon and where the evenings are going to be pleasant, it seems like we are set for a lovely second half of the day. For viewers across the world, it is worth noting that this is the first World Cup to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan in a long, long time.
3.30pm: And we are off and racing with the Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabian horses. Tilal Al Khalediah has had an impressive victory in a field of 13 while putting Saudi Arabia on the screens even as people are settling in while those new to the Meydan are soaking in the grand ambience. Abdullah Al Furaydi's mount has sliced through the pack to give trainer Nasser Al Kahtani a second title in the race. It has been a shock, though, for Asfan Al Khalediah, who was beaten for the first time in 15 starts as he came in third behind Barakka, under Connor Beasley.
4.05pm: It is Two Rivers Over who has proved a point over co-favourites Saudi Crown and Isolate in the Godolphin Mile. Saudi Crown was in hunting distance of Isolate and Walk of Stars at the final bend of the 1,600-metre race. But the American horse Saudi Crown suddenly gave up the fight and dropped very badly out. Jockey Edwin Maldonado, atop Two Rivers Over, immediately had the other American horse step into the gap and made his move from outside. Isolate further lost out in a photo finish to Walk of Stars for the runners-up position. "When I raced him last, then too, he was a slow starter, but he has grown well and I knew we had a chance. And when he [Two Rivers Over] saw he could do it, there was no stopping him," the winning jockey said.
4.40pm:Tower of London has lorded over a wide-open field in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup, a battle for the stayers over the two-mile distance. True to the nature of the race and the pedigree required, Tower of London hid among the belly of the 16-member pack while Libyan Glass set the early pace and exchanging leads by Trawlerman. Even as they started dropping pace, Al Nayyir made the charge but that looked just a little bit early in hindsight, as Tower of London made his move from the outside. In the final metres, while the others in the leader pack were lunging out of breath to get to the finish line, Ryan Moore's mount packed solid strides past the final post. This is a step further in a quick turnaround for Tower of London since last month's win in the Group 3 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3,000m) in Saudi Arabia.
5.15pm: The fourth race, in contrast to the previous, has seemed like a case of going on predicted lines. It is California Spangle all the way after settling in for the 1,200-metre Al Quoz Sprint. While Godolphin's Stars of Mystery, under veteran Frankie Dettori, and Diligent Harry tried their best to catch up, California Spangle has taken the Group 1 race for three-year-old thoroughbreds in a canter. He took the final 400 metres in a breezy 22.47 seconds. If he can step up the distance a bit more, and even without, he could have a crack at the Royal Ascot later this year.
5.50pm: Has the UAE Derby given a sign of things to come before the creme la de creme comes? Japan's Forever Young is going from strength to strength in the Middle East before bidding for the Kentucky Derby. Auto Bahn and Oasis Boy – stablemates and half-brothers from Asiatic Boy – shot off too early and though Auto Bahn held for three-quarters of the 1,900-metre course, Forever Young crossed the post with such power that he looked like wanting to continue galloping, and jockey Rudei Sakai had to gradually calm him down. Pandagate took third behind Auto Bahn.
The UAE Derby offers 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, making it an attractive spot for the unbeaten Forever Young. Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, he firmly has America on his radar after this win coming on the back of a last-second success in the Group 3 Saudi Derby. "He hasn’t fully matured but he is improving now," Sakai had said before the UAE Derby. "I think he’ll go on to win big races in a number of other countries.” However, on Saturday, Sakai avoided the question if Forever Young will be in prime shape for the next year's Dubai World Cup.
Another open race is coming up, and post this the seventh race would be at 7.10pm, just enough for those who are breaking fast for Ramadan.
And while we wait for the proceedings to start, here are the list of winners from the first Dubai World Cup until the 27th staging last year:
1996: Cigar 1997: Singspiel 1998: Silver Charm 1999: Almutawakel 2000: Dubai Millennium 2001: Captain Steve 2002: Street Cry 2003: Moon Ballad 2004: Pleasantly Perfect 2005: Roses In May 2006: Electrocutionist 2007: Invasor 2008: Curlin 2009: Well Armed 2010: Gloria de Campeao 2011: Victoire Pisa 2012: Monterosso 2013: Animal Kingdom 2014: African Story 2015: Prince Bishop 2016: California Chrome 2017: Arrogate 2018: Thunder Snow 2019: Thunder Snow 2020: Cancelled * 2021: Mystic Guide 2022: Country Grammer 2023: Ushba Tesoro
6.25pm: The Dubai Golden Shaheen was always an open race but when possibly the fifth-favourite horse leaves everyone way back in his dust, it can be a bit stunning for everyone. Tuz tased away his rivals to claim the title in 1 minute and 10.19 seconds. Even the UAE champion jockey Tadhg O'Shea was a bit taken back when his mount "was given a squeeze" after Don Frankie had made his way out well in front and looked like taking another win for Japan. But once the pressure was given, Tuz went flying, the Bhpat Seemar-trained horse with Russian connections making amends for a bad outing in Saudi Arabia.
