By Alan Carasso
Twelve months on from having completed a Bhupat Seemar one-two finish, Deva Racing's Imperial Emperor (Dubawi) put his stablemate and 2025 winner Walk of Stars (Dubawi) to the sword approaching the final 400 metres of Friday's G1 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan and reported home a comfortable winner to punch his ticket to the G1 Dubai World Cup over an extra 100 metres in a couple months' time. In the process, the 6-year-old has become the 64th worldwide elite-level winner for his spectacular sire.
Exiting a victory over Commissioner King (Commissioner) and Mendelssohn Bay (Mendelssohn)–second and first, respectively, in Friday's G3 Firebreak Stakes–in the G2 Al Maktoum Mile Dec. 19, Imperial Emperor was given a positive ride from a deep draw by the in-form Richie Mullen and sat handy to the pace three off the inside as longshot Masmak (Vino Rosso) made the running from the rail-skimming Walk of Stars.
First to make a move towards the front with about 700 metres left to race, Imperial Emperor nosed in front going strongly, with Walk of Stars doing his best to keep pace at the rail. Asked to win his race on the swing for home, Imperial Emperor went through his gears, pinched a break and finished full of running to account for Wathnan Racing's Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), who also stayed on well for second.
Favoured Heart of Honor (Honor A. P.) found himself at the tail given the strong tempo and was under urging from Saffie Osborne fully 1000 metres from home. Switched out into the clear for the drive, the 4-year-old found his best stride late and outfinished 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Artorius (Arrogate) for third. Walk of Stars weakened out to fifth in a race that was marred by an apparent injury to the veteran Remorse (Dubawi), who went wrong on the final turn.
“I'm ecstatic! Actually, I don't know how I'm feeling – what a horse,” said Ryan Tongue, director of owners Deva Racing. “This syndicate is Dubai, we love Dubai and to have another chance in the Dubai World Cup is a dream. I turned down the Saudi Cup invitation, which was a big thing, but we want to try and win the Dubai World Cup.”
Having earned a spot in the 2025 World Cup when airing in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge over the 2000 metres on Super Saturday, Imperial Emperor was beaten 30 lengths into 11th on the big night and went missing, returning to win the Al Maktoum Mile first up for 8 1/2 months when last spotted.
Pedigree Notes:
Imperial Emperor is one of four winners from as many to race from Zhukova, a dual Group 3 winner in Ireland who defeated males in the GI Man o' War Stakes in New York and was later purchased by Godolphin for 3.7 million guineas at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
Zhukhova is one of seven winners produced by 2006 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Galileo), whose four-times Group 1-winning son Ghaiyyath was responsible for Fashion Friday's other top-level scorer Opera Ballo.
Zhukova's youngest produce includes a 3-year-old full-sister to Imperial Emperor named Secret Desire, a 2-year-old full-sister and a yearling colt by Lope de Vega. The mare was most recently covered by Justify.
Friday, Meydan, Dubai
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY LONGINES-G1, AED3,680,000, Meydan, 1-23, 3yo/up, 9 1/2f, 1:58.82, fs.
1–IMPERIAL EMPEROR (IRE), 126, g, 6, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Zhukova (Ire) (Hwt. Older mare-Eur at
9 1/2-11f, MGSW-Ire, GISW-US, $499,594),
by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Nightime (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (UAE300,000 HRA '24 ERAMAR). O-Deva
Racing; B-Godolphin; T-Bhupat Seemar; J-Richard Mullen.
AED2,208,000. Lifetime Record: 13-7-1-1, AED4,924,000. *Full
to First Ruler (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), SP-Eng & SP-Bah, $154,119;
and a 1/2 to Ilda Rosa (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), MSP-Fr &
GSP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Tumbarumba, 126, g, 6, Oscar Performance–Naive Enough,
by Street Sense. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. ($30,000 Ylg '21
FTKOCT). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Coteau Grove Farms Llc (LA);
T-Hamad Al Jehani. AED736,000.
3–Heart Of Honor (GB), 126, g, 4, Honor A. P.–Ruby Love (Chi),
by Scat Daddy. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (35,000gns Wlg '22
TATFOA; €42,000 Ylg '23 GOFORB; €160,000 2yo '24
ARQMAY). O-Jim And Claire Limited; B-David Redvers
Bloodstock; T-Jamie Osborne. AED 368,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3 3/4, 3/4.
Also Ran: Artorius, Walk Of Stars (GB), Masmak, Kabirkhan, Killer Collect, Also Ran (DNF): Remorse (Ire). Click for the ERA chart & video.
IMPERIAL EMPEROR dazzles in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/TDL6ZufBIp
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 23, 2026
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