Probable fields are set for Dubai World Cup card

Thirty-three Thoroughbred Group 1 winners are among horses from 13 countries expected to run at the $30.5 million Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan Racecourse on March 30.

Defending champion Ushba Tesoro, Saudi Cup (G1) winner Señor Buscador and Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Derma Sotogake are among a projected lineup of 13 for the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1). The locally trained contingent is led by Kazakhstan-owned sensation Kabirkhan, winner of the Maktoum Challenge (G1).

	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start / Next Start	HRN
		Ushba Tesoro Orfevre	7.65	Noboru Takagi	2nd, 2024 Saudi Cup G1	Probable
Last Race		2nd, 2024 Saudi Cup G1
		Derma Sotogake Mind Your Biscuits	7.09	Hidetaka Otonashi	5th, 2024 Saudi Cup G1	Probable
Last Race		5th, 2024 Saudi Cup G1
		Dura Erede Duramente	7.05	Manabu Ikezoe	3rd, 2023 Tokyo Daishoten G1	Probable
Last Race		3rd, 2023 Tokyo Daishoten G1
		Defunded Dialed In	6.58	Abdulaziz Khalid Mishref	7th, 2024 Saudi Cup G1	Probable
Last Race		7th, 2024 Saudi Cup G1
		Senor Buscador Mineshaft	6.45	Todd W. Fincher	1st, 2024 Saudi Cup G1	Probable
Last Race		1st, 2024 Saudi Cup G1
		Newgate Into Mischief	6.18	Bob Baffert	1st, 2024 Santa Anita Handicap G1	Probable
Last Race		1st, 2024 Santa Anita Handicap G1
		Crupi Curlin	6.02	Todd A. Pletcher	3rd, 2024 Pegasus World Cup G1	Probable
Last Race		3rd, 2024 Pegasus World Cup G1
		Newgrange Violence	5.91	Philip D’Amato	6th, 2024 Santa Anita Handicap G1	Probable
Last Race		6th, 2024 Santa Anita Handicap G1
		Laurel River Into Mischief	5.53	Bhupat Seemar	1st, 2024 Burj Nahaar G3	Probable
Last Race		1st, 2024 Burj Nahaar G3
		Clapton Brethren	5.30	Chad Summers	3rd, 2024 Al Maktoum Classic G2	Probable
Last Race		3rd, 2024 Al Maktoum Classic G2
		Kabirkhan California Chrome	0.00	Doug Watson	1st, 2024 Al Maktoum Challenge G1	Probable
Last Race		1st, 2024 Al Maktoum Challenge G1
		Military Law Dubawi	0.00	Musabbeh Al Mheiri	1st, 2024 Al Maktoum Classic G2	Probable
Last Race		1st, 2024 Al Maktoum Classic G2
		Wilson Tesoro Kitasan Black	0.00	Hitoshi Kotegawa	2nd, 2023 Tokyo Daishoten G1	Probable
Last Race		2nd, 2023 Tokyo Daishoten G1

The $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) has a projected field of 12, with 2022 winner Shahryar aiming to become the first horse to win it twice. He is part of a formidable Japanese team that includes top fillies Liberty Island and Stars On Earth. Taking them on from Europe is Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Auguste Rodin and Coronation Cup (G1) winner Emily Upjohn, and the Godolphin challenge relies on 2021 UAE Derby (G2) winner Rebel’s Romance.

Lord North goes for an unprecedented fourth win in the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1). The John and Thady Gosden-trained gelding faces a potential 14 rivals, including Arima Kinen winner Do Deuce and Lord’s North stablemate, the multiple Group 1-winning mare Nashwa.

There are two valuable sprints on the card, including the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). Defending champion Sibelius faces last year’s fourth Hopkins, while the Japanese challenge is headed by impressive Riyadh Dirt Sprint winner Remake.

The $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) has an international look, with multiple Grade 1 winner Casa Creed traveling from America, Jasper Krone from Japan and several British runners, including Group 1 winners Regional and Emaraaty Ana. California Spangle, winner of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) last weekend, journeys from Hong Kong.

The card is bolstered by three Group 2 races, beginning with the Godolphin Mile. The strong lineup features 2023 winner Isolate and Saudi Crown, third in the Saudi Cup last time out.

Devastating Saudi Derby winner Forever Young is the star attraction in the UAE Derby (G2), in which he is likely to be joined by U.S. raider Pandagate, as well as UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) winner Mendelssohn Bay and Henry Adams and Navy Seal, both trained by Aidan O’Brien.

O’Brien runs Tower Of London in the Dubai Gold Cup (G2), in which his likely opponents include Irish St Leger (G1) winner Eldar Eldarov, Yorkshire Cup (G2) winner Giavellotto and Lonsdale Cup (G2) winner Coltrane.

The traditional curtain raiser to the day is the $1 million Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1) for purebred Arabians in which a likely field of 13 includes 2022 winner First Classs and the unbeaten Saudi star Asfan Al Khalediah.