Tuz spearheaded the Zabeel Stables squad for this race, and was a wide-margin winner of the G3 Dubawi Stakes here in January, but whose wheels then spun when sent to Saudi Arabia. "The track is a little bit deeper in Saudi and he likes the very fast ground at Meydan," said Seemar ahead of this race. "He ran a quicker time [in track work] than last year's Golden Shaheen when he won last time out here. If he gets a good draw he'll be rocking and rolling in the front. I've had terrible luck with the draws all year so I am hoping the luck is going to change." Drawn 2, Tuz has turned a corner for his trainer.
While everyone takes a moment for breaking fast, here is the latest take from Seemar on Tuz turning the tide.
We are back and what an exciting way as we have first photo finish and TV help need to determine the first winner of the night that way.
7.10pm: The Dubai Turf gets a massive bump in prize money and straightaway sees a tight head-to-head between Facteur Cheval and Namur. In a rollercoaster race, Measured Time had the hopes high for Dubai racing operation Godolphin, but it proved to be a little too early with Danon Beluga piping him for an easy, shock third place. But the TV replays were needed in zoom mode to determine that Maxime Guyon had managed to get the nose of Facteur Cheval in front ahead of Cristian Demuro's mount Namur. It is a shock result on the overall race card with none of the favourites – Lord North, Luxermbourg, Do Deuce or Nashwa – featuring in the main business.
UPDATE! The jockey Cristophe Lemaire has been stood down for the rest of the evening. Lemaire will be replaced by Frankie Dettori for the eighth race, Stars On Earth. However, the bigger setback will be for the ninth race where Derma Sotogake will need a new rider Oisen Murphy as Dettori and Lemaire had a great outside chance of winning the main one with regular mounts Newgate and Derma Sotogake respectively. Meanwhile, Spirit Dancer preps up for the Dubai Sheema Classic. The horse is more famous for the co-owner, Sir Alex Ferguson, the former Manchester United manager and the TVs also spot him out with due respect.
8pm: Talk about romancing the royal stories! With Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai in attendance, the chief host's racing operation Godolphin got a win at the last available opportunity at the Dubai World Cup. Rebel Romance had to sweat it out but came out under William Buick as the winner of the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic in the penultimate race on the card. With no runners for the main one coming up for Godolphin, the multiple Group 1 winner and the 2021 UAE Derby hero Rebel Romance timed his move to perfection in going for the kill about 300 metres out after staying in the shadows of Liberty Island for most part of the 2,410m race. In the end reckoning, Shaharyar pushed fellow Japanese horse Liberty Island into third spot. Buick said: "His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and the team always try to bring the best horses of the world here, and to be here on one and winning is great."
It is the time for the ultimate reckoning. The horses for the $12 million showpiece, the Dubai World Cup, are making their way to the gates. KabirKhan, the lovely story coming out of Kazakhstan with Dubai as its second home gets a round of cheers for the great underdog story the four-year-old brings to the track. Senor Buscador is making its way to the middle as the Saudi Cup winner. Ushba Thesoro, who came in second is the defending champion though as it attempts to defy age critics. Derma Sotogake is the other fellow Japanese horse with a fighting chance but has had its usual jockey Cristophe Lemaire stood down.
8.35pm: AND THE WINNING HORSE IS LAUREL RIVER !!
While the world fussed over the Japanese contingent led by Ushba Tesoro, KabirKhan as the great story to tell with a UAE connection and Newgate and Senor Buscador for the big American hopes, it was the Saudi Arabia-owned Laurel River with also UAE connections who had the last laugh. The story is amazing especially because even those with the horse had their doubts of his stamina and staying capacity. So much that he was being lined up for the Godolphin Mile as the best bet in a step up from his 1,200-1,400-metre past record. But the Dubai World Cup over 10 furlongs is what trainer Bhupat Seemar went for, and he entrusted the champion jockey-elect Tadhg O'Shea with the task of getting the best out of the six-year-old. Ushba Tesoro had a really bad start slipping in last. From there to finishing second in the end at the end of the 2,000 metres was still creditable, but it will be the fighting-against-all-odds' victory of Laurel River which will get the spotlight. The presentation ceremony for the race is just over with representatives of the owners, Juddmonte Farms and the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud, taking the trophy from Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed. Prince Khalid was a half-brother of King Abdulaziz, the kingdom's founder, and passed away in 2021.
A glittering laser show and firework display has just concluded and so is our time here. We are still a bit numb with the final display of dominance, certainly not the usual ebb and flow of and by Laurel River.