Meydan Racecourse

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- When the late Arrogate overcame a world of trouble to win the 2017 G1 Dubai World Cup, many racing fans said it was the best performance in the history of the race. To some, it rates right up there with some of the best performances ever seen. It's entirely possible that Juddmonte's Laurel River (Into Mischief) managed to upstage him Saturday with an absolutely stunning, front-running tour-de-force in the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan, a result that even those closest to him may...

After knocking on the door so many times--finishing second or third in four Group 1 events in his four most recent starts--Team Valor and Gary Barber's Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}--Jawlaat {Ire}, by Shamardal) got one of his own in an ultra-competitive renewal of the $5-million G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday. Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the Dubai Turf the last three years and seeking an historic four-peat, broke a bit awkwardly, but despite recovering quickly, finished off the board. The U.S. hope Catnip (Kitten's...

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- Tuz (Oxbow), who like Kabirkhan (California Chrome) was purchased on the final day of the Keeneland September sale and overwhelmed his competition in Russia to earn a call up to Dubai, took a gap at the fence with 200 metres to run and bolted clear to take Saturday's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Nakheel by a record-setting 6 1/2 -length margin. Tuz won three starts at Pyatigorsk Hippodrome by the better part of 50 lengths was making his fourth straight appearance on World Cup...

Veni, vidi, vici. He came, he saw, he conquered. Like Julius Caesar, Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}--Forever Darling, by Congrats) came prepared for battle and lived up to the hype, stamping himself as a potential superstar and giving Japan a third consecutive victory--and fourth since 2016--in the $1-million G2 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse on Dubai World Cup Day. The pacesetter Auto Bahn (Arg) (Asiatic Boy {Arg}) held second, while the sole U.S. representative, Pandagate (Arrogate), was third. The UAE Derby offers GI Kentucky Derby points on...

Saturday's G1 Al Quoz Sprint resulted in a track record-setting victory for Hong Kong, with one of their star gallopers--CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (IRE) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}--Pearlitas Passion {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire})--running out an emotional winner in more ways than one. Originally racing for Howard Liang, the Michael Enright-bred 6-year-old gelding now races for Liang's estate, as he died several months ago. It was also the first victory for Hong Kong in the race since Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) captured a 1000-metre version 10 years previously. The winner cruised...

Todd Cady and Ty Leatherman's TWO RIVERS OVER (g, 4, Tamarkuz--American Cowgirl, by Cowboy Cal) closed resolutely to pip dueling leaders Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Isolate (Mark Valeski) and win the $1-million G2 Godolphin Mile. Walk Of Stars was 3/4 of a length back in second, only a nostril in front of a very game Isolate. It was the first group win for the 2023 Listed Zia Park Derby winner. Both defending Godolphin Mile winner Isolate and G2 Al Maktoum Classic second Walk of Stars flashed good...

by Alan Carasso, Heather Anderson, Jill Williams & Adam Houghton DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- Meydan Racecourse is the centre of the racing universe Saturday, as it stages the 28th renewal of the G1 Dubai World Cup. The dozen horses that have been entered represent ownership interests from Japan, America, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan and even Libya, putting the 'World' in World Cup. Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) is back to defend the title he grabbed in 2023 and will attempt to join Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet...

8th-Meydan, AED175,000, Hcp., 3-8, NH & SH 3yo/up, 1400m, 1:29.95, ft. ELUSIVE TERRY (IRE) (c, 4, Raven's Pass--Bonding, by Violence) gave trainer Bhupat Seemar his fifth win of the evening while maintaining his perfect record at Meydan on Friday. A four-length winner of an Jebel Ali maiden on Jan. 27, the colt jumped a touch slow and was hustled up to contest the early pace. Glued to the rail, he applied pressure to My Kinda Day (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) on the turn. On top at the 400-metre marker,...

4th-Meydan, AED175,000, Cond., NH & SH 3yo, 1900m, 1:58.65, ft. GUNS AND GLORY (c, 3, Gun Runner--Baby Go Far {Brz} {G1SP-Brz}, by Elusive Quality) dominated from the front end at Meydan in his third start on Friday. Once the gates flew, Tadhg O'Shea drove his mount to the front and the duo set a decent pace past the grandstand and into the backstretch. In a very easy rhythm, Guns And Glory set sail for home at the 500-metre mark, and his rivals had no answer, with the bay drawing off...

Rabbah Bloodstock's FROST AT DAWN (Frosted-Hawana, by War Front) has had the misfortune of squaring off with two of the best fillies in this jurisdiction multiple times--the undefeated pair of G3 UAE Oaks heroine Manama Gold (Star Guitar) on dirt, and Saturday's listed winner Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal). However, she finally got her chance in the spotlight trying the 1000-metre AED1,200,000 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored By Emirates Skywards, and the William Knight trainee walked away with a Group 3 win over Godolphin's Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB})...

CINDERELLA'S DREAM (GB) (f, 3, Shamardal--Espadrille {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) ran out a 5 1/2-length winner of the 1600-metre AED800,000 Listed Jumeirah 1000 Guineas, despite having her saddle slip approaching the far turn. Jockey William Buick kicked free of his irons and rode the rest of the race in what he described as a "bit of a rodeo show", with the duo keeping straight and true to the line, despite being at least four wide off the fence. Godolphin claimed this contest last year when it was only a conditions...

Just before the gate load in Saturday's G1 Saudi Cup at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse, if you were an American race fan scouring the circling field looking for the customary light blue and neon green standard carried by Joe Peacock Jr.'s homebred MGSW Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), then you might have been left wondering. The banner wasn't there. That's because jockey Junior Alvarado was sporting royal blue and white aboard the eventual winner. Despite reporting by several Middle Eastern news outlets--namely Arab News and the Saudi Gazette--which either listed Peacock secondarily...