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Dubai World Cup to set hearts racing today

The premier equine event will be held at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai today amid all pandemic precautions, with no spectators

Published: Sat 27 Mar 2021, 12:27 AM

Updated: Wed 23 Feb 2022, 1:22 AM

  • By
  • James Jose

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File photo

File photo

It is that time of the year again, the last Saturday of March, the traditional date of the Dubai World Cup, and it will be a special and yet a poignant occasion, at the Meydan Racecourse.

This year’s event marks the landmark 25th running of the Dubai World Cup and it will also be a fitting tribute to horse racing pioneer Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, who passed away on Wednesday.

It is a well-stacked card with a generous prize purse of $26.5 million across the nine races — six Group 1 affairs and three Group 2 contests and a total of 117 horses from 11 countries will compete across a spectacular night of racing.

The piece de resistance, or rather, the jewel in the crown, is undoubtedly the $12 million Dubai World Cup, which will bring the curtain down on the night. A full bouquet of 14 top contenders, with a combined Group 1 or Grade 1 victories between them at the top level, makes up the stellar cast. And it is headlined by the favourite Mystic Guide, the multiple Group-winning American raider.

The others are Gifts Of Gold, saddled by Emirati Saeed bin Suroor, who, with a record nine wins, is the most successful trainer at the World Cup, Salute The Soldier, Military Law, Chuwa Wizard, Ajuste Fiscal, to name a few.

Other races on the night include the Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic, the lone race for Purebred Arabians, Group 2 Godolphin Mile, Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup, Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint, Group 2 UAE Derby, Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, Group 1 Dubai Turf and the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

The event, though, will be held behind closed doors but racing fans can catch the action with it being showcased to a worldwide audience by 40 broadcasters.



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