Ed Marnane
The 30th running of the Dubai World Cup is scheduled for Saturday 28 March.
Here is a closer look at the nine runners.
Forever Young
An outstanding racehorse and a worthy favourite. Winner of 11 of his 14 races, he has consistently delivered on the world stage, winning the Saudi Cup twice and Breeders’ Cup Classic, the first Japanese-trained horse to win the race. Forever Young can boast winning form at Meydan, thanks to his victory in the UAE Derby two years ago. He made history by becoming the first horse to win back-to-back renewals of the Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race, in Riyadh last month, seeing off the challenge of Bob Baffert’s Nysos in typical determined fashion under regular rider Ryusei Sakai. Forever Young is on a retrieving mission on his return to Meydan having disappointed when a one-paced third behind shock winner Hit Show in the Dubai World Cup 12 months ago. It was reported he got very upset before the race and it left his trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, very frustrated. Forever Young is a strong-travelling colt, possesses a sharp turn of foot and has admirable attitude, demonstrated when getting the better of Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior in the Saudi Cup 13 months ago. The highest rated horse in the nine-strong field, he will be hard to beat.
Hit Show
Trained by Brad Cox, he caused a 66-1 upset last year when delivered fast and late to catch Mixto close home and provide his Qatar-based owners, Wathnan Racing, with their biggest success since being established in October 2022. They have become a significant force in Europe, North America and the Middle East with a large team of horses in training and have invested heavily in the sport. Hit Show, the 14th American trained winner of the Dubai World Cup, arrives in Emirates in good heart having won his prep race, the Mineshaft Stakes at the Fairgrounds last month. He found plenty for pressure to prevail in a three-way photo and punch his ticket to the UAE. He is entitled to be sharper for the run having been off the track since finding only Magnitude too strong in the Clark Handicap in November. Hit Show, to be ridden by Florent Geroux, will require a strong pace. He is a dour stayer, battle-hardened on dirt and should go well, as he is aiming to become the first horse since Thunder Snow to win the Dubai World Cup twice since the race was established in 1997.
Magnitude
Trainer Steve Asmussen sent out Curlin to win the 2008 Dubai World Cup and he returns to the Emirates with the progressive four-year-old Magnitude, a leading contender who makes plenty of appeal in the hands of Jose Ortiz. By top US-based sire Not This Time, Magnitude caught the eye in his lead-up race, the Grade 2 Razorback Handicap, at Oaklawn Park. He never looked in trouble and readily skipped clear of his five rivals, who were all getting weight. In 2021 Godolphin’s Mystic Guide won the Razorback Handicap (Grade 3) en-route to taking out the Dubai World Cup. Magnitude battled strongly when he defeated Hit Show and six others in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in November, finding plenty for pressure and rounding off the year in style. Magnitude, winner of half of his 12 races, remains open to further improvement on just the 13th start of his career and demands plenty of respect.
Meydaan
Few would have predicted Simon and Ed Crisford’s smart stayer would have emerged a leading fancy for the Dubai World Cup after finishing tenth in the Melbourne Cup in November. By Frankel, Meydaan created a big impression on his dirt debut at Meydan in the Al Maktoum Classic (Group 2), a race that serves as a stepping stone for the Dubai World Cup, four weeks ago. Given a confident ride by William Buick, Meydaan was settled in midfield and handling the kickback made smooth headway off the home bend before readily quickening and going clear inside the final 200m, defeating Walk Of Stars and Tap Leader in eye-catching fashion. Meydaan looked very comfortable on dirt and he is entitled to benefit from his first experience on Meydan’s main track. On Al Maktoum Classic form, he holds the reopposing runner-up and third, while Heart Of Honor, the seventh placegetter, faces a massive task of reversing the form with Meydaan. Owned and bred by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, he is entitled to step forward for the run and should put up a bold show. He could banish the ghosts of Algiers’ heartbreaking defeating three years ago, the closest Crisford stables has come to winning the Dubai World Cup.
