The $12,000,000 Dubai World Cup of 2025 headlines the most valuable night of horse racing anywhere in the world on Saturday, 5 April. Rarely clashing with the Grand National this year, Meydan gives international thoroughbreds the chance to race for major bucks in the Middle East.
A supporting card packed full of multi-million dollar races includes the Sheema Classic, Dubai World Cup, Dubai Turf and Al Quoz Sprint on the grass. There is plenty of top-notch dirt racing, meanwhile, with the Golden Shaheen, Godolphin Mile and UAE Derby.
All the action from Meydan either has Group 1 or Group 2 status and includes horses from Europe, America and the Far East, plus the best of locally-trained runners. That mega prize money attracts Flat thoroughbreds to have a crack.
As the leading horse racing betting sites in the UK gear up for Aintree, traders must also pay attention to these huge pots on offer in the Gulf. Enter our experts, who have studied final declarations and now give their thoughts on what promises to be a memorable evening.
Dubai World Cup 2025 Preview
All race times are British Summer Time (BST), rather than local time in the UAE.
1:10 – 2m Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup (Turf)
Trawlerman had a wide draw in this 12 months ago, but jumps from stall 3 this time around. He also has owners Godolphin’s retained rider William Buick in the saddle, who partnered Siskany before. Connections also run Dubai Future and Passion And Glory.
Last year’s edition has thrown up plenty of subsequent winners including Al Nayyir, who finished in front of the selection. Tom Clover’s charge must take a step forward for his reappearance fifth in the Red Sea Turf in Saudi Arabia, however.
Al Nayyir finished behind Epic Poet and Continuous on that occasion, giving both of them weight. The former, representing David O’Meara, remains unexposed over this trip and could progress out of handicaps at the relatively late age of six.
At bigger odds, meanwhile, William Haggas new recruit Term Of Endearment ran really well against her own sex when with Henry De Bromhead last season. This mare has a good record first time out and won’t mind good ground with the going more of a concern for French raider Double Major.
1:45 – 1m Group 2 Godolphin Mile (Dirt)
Now that he’s a stronger, older horse, he should have no problem getting the trip, especially given how he’s shaped over 7f. Raging Torrent drew clear of Stronghold, who has some useful form stateside tied in with last year’s Triple Crown horses, and Imagination.
There’s another smart horse over from America in Mufasa. He switches to local trainer Bhupat Seemar after defeating the mighty White Abarrio on his final start stateside. As Mufasa conceded weight to the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Pegasus World Cup hero, he commands respect.
The first four from a course and distance Group 3 five weeks ago all take each other on again, meanwhile. Fort Payne won on that occasion, but the eye-catcher was Cagliostro staying on into fourth late. Provided there’s a quick pace on, James Doyle’s mount could well improve on that for Qatari owners Wathnan Racing.
Fort Payne isn’t the only French hope in line-up with No Lunch also notching a string of All-Weather wins at home before heading out to the Middle East. There are also a number of Japanese and Hong Kong based runners that could be anything.
2:20 – 6f Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (Turf)
WEST Acre has taken to Meydan like a duck to water this winter and, as a three-year-old gets weight all-round from his elders. George Scott does really well with the ammunition he has and this one could be the yard’s next star.
If West Acre doesn’t stay the extra furlong, then Marbaan certainly does after the ex-Charlie Fellowes inmate also landed a couple of Group races over 7f at the track. He should be passing beaten horses and potentially hitting the frame.
Audience tops official ratings for the Gosdens and Cheveley Park Stud, meanwhile. He stays a mile, so this trip may prove a little sharp. Hong Kong sprinting ace Howdeepisyourlove has been put in his place the last twice, but could emerge out from the shadow of Ka Ying Rising here.
Quinault looks in pretty deep for the Stuart Williams stable, while a couple of Japanese runners lack recent form. Graham Motion’s South African import Isivunguvungu flies the flag for America here, but needs a revival stepping back up in trip.
3:00 – 1m 1.5f Group 2 UAE Derby (Dirt)
Heart Of Honor should have the beating of Saudi Derby second Shin Forever on a form line through the winner. A bigger danger is Brad Cox and Wathnan Racing’s Flood Zone, who won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct in some style.
