Dubai World Cup: Feature race previews in 60 seconds

Ed Marnane

Apart from the Dubai World Cup, Saturday's race meeting at Meydan also offers a betting feast with eight other feature races contested.

Here is a preview of the eight races which offer a total of $18.5-million in prizemoney.

Dubai Kahayla Classic

The Group 1 Arabian showpiece is a competitive renewal, despite the withdrawal of the high-class RB Kingmaker, recent winner of the Al Mneefah Cup (Group 1) and the highest rated Arabian in the field, on Tuesday. First Classs, trained by Doug Watson, is back to defend his crown and returns to Meydan at the top of his game, winning the Obaiyah Arabian Classic (Group 1) at Riyadh last month. He is a two-time winner of the Dubai Kahayla Classic and the admirable nine-year-old has sound claims of winning a third one. Murad has blossomed since joining Majed Al Jahoori, winning the opening two legs of the Al Maktoum Challenge this season, both over the track. He should go well. It is hard to ignore the claims of the consistent and reliable Mubeed, a three-time winner at Meydan, twice at Group 1 level.

Godolphin Mile

Champion trainer Bhupat Seemar saddles six of the 12 runners, the most runners a single trainer has sent out in one race at the Dubai World Cup meeting since Saeed bin Suroor ran eight horses in the 2000 UAE Derby. Of Seemar’s sextet, Commissioner King is the one I fancy. Tadhg O’Shea’s mount impressed winning the Burj Nahar, over the same course and distance. Commissioner King, a confirmed front-runner, has the benefit of a good draw and should to close. Seemar has booked Mickael Barzalona to ride Diamond Dealer, a progressive gelding who has won four of his six races this season. He holds each-way claims at big odds, despite a potential tricky draw (11). Wathnan Racing are three-handed, all trained by Hamad Al Jehani and David Of Athens is the horse that makes most appeal of the trio. He is improving with racing and comes here on a high after dead-heating with Masmak in the Jebel Ali Mile, Group 3.

Dubai Gold Cup

A field of ten, seven trained overseas and Irish St Leger winner Al Riffa, trained by Joseph O’Brien, is the favourite. He is a classy stayer and ran well in defeat in the Hong Kong Vase in December. Dylan Browne McMonagle has jumped off Sons And Lovers (Ryan Moore), winner of the Red Sea Handicap, one of the turf features on the Saudi Cup undercard, to ride his stable companion Al Riffa. In a competitive renewal, Dubai Future returns to defend his crown but has lost his form and has plenty to prove on return from a lengthy break. The admirable veteran stayer Al Nayyir demonstrated he hasn’t lost his enthusiasm when winning the Nad Al Sheba Trophy, a key local trial, off a 182-day break last month. He nearly caused a big shock in the 2024 Dubai Gold Cup, just failing to see off Tower Of London. Of the rest, Caballo De Mar is one to consider, especially if the ground turns soft with 39mm of rain forecast in Dubai on Friday. He’s proven on slow ground and his trainer has enjoyed a terrific campaign in the Middle East this winter.

UAE Derby

Japan has won the last four renewals and has two runners, with preference for the Godolphin-owned Pyromancer. He is unbeaten in three races and can boast form at Grade 1 level. Wonder Dean, the second Japanese runner, ran well when fourth in the Saudi Derby and is one for the shortlist. Six Speed, trained by Bhupat Seemar, is the pick of the home challenge. He has improved and was a dominant winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas. The step up to 1900m is an obvious query, but if he sees out the trip, he will be right in the mix. His stable companion Salloom, the mount of Tadhg O’Shea, is held in high regard and created a big impression when winning on his racecourse debut in late January. However, he has his quirks in the gates and was a late withdrawal in the UAE 2000 Guineas after bursting out of the starting stalls. If Salloom’s behaves in the stalls, he demands plenty of respect.

Al Quoz Sprint

Reef Runner and Lazzat, the 1-2 favourite in the Turf Sprint last month, renew rivalry and I fancy Lazzat can get his revenge. He had a tough trip in Riyadh and will be suited stepping down to 1200m from 1350m. Reef Runner, representing US-based trained David Fawkes, was brought with a well-timed challenge to catch Lazzat close home in a thrilling finish and he should be thereabouts. Japan’s hopes rest with the smart sprinter Lugal, a Grade 1 winner when winning the Sprinters Stakes in his homeland in 2024. He arrives in the Emirates in good heart, winning the Hanshin Cup before finishing a close third in the Ocean Stakes four weeks ago. Lugal is aiming to give Japan their first victory in the Al Quoz Sprint.

Dubai Golden Shaheen

Historically US sprinters have dominated the race, winning it on no less than 15 occasions since the turn of the century. Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato can give America another victory. He possesses bags of early speed, is strong at the finish and should be suited to the conditions. Last year’s winner Dark Saffron made history when becoming the first three-year-old to win the race when causing a massive shock. He bounced back to form having been badly out of sorts when second in the Mahab Al Shimaal. Of the others, El Nasseeb, the mount of Silvestre de Sousa, must enter calculations for trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri, who won the Golden Shaheen ten years ago with Muarrab. The son of Profitable has emerged the top local sprinter this season, thanks to his victories in the Mahab Al Shimaal, Dubawi Stakes and the Al Garhoud Sprint. Tuz, the 2024 winner, was soundly beaten on his belated comeback and it is hard to see the veteran winning. Drew’s Gold, trained by Bhupat Seemar, is unbeaten in two runs over the track this season since being gelded and can’t be overlooked.

Dubai Turf

It’s hard to look past Ombudsman, a two-time Group 1 winner and one of the top-rated horses in the world. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, he pleased connections working at Chelmsford racecourse ahead of his assignment in the Middle East earlier in the month. Facteur Cheval, the 2024 winner, was no match for the eight-year-old Royal Champion in the Neom Turf Cup and looks up against it. Twelve months ago Soul Rush’s thrilling victory when narrowly edging out Romantic Warrior gave Japan their seventh Dubai Turf and their representative Gaia Force merits plenty of respect. The seven-year-old is a consistent and tough performer and in four appearances last year, won the Grade 2 Fuji Stakes and chased home Japan’s top miler Jantar Mantar in the Yasuda Kinen and Mile Championship, both Grade 1 races. Quddwah, winner of the Singspiel Stakes, will see his chances improve if the rain arrives and ground eases. He has the services of Ryan Moore.

Dubai Sheema Classic

French champion Calandagan enjoyed an unforgettable year on the world stage last year, racking up four wins at the highest level in England, France and Japan, having begun his campaign at Meydan when chasing home Danon Decile in last year’s Dubai Sheema Classic. Calandagan made history when winning the Japan Cup, lowering the track when prevailing in a close finish with Masquerade Ball. He will take plenty of stopping and it's difficult to see the world’s highest rated horse getting beaten in the six-runner event. Ethical Diamond, trained by Willie Mullins, burst on the world stage when winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf in November. He was given a brilliant ride by Dylan Browne-McMonagle, who was patient and delivered the gelding fast and late to cause a huge shock. Ethical Diamond will need to raise his game taking on the mighty Calandagan. Giavellotto has enjoyed success overseas, most notably winning the Hong Kong Vase in December, 2024. He was an unlucky fourth in The Amir Trophy in Qatar last month. He met trouble in running and with an untroubled passage could have bagged another major prize on the world stage. Giavellotto could be the horse to chase home Calandagan.