Imperial Emperor
Unbeaten in two races this season, the five-year-old leads the local challenge and has sound claims as he seeks to avenge last year’s bitterly disappointing performance when trailing in 31 lengths last of 11 behind Hit Show. By Dubawi, the most successful sire in the history of racing at Meydan, Imperial Emperor had a valid excuse as he was found to be lame after the race. He is aiming to give Tadhg O’Shea and Bhupat Seemar their second Dubai World Cup, two years after Laurel River made all in the silks of Juddmonte. Imperial Emperor was purchased by Deva Racing for AED 300,000 (R1.4-million) after six starts for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby. He has been a terrific servant for his new owners, racking up five wins since joining Seemar at Zabeel Stables and switching to dirt. It looks significant that connections have kept Imperial Emperor fresh for the Dubai World Cup, and he is one to consider.
Tumbarumba
Owned by Wathnan Racing, he has progressed steadily since joining Hamad Al Jehani and comes here off the back of a career-high effort behind Forever Young in the Saudi Cup. Twice a Grade 3 winner in the US for former trainer Brian Lynch, he showed little in the Al Maktoum Mile (Group 2) on his Meydan debut in December, trailing in a long way behind the Bhupat Seemar-trained winner, Imperial Emperor. However, Tumbarumba left that modest form well behind when keeping on nicely in the closing stages when chasing home Imperial Emperor in the Al Maktoum Challenge that suggested he was back to the form of his good fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November. He will have to raise his game to reverse form with Forever Young on their Saudi Cup running but he will appreciate going up in trip, and isn’t a forlorn hope back at a venue he has shown a decent level of ability.
Walk Of Stars
Trained by Bhupat Seemar, he is back for another crack at the race and has the services of Mickael Barzalona, a rider that has an excellent record on dirt at Meydan. Walk Of Stars was a creditable fourth 12 months ago, finishing 4.5-lengths behind Hit Show after making the early running until weakening in the closing stages. He must defy a lengthy losing run having not visited the winner’s enclosure since landing the Al Maktoum Challenge 14 months ago. He arguably hasn’t rediscovered that form in three appearances this season, the most recent when splitting Meydaan and Tap Leader here last month. Walk Of Stars clearly likes Meydan and is a useful performer but in this grade looks up against it. A confirmed front-runner, he faces plenty of competition for the lead and it is hard to make a case for the seven-year-old who is aiming to give Seemar his second win in three years after Laurel River’s front-running demolition in 2024.
Heart Of Honor
Jamie Osborne’s stable star can boast a smart record since switching to dirt at Meydan after making his two-year-old debut at Southwell in October 2024. He has won four of his nine races and was narrowly beaten in the UAE Derby 12 months ago, just failing to see off the powerful late burst of the Japanese colt Admire Daytona. Heart Of Honor showed little in two runs in the final two legs of the Triple Crown - the Preakness and Belmont - in the US after his winter stint in the UAE, before being given a break and gelded. He bounced back to his best on his return to Meydan, winning a minor event on his seasonal debut before winning the Listed Entisar Stakes in December. He has plenty to prove on the evidence of his most recent run, finishing a poor seventh behind Meydaan. He’s not an easy ride as he frequently gets well behind in his races. He faces a massive task in this grade and is readily dismissed in a strong renewal.
Tap Leader
A prolific winner in Russia, he has improved since arriving in the UAE and joining Doug Watson at Red Stables. He impressed on his local debut, off a 153-day break in late January, when winning a handicap at Meydan under a well-judged ride from Pat Dobbs, justifying strong market support. Tap Leader was brought with a strong late challenge from the rear of the field to catch Generous Tipper, with Kalidasa well adrift in third. It was rare to see a horse come from that far back to win, especially as he was drawn out wide. Tap Leader was raised in class to Group 1 level in the Al Maktoum Classic on his next start and finished a creditable third behind Meydaan, beaten six lengths. He will need to take a big step forward in this company but will be suited by a strong pace and he won’t be disgraced.