Ed Marnane
Despite the ongoing war in Iran, the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday has been given the green light, thankfully.
Equine superstars Calandagan, Forever Young and Ombudsman are among an international cast assembled in the desert for the event that offers a total prize fund of $30.5m across the nine-race card.
Established in 1997, the Dubai World Cup has attracted a nine-strong field and Japanese superstar Forever Young is the odds-on favourite, six weeks after winning back-to-back runnings of the Saudi Cup.
Winner of the UAE Derby at Meydan two years ago, Forever Young is aiming to avenge last year’s disappointing third behind shock winner Hit Show.
His trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, has reported that Forever Young is better shape than he was in Saudi Arabia. It is understandable Forever Young is such a skinny price given his profile. He will be hard to beat.
Magnitude, representing US trainer Steve Asmussen, appeals as the each-way bet in the race. He’s progressive, ideally drawn and impressed in his prep race, the Razorback Handicap, at Oaklawn Park last month. Asmussen has enjoyed success in the Dubai World Cup, saddling 2008 winner Curlin.
Of the others, Hit Show demands respect as he is back seeking a repeat victory and aiming to become only the second horse in history to win the Dubai World Cup twice. He will be suited by a strong pace and arrives in Dubai in good order, winning the Mineshaft Stakes at the Fair Grounds.
Meydaan earned a spot in the field when a resounding winner of the Al Maktoum Classic on Super Saturday, his first run on dirt. The son of Frankel too well to the dirt, handled the kickback and it was eye-catching the manner he quickened in the home straight to score in style. He will need to take step forward taking on a stronger field to follow up.
Earlier on the card Calandagan and Ombudsman can complete a short price double in the Sheema Classic and Dubai Turf, the two turf showpieces on the undercard. The two European horses are hard to oppose as the opposition in both races look weak.
American sprinters have a smart record in the Golden Shaheen and Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato can win the dirt sprint showpiece, Race 6. He was very impressive winning at Del Mar in November, powering clear of his rivals in the closing stages after making all. He is a big, powerful horse and breaking from stall No 2, he is expected to dominate from the front and provide US with their 16th win since the turn of the century.
Japan runners are a formidable force on the world stage and surprisingly they have not won the Al Quoz Sprint, Race 5. Lugal is fancied to banish that stat and see off the challenge of the favourite, Lazzat, and Reef Runner, the pair who fought out the finish of the 1351 Turf Sprint in which the former failed to defy a tough, wide trip and was run down close home by the US sprinter, Reef Runner.
Lugal, a Grade 1 winner in September 2024 on his return from injury, is in good order and was narrowly beaten in the Ocean Stakes last month.
Race 3, the Dubai Gold Cup, could become a tactical race with fear the early pace will be pedestrian. Al Riffa, the Irish St Leger winner, bounced back to form in the Hong Kong after failing to land a telling blow in the Melbourne Cup.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien, he is a worthy favourite and clearly sets the standard.
At bigger prices, Caballo De Mar and Fairy Glen are worth considering. The latter, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, won the Balanchine Stakes and will be suited stepping back up in distance.
Caballo De Mar, a Group 1 winning stayer in France, will enjoy slower ground if the forecasted heavy rain arrives today.
UAE champion trainer Bhupat Seemar is mob-handed in the Godolphin Mile, sending out six of the 12 runners. Commissioner King, the highest ranked runner in the field, is the pick of the sextet and can take advantage of a plum draw in stall No 1 for a confirmed front-runner. He was an impressive winner of the Burj Nahar and can provide Bhupat Seemar with his first win in the race since taking out a licence in 2022.
Seemar teams up with Mickael Barzalona in the UAE Derby with the exciting Six Speed, winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas who is joined by Rammaas, Lino Padrino and Salloom in a four-pronged assault from Zabeel Stables.
Six Speed has progressed with racing since finishing third on his racecourse debut in early November, racking up a hat-trick of wins, all at Meydan. The step up to 1900m is a query for the Not This Time colt, but he has good draw in stall No 3 and I expect will be ridden prominently, as normal.
Godolphin’s Pyromancer, representing trainer Keiji Yoshimura, is aiming to give Japan their fourth successive UAE Derby. He arrives in Dubai with a tall reputation, winning all of his three races, the most recent the Grade 1 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun.
Best Bet: Race 6 No 1 Bentornato
Best Value: Race 9 No 2 Magnitude
Best Swinger: Race 2: 1-Commissioner King and 9-Diamond Dealer
JACKPOT
(Races 4 to 7)
R24
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3
Leg 3: 1, 3
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4