Yibir Battles Japanese Stars in Sheema Classic

If the Longines Dubai Shema Classic (G1) hasn't attracted all of the world's top staying turf runners, it certainly has landed most of them, including three of Japan's best and Breeders' Cup winner Yibir .

The race, at 2,410 meters (about 1 1/2 miles), offers $6 million in purse money and is the immediate prelude to the $12 million Dubai World Cup Presented by Emirates Airline (G1) March 26 at Meydan Racecourse.

Yibir, a 4-year-old Godolphin homebred gelding by Dubawi , makes his first start for trainer Charlie Appleby since winning the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar in November. Out of the Monsun  mare Rumh , Yibir also won the Jockey Club Invitational Derby (G1T) at Belmont Park Sept. 18 in a busy year that saw him race eight times, winning half of those starts.

"He's done well through the winter," Appleby said after track work March 22. "He's a typical Dubawi and has done well from 3 to 4. He was a big brute anyway as a 3-year-old but he has flourished well though the winter."

Appleby was plotting the trip to Dubai—and beyond—even as Yibir cooled out from the Breeders' Cup triumph, which boosted him to the Eclipse Award as the top male North American turf horse of 2021.

"He is a horse that I had on my radar to take to Dubai and obviously look at the Dubai Sheema Classic with him," Appleby said. "Coming back for a Breeders' Cup next year will definitely be high on his agenda."

The immediate hurdle from Yibir is coming off the long layoff against a field that includes some of Japan's best—several of whom also have been idle for a while.

Glory Vase, a 7-year-old son of Deep Impact , makes his first start since winning the Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse in December. That was his only win in four starts in 2021 but he did finish second in the FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Hong Kong, behind eventual Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) winner Loves Only You .

Glory Vase, trained by Tomohito Ozeki, races for Silk Racing, which also campaigned Almond Eye , winner of the 2019 Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) among a host of other top-level scores.

"His condition is good," said Ozeki. "He's traveled well and he did some reasonably strong trackwork last weekend. He is used to traveling now and I am hopeful that he will run a good race."

Also toting the Silk Racing powder blue with red dots is Authority, a 5-year-old Orfevre  entire last seen winning the Neom Turf Cup Presented by Jahez (G3) on the Saudi Cup (G1) undercard Feb. 26. Prior to that, Authority was second behind Contrail in the Japan Cup (G1).

"He is in the same condition as Saudi Arabia," Authority's trainer, Tetsuya Kimura, said after morning action Tuesday. "Of course, this is tough compared to Saudi Arabia but I am honored to compete against so many trainers that I admire.

"Year by year," Kimura added, "horses from Japan are competing elsewhere trying to increase their value and it is something that I enjoy."

The Japanese contingent is rounded out with Stella Veloce, a 4-year-old Bago  colt, Uberleben, a 4-year-old son of Gold Ship , and Shahryar, a 4-year-old colt by Deep Impact. All are looking to take a step up against this company.

Others have had moments good enough to compete in this event.

Pyledriver  won the Coral Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom last August and finished second to Glory Vase in the Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1) in December, beaten just a length.

Dubai Honour  won the Qatar Prix Dollar (G2) at Longchamp last October, then finished second in the Qipco Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot and fourth in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) in December.

Hukum , a 5-year-old Shadwell homebred by Sea The Stars , was a multiple group stakes winner last year and started 2022 with a hard-won victory in the Dubai City of Gold Sponsored by Emirates Skywards (G2) March 5 over course and distance.

Alenquer  finished second to last year's Sheema Classic winner Mishriff  in the Juddmonte International (G1) at York last August and tuned up for this with a win on the all-weather in the Betway Winter Derby Stakes (G3) at Lingfield on an all-weather track Feb. 26.

Burgas, represents Turkey and finished fourth in his Dubai debut. Kaspar  flies the Saudi flag off a second in the Neom Turf Cup.

Earlier on the World Cup program, the Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Nakheel (G2) attracted a competitive field of 16 on the Meydan dirt course. The local contingent looks to have the advantage with two from the stable of leading Dubai trainer Bhupat Seemar topping the list on the international market.

Formerly trained by Appleby, Al Nefud  won his first two starts in Dubai this season, then finished second—albeit 5 1/4 lengths back—behind World Cup contender Hot Rod Charlie  in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Presented by The Longines Record (G2). Seemar also has last year's Godolphin Mile winner Secret Ambition , who will enjoy the cutback in distance from his fading seventh in the Saudi Cup, and outsider Tuz , an Oxbow   gelding, who benefits from a rider switch to William Buick.

There is American interest with Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen running last year's fourth-place finisher Snapper Sinclair  and Bankit , whose best work has come against fellow New York-breds.