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A cast of 14 Group or Gr.1 winners with a combined 23 victories at the highest level are set to line up for the 25th running of Dubai World Cup day at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday March 27, 2021.
A total of 117 horses from 11 countries will compete across a spectacular day of racing worth USD$26.5m that features six Gr.1 and three Gr.2 contests.
Gr.1 $12m Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline and held over 2000m welcomes a 14-strong line up headed by the highest-rated Mystic Guide (USA), trained by Michael Stidham in the USA. Mystic Guide is one of three Godolphin-owned runners in the field with the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Gifts of Gold (IRE). The third comes in the shape of Magny Course (USA), the charge of French maestro, Andre Fabre who is making his dirt debut in the Dubai World Cup.
Yet the Godolphin runners face stiff competition from a three-strong team of US raiders including the 2021 Pegasus World Cup runner up, Jesus’ Team (USA), for trainer Jose Francisco D’Angelo and the Miguel Angel Silva-prepared Grade 2 winner Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA). Title Ready (USA) winner of January’s Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes trained by Dallas Stewart completes the US lineup.
Gr.1 $5m 2410m Longines Dubai Sheema Classic seems certain with Japan’s supermare, the multiple Grade 1 winner, Chrono Genesis (JPN), trained by Takashi Saito, lining up against dual Gr.1 winner and Hong Kong Vase star, Mogul (GB) who represents Irish supremo, Aidan O’Brien. The Bill Mott trained four-time Gr.1 winner, Channel Maker (CAN) will be looking to go one better following his runner up spot to True Self (IRE) in the Neom Turf Cup in February while the John Gosden-trained 2021 Saudi Cup hero, Mishriff (IRE) is stepping up in trip and making a return to turf.
1800m $4m Gr.1 Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World features a strong UK contingent, with Lord North (IRE) winner of the Gr.1 Prince of Wales Stakes from the Gosden yard, Lord Glitters, victor of the Gr.1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday trained by David O’Meara, the Sir Michael Stoute trained Regal Reality (GB) as well as the Simon Crisford-trained pair of Court House (IRE) and Epic Hero (FR) all lining up.
The Gr.1 $1.5m 1200m Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Gulf News, boasts a multi-national field including the Doug O’Neill trained Wildman Jack (USA) winner of the 2020 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint and fellow US-based Group winner, Yaupon (USA) trained by Steve Asmussen who seeks redemption following his Breeder’s Cup Sprint tilt in November. The Americans will take on Capella Stakes victor, Justin (JPN) trained by Akira Murayama who renews his rivalry with Copano Kicking (USA) and Matera Sky (USA) the winner and runner up respectively in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint three weeks ago.
Gr.1 US$1m Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by AZIZI features Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby trained Space Blues(IRE), fresh from victory in The Saudi Cup’s 1351 Turf Sprint, Dubai World Cup Carnival star Equilateral (GB) trained by Charlie Hills and Cowan (USA) who was a fast-finishing second in the Saudi Derby and is another prepared by Asmussen.
Testing their staying power in the Gr.2 $750,000 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors are the Gr.1 Prix Royal Oak-winner Subjectivist, trained by Mark Johnston alongside Gr.2 winners, Walderbe (GER), trained by Germany’s Ralf Rohne, the Andrew Balding trained Spanish Mission (USA) and Red Verdon (GB) trained by Ed Dunlop.
The Gr.2 $750,000 Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City - District One features 2020 Curlin Stakes winner, Parsimony (USA) trained by Doug O’Neill alongside Saudi raider Urban Icon, trained by Saud Saad M Alkahtani, Multiple UAE Champion Trainer, Doug Watson saddles the trio of Midnight Sands (USA), Premier Star (USA) and Golden Goal (IRE) while Satish Seemar’s Zabeel Stables also sends out three including Secret Ambition (GB), Roman Rosso (ARG) and Tuz (USA). The Salem Bin Ghadayer trained Blown By The Wind (GB) lines up alongside Japan’s Dieu Du Vin (JPN) and the Saeed Bin Suroor trained Dubai Mirage (IRE).
The Gr.1 $750,000 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic Sponsored by Mubadala has attracted an impressive list of the world’s best Purebred Arabians including Gr.1 winner Hajres (TUN) from the yard of French trainer, Elisabeth Bernard, Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 winner and track record holder, RB Frynchh Dude trained by the UAE’s Helal Alalawi and the Didier Guillemin trained Deryan, winner of the 2020 The President of the UAE Cup at Deauville.
Curated from press release by Dubai Racing Club