2024 Dubai World Cup: UAE trio set to take formidable foreign challenge in their stride

A trio of UAE-trained horses will put their world-class credentials to the ultimate test when they confront some of the planet’s most formidable dirt specialists in this month’s $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) (Sponsored by Emirates Airline) at Meydan racecourse.

Kabirkhan, Laurel River and Military Law, who have excelled during the recent Dubai World Cup Carnival will fly the flag for home-based horses in the 28th running of the iconic race which is recognised as ne of the most cosmopolitan races in history.

Among the 13 horses that figure in the list of projected fields released by the Dubai Racing Club (DRC) on Monday is defending champion Ushba Tesoro from Japan, who will be bidding to become only the second dual winner of the 2,000metre dirt contest after Godolphin’s Thunder Sonow (2018-2019).

Also in the field is Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) runner-up and and last year’s UAE Derby (G2) sensation Derma Sotogake and last month’s $20 million Saudi Cup hero Senor Buscador.

Emirati handler Saeed bin Suroor has sent nine UAE gallopers to victory since Cigar triumphed in 1995, however, horses trained in the USA have enjoyed the most success in Dubai with1 3 victories in 27 editions. The most recent America horse to win the Dubai World Cup was the Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer in 2022.

So its not surprising to see major handlers from North America including three=time race winner Baffert, Todd Pletcher, Chad Summers and Phil D’ Amato ataking aim the $12 million contest which rewards the winner with a whopping purse of $7.2 million.

They are represented by Navigate, Crupi, Clapton and Newgrange respectively.

There are eight other glittering contests on the day-night card with the $6million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic being the main support race. Run over 2,400 metres on turf, the race has a projected field of 12, with 2022 winner Shahryar aiming to become the first horse to win it twice. The Japanese raider won the She4ema Classic in 2022 but could only finished fifth behind the outstanding Equinox, the 2023 Longines World's Best Racehorse, upon his return the following year.

Shahryar is part of a formidable Japanese team which includes top fillies Liberty Island and Stars On Earth who will be taken on by is Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Auguste Rodin from Ireland and and Coronation Cup winner Emily Upjohn.

UAE powerhouse racing stable Godolphin has won the race the most number of times and banks on former UAE Derby winner Rebel’s Romance giving them a seventh trophy.

The incomparable Lord North, a huge favourite with racing fans in the UAE, attempts for an unprecedented fourth win in the $5million Dubai Turf (Sponsored by DP World).

Trained by the father and son team of John and Thady Gosden in the UK the gelding faces a potential 14 rivals, including Japan’s Arima Kinen (G1) winner Do Deuce and stablemate and multiple G1-winning mare Nashwa.

The all-action card also includes a pair of exciting sprints for both dirt and turf specialists.

The $2million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Sponsored by Nakheel), arguably one of the most exciting races of the evening will see American speedball Sibelius attempting to defend the title he won last year where he denied local hero Switzerland by a nose.

The evening is sent on its way by the $1million Group 1 Dubai Kahyala Classic for Purebred Arabians in which a likely field of 13 includes 2022 winner First Classs and the unbeaten Saudi star Asfan Al Khalediah.