A run in the UAE Derby can give connections a better idea of whether they have a Kentucky Derby colt on their hands. Galactic Star was all out when just holding Heart Of Honor, meanwhile, and may struggle to confirm the form of that Listed race,
It’s difficult to get a handle on the Japanese contingent. Norwegian trainer Nils Peterson saddled filly Queen Azteca to two wins during the Carnival, including the UAE Oaks over course and distance last time out, so she is worth her place in this line-up against the boys.
3:40 – 6f Group 1 Golden Shaheen (Dirt)
Don Blacker’s six-year-old Straight No Chase might just be too hot for genuine course and distance specialist Tuz to handle. Last year’s Golden Shaheen third and fourth, Nakatomi for Wesley Ward, and Japanese raider Remake are back for more, meanwhile.
Dettori rides the latter, but both have been put in their place by the market principals before. These feature sprint contests seldom follow the script, so there’s always the danger that something else will pull off a shock or at least run into the frame at a big price.
Locally-trained Dark Saffron might fight the bill. As a three-year-old, he gets 8lb weight for age from all but one rival. With a good record of at least placing around Meydan, Dark Saffron could outrun his odds. American Stage chased home Tuz last time out and is the other young gun in the line-up for Japan.
4:15 – 1m 1f Group 1 Dubai Turf
There is value elsewhere, however, despite Romantic Warrior being 6lb and upwards clear of the field on ratings. The most interesting each-way play is GHOSTWRITER. This trip might be optimum for Clive Cox’s charge, especially on his 2000 Guineas fourth and Eclipse third.
If Ghostwriter can’t improve on his Classic year form, then the 2024 Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval will surely be primed to mount a serious defence of his crown. Like Romantic Warrior, Jerome Reynier’s French raider switches back from the dirt here.
Singspiel Stakes 1-2 Nations Pride and Holloway Boy take each other one again, while the Japanese contingent lining up also command respect. Soul Rush and Liberty Island look the best of the Far East challengers, but Brede Weg stays even further.
William Haggas runs the frustrating to follow Maljoom, who often finds trouble in running. He also may find the nine-furlong distance ideal like Ghostwritter and has shaped like he has a big race in him in the past.
4:50 – 1m 4f Group 1 Sheema Classic (Turf)
Conceding 1lb in weight to the four-year-olds Calandagan and Neom Turf Cup hero Shin Emperor shouldn’t be an issue. The former, so impressive on fast ground during Royal Ascot, has often needed his first run in the past.
Japanese raider Shin Emperor lost out over this trip on home turf in November. Neom Turf Cup second Calif takes him on again with both needing to prove their stamina. A strong stayer at this distance and each-way value is Giavellotto, meanwhile.
Marco Botti’s six-year-old ran in the Dubai Gold Cup on this card 12 months ago, but showed he isn’t short of speed when coming from the back to land the Hong Kong Vase in December. Also over from the Far East are Japanese Classic winners Danon Decile and Cervinia.
As a filly, the latter receives 5lb and 6lb from the boys and her elders. Durezza won the Japanese St Leger of 2023, meanwhile, and Deira Mile hit the frame in the English equivalent last autumn. This promises to be fascinating.
5:30 – 1m 2f Group 1 Dubai World Cup (Dirt)
Forever Young was really unlucky in the Kentucky Derby and when also filling third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. On both occasions, the draw went against him, but he is a genuine star that certainly puts his best foot forward in the Middle East.
There are three other Japanese runners in the Dubai World Cup of 2025, including the winner two years ago Ushba Tesoro. The same connections also run Wilson Tesoro and Ramjet takes on Forever Young again. All of them finished behind him in the Saudi Cup.
Locally-trained Imperial Emperor turned the Al Maktoum Classic over course and distance into a rout the last day. He may give Forever Young most to be think about with stable companion Walk Of Stars flopping behind the favourite in Saudi Arabia.
That run might be too bad to be true, so Seemar’s pair have more upside to them than the American contingent. Big money doesn’t tempt major names to the Middle East for a run on the dirt with Rattle N Roll and Hit Show the best of a mediocre bunch.
Doug O’Neill also runs two with Dettori on Mixto, but neither he nor Katonah seem to run well at the highest level. Il Miracolo completes the Dubai World Cup 2025 line-up.
