Just like every year, visitors didn't hold back in attempting to stand out – with one even wearing a fuchsia pink hat made of feathers
dubai world cup1 year ago
A quality field of 14 horses, including defending champion Country Grammer and an eight-strong raiding party from Japan, will contest next Saturday’s 27th edition of the $12 million Dubai World Cup, Sponsored by Emirates.
Trained by American Hall of Fame handler Bob Baffert’, Country Grammer bids to become only the second dual winner of the 2,000-metre dirt contest after Saeed bin Suroor’s Thunder Snow who triumphed in 2018 and 2019.
The Japanese contingent, which boasts some of the best dirt horses in the world, is led by recent $20 million Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa and also includes Japan Cup winner Vela Azul, 2022 UAE Derby hero Crown Pride, Café Pharoah, TO Keynes, Geoglyph and Jun Light Bolt.
Japan last took home the glittering World Cup trophy when Victoire Pisa triumphed in an electrifying six-horse blanked finish between Transend, Monterosso, Cape Blanco, and Gio Ponti.
Reigning UAE champion trainer Bhupat Seemar flies the flag for the hosts with a pair of challengers in Remorse, who was fourth last year to Country Grammer and the ultra-progressive Bendoog.
The lone European contender is Algiers, the impressive winner of G2 Maktoum Challenge Round 1 and 2, who is trained by the father-son combination of Simon and Ed Crisford.
The former Racing Manager of the Dubai-owned Godolphin stable Crisford Senior was closely involved with some of the great winners of the racing like Dubai Millennium (2000), Street Cry, and Moon Ballad.
"We are very excited about the strength of the fields for the 2023 Dubai World Cup meeting," said Major General Dr. Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, general manager of the Dubai Racing Club.
"We have horses arriving from 12 different countries and it is especially fantastic to welcome back runners from Hong Kong and Australia after a break of a few years."
The Emirates Racing Authority also announced the likely field of the eight supporting races on the night, where the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) over 2,400 metres is the star attraction.
Racing starts at 3.30 on March 25 while gates open at Meydan at noon.
Just like every year, visitors didn't hold back in attempting to stand out – with one even wearing a fuchsia pink hat made of feathers
dubai world cup1 year ago
The World Cup field is headed by Country Grammer, victorious 12 months ago and seeking to make history as only the second horse to win the great race twice, after Thunder Snow in 2018-2019
dubai world cup1 year ago
There are a plethora of Group 1 winners in the race, including Jugurtha De Monlau, winner of the G1 Maktoum Challenge R3 over course and distance last time out, Rajeh and Mujeeb, winner of the valuable President’s Cup in Abu Dhabi
dubai world cup1 year ago
Winner of his last two races at Meydan — the six-year-old gelding is second favourite for the race behind defending champion Country Grammer
dubai world cup1 year ago
The wide draw will be a very hard challenge for him from barrier 15, says trainer Yoshito Yahagi
dubai world cup1 year ago
The ace handler believes that Rebel's Romance, which contests the $6m Dubai Sheema Classic, would be the horse of the night
dubai world cup1 year ago
The six-year-old gelding lines up for the $6 million Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic
dubai world cup1 year ago
He has nine runners — two in Dubai World Cup, three each in Dubai Golden Shaheen and Godolphin Mile and one in Al Quoz Sprint
dubai world cup1 year ago