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The Dubai Racing Club has received over 1,600 entries, including 892 individual horses from 21 different countries for the 2023 Dubai World Cup meeting.
The Gr.1 Dubai World Cup, has attracted 171 entries, including 24 individual Group or Grade 1 winners. Leading the list for this feature race is Dubai World Cup-winning Country Grammer, who will attempt to take home his second Dubai World Cup. Godolphin’s Thunder Snow blazed the trail when he won two consecutive Dubai World Cups for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor in 2018 and 2019.
The son of Tonalist is trained by Bob Baffert for owner Zedan Racing, who have also nominated three-time Gr.1 winner Taiba. Joining them on the trip from America could be Rich Strike, who shocked the world when a longshot winner of the Kentucky Derby.
Japan’s Panthalassa dead-heated in the Dubai Turf last year but holds a Dubai World Cup nomination this time, while upset 2022 Saudi Cup winner Emblem Road could make his UAE debut.
The Longines Dubai Sheema Classic carries a purse of US$ 6 million and has attracted a superb bunch of entries, including 2022 winner Shahryar as well as Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Arima Kinen winner Equinox, the highest-rated three-year-old in the world in 2022. Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has won this race twice and he has entered Rebel’s Romance, winner of the 2021 UAE Derby and the 2022 GR.1 Breeders’ Cup Turf. Nominated from the UK is the John and Thady Gosden-trained Emily Upjohn, winner of the Gr.1 Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot.
The Dubai Turf worth US$5 million has attracted 21 individual Group/Grade 1 winners, including Lord North, winner of the race in 2021 and joint winner in 2022. Potentially joining him from Newmarket is 2022 fourth Saffron Beach, while GR.1 Breeders’ Cup Mile second Shirl’s Speight could take his chance for Canada-based trainer Roger Attfield. One of the more intriguing entries is Golden Sixty, a seven-time Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, who could make his international debut here.
The Dubai Golden Shaheen, run over 1200 metres on the dirt, has been a good race for the Americans down the years and they have nominated 14, including the Steve Asmussen-trained Gunite. Leading the home challenge is RRR Racing’s defending champion Switzerland, while runner-up Red Le Zele and Saudi Sprint winner Dancing Prince are among the strong Japanese entries.
Run over the straight 1200metre turf track, the Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint, is always a spectacle and it could see the well-travelled Artorius make the journey from Australia for trainer Anthony Freedman, while Appleby has nominated his Gr.1 winner Creative Force.
Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the UAE Derby on three occasions and he has nominated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road for the 1900 metre contest, one of three Gr.2s on the card. Potential rivals include Baffert’s Mr Fisk, Newgate and Speed Boat Beach, while Brad Cox has nominated 13, including Gr.2 winner Instant Coffee.
The longest race of the day is the 3200-metre Gr.2 Dubai Gold Cup, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, which could see the return of popular 2021 winner Subjectivist. An exciting potential Irish challenge includes O’Brien’s Gr.1 winner Broomeand Sonnyboylistonfor Johnny Murtagh.
The first of the Group Twos is the Godolphin Mile, in which defending champion Bathrat Leon is entered, along with Japanese compatriots Lauda Sion, Derma Louvre and Soliste Thunder, who was fourth last year. From the US, Todd Pletcher, successful in this race with Coal Front in 2019, has nominated Pioneer Of Medina, while Saffie Joseph Jnr could be represented by his Grade 1 winner White Abarrio and Richard Mandella by Royal Ship.
The traditional opener to Dubai World Cup day is the US$1million Dubai Kahayla Classic, for Purebred Arabians. 78 entries include 17 Group One winners, among them the last two winners of the race, Deryan and First Classs, and multiple Gr.1 winner Lady Princess, arguably the best Arabian in the world.
“We are delighted by the strength and depth of entries for this year’s Dubai World Cup meeting,” said Stephanie Cooley, International Manager for Dubai Racing Club. “To have horses from more than 20 countries considering the trip shows the meeting’s continued global appeal.
The Dubai World Cup Day is one of the most spectacular days of racing on the global calendar. The 27th running of the meeting, offers US$30.5 million in prize money across nine races.