 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
The Dubai Racing Club and Breeders' Cup have forged a groundbreaking partnership, with four of Meydan's premier races joining the Challenge Series for the 2025 World Championships, whilst creating reciprocal benefits for the 2026 Dubai World Cup meeting.
The US$12 million Dubai World Cup, the centrepiece of Meydan's April 5 card, heads the quartet of Group One races offering automatic qualification to Del Mar's autumn showpiece. Winners of the 1 1/4-mile contest will gain entry to the US$7 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
Adding further international flavour, the US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen provides a pathway to the US$2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint, whilst the US$6 million Dubai Sheema Classic offers qualification for the US$5 million Breeders' Cup Turf. Completing the roster, the US$5 million Dubai Turf winner earns a spot in the US$2 million Breeders' Cup Mile.
In a pioneering move, the arrangement extends beyond 2025, with Breeders' Cup winners securing automatic berths for the corresponding 2026 Dubai features. The Classic victor gains entry to the Dubai World Cup, the Sprint champion qualifies for the Golden Shaheen, whilst Turf and Mile winners earn spots in the Sheema Classic and Dubai Turf respectively.
Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup president and CEO, is heralding the partnership as a significant step towards racing's global unification: "This partnership with our friends at the Dubai Racing Club speaks to continued progress made toward the global unification of our great sport and rewards international contenders for competing at the highest level."
Expressing similar enthusiasm, Sheikh Rashed Bin Dalmook Bin Juma Al Maktoum, Dubai Racing Club chairman, states: "The Breeders' Cup is one of the biggest and most important international meetings on the calendar. We are delighted to enter into this partnership, allowing four winners from the Breeders' Cup an automatic place at the Dubai World Cup meeting."
The Challenge Series, entering its 19th year, will provide entry fees and travel allowances for international competitors at the 42nd Breeders' Cup World Championships, comprising 14 Group One races worth more than US$34 million. Critical to qualification, all Challenge winners must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup programme by October 20, 2025, to secure their automatic berth and receive the comprehensive benefits package.