Rich Dubai World Cup Carnival Opens Jan. 8

The Dubai World Cup Carnival, offering purses in excess of $38 million, kicks off its 11-date stand Jan. 8 at Meydan Racecourse.

 

A record 240 horses, including 31 group I winners, are set for the Carnival, the finale of which is Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup card March 28. The nine-race program worth $29 million is the world’s richest race day for Thoroughbreds and is highlighted by the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).

 

The race will see its 20th running in 2015 and will be held on a dirt surface for the first time since 2010.

 

Held three weeks before Dubai World Cup card will be the Emirates Airline Super Saturday on March 7. The meet is traditionally regarded as the dress rehearsal for World Cup Night.

 

Horses can often earn entry into a race on the Dubai World Cup program after a good performance on Super Saturday. Its timing allows trainers to put the finishing touches to their equine stars before they take to racing’s biggest stage.

 

There are 11 horses under United States trainers set to participate at the Carnival, including eight from trainer Seth Benzel, topped by 2013 Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds and 2014 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) winner Private Zone. Trainer Graham Motion, who won the 2013 Dubai World Cup with Animal Kingdom  , has two for the Carnival, and trainer Conor Murphy has one.

 

The Carnival’s most successful international trainer, South Africa’s champion conditioner Mike de Kock, has 46 horses, headlined by group I winners Contador, Master Plan, Via Africa, and Yorker, as well as Carnival veterans Anaerobio and Vercingetorix.

 

Great Britain-based Richard Hannon will send 10 runners, including 2014 Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) winner Night Of Thunder, 2013 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (Ire-I) winner Toormore, and  2013 Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) victress Just The Judge, winner of the 2014 E. P. Taylor Stakes (Can-IT).

 

Thursday’s opening meet features the $250,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (UAE-II) and the listed $150,000 Singspiel Stakes.

 

 

Thursday, Jan. 8

$250,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (UAE-II)

$150,000 Singspiel Stakes (Listed)

 

Thursday, Jan. 15

$150,000 Dubawi Stakes (Listed)

$75,000 UAE Two Thousand Guineas Trial

$75,000 UAE One Thousand Guineas Trial

 

Thursday, Jan. 22

$250,000 Al Fahidi Fort (UAE-II)

 

Thursday, Jan. 29

$200,000 Al Rashidiya (UAE-II)

$200,000 Cape Verdi (UAE-II)

 

Thursday, Feb. 5

$250,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (UAE-II)

$200,000 UAE One Thousand Guineas (Listed)

$75,000 Meydan Classic Trial

 

Thursday, Feb. 12

$250,000 UAE Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-III)

$200,000 Firebreak Stakes (UAE-III)

$200,000 Al Shindagha Sprint (UAE-III)

 

Thursday, Feb. 19

$200,000 Balanchine (UAE-II) $200,000 Dubai Millennium Stakes (Listed)

 

Thursday, Feb. 26  

$250,000 Zabeel Mile (UAE-II)

$250,000 UAE Oaks (UAE-III)

$125,000 Meydan Classic (Listed)

 

Saturday, Feb. 28

$200,000 Nad al Sheba Trophy (UAE-III)

 

Super Saturday, March 7

$400,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-I)

$300,000 Jebel Hatta (UAE-I)

$250,000 Dubai City of Gold (UAE-II)

$200,000 Burj Nahar (UAE-II)

$200,000 Mahab Al Shimaal (UAE-II)

$175,000 Meydan Sprint (UAE-III)

$250,000 Al Bastikiya (Listed)

 

Saturday, March 28

$10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I)

$6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I)

$6 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I)

$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I)

$1 million Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-I)

$2 million UAE Derby (UAE-II)

$1 million Godolphin Mile (UAE-II)

$1 million Dubai Gold Cup (UAE-II)