*All times GMT
It’s quite surprising that this meeting has gone ahead given the current turmoil in the Middle East. Let’s hope the only drama is of the equine variety, as this is a fantastic card by any measure.
12:20 – Godolphin Mile (Group 2) – 12 runners – Dirt – 8 Furlongs
Market Leaders
COMMISSIONER KING currently heads the betting – and Timeform’s ratings – following an emphatic win in the Burj Nahar last time out. This 6-year-old has spent some time in the wilderness following his shock win in the 2023 Saudi Derby, but Bhupat Seemar has steadily brought him back to form and that Burj Nahar win looks good enough in a contest lacking much strength in depth. He’s drawn to attack from stall 1 and is seen to best effect leading at a strong pace. A slight concern would be that he clocked a 92% finishing speed last time out going too fast on the lead and that, aligned with the big figure he ran there, will have meant he had a hard race.
Stablemate MENDELSSOHN BAY had COMMISSIONER KING behind him in the Firebreak back in January but couldn’t repeat that form when well beaten in the Al Maktoum Classic on his most recent start. He was trapped wide without cover that day but had no rally and was done with before the home turn. He should get a better trip here and might be the type to bounce back – he looks the main threat to COMMISSIONER KING on ratings and form.
Key Contenders
Readers will know plenty about BANISHING who regularly plies his trade around Churchill Downs. He ran quite well in the Ring The Bell Stakes three back – a race that’s worked out – and probably ran about as well as you could expect when overmatched in the Pegasus on his penultimate start when Jose Ortiz basically gave up 2 furlongs out. Again, I thought he ran about as well as you could expect from the front in the Saudi Cup last time out, predictably no match for the likes of Nysos and Forever Young having showed up well for a long way. He showed a bit more speed there, which I like, and he might be the sort to get a nice run around here under a forward-going jockey in Silvestre De Sousa. Every chance here on his best form and I don’t imagine the current 10/1 will be available come race time.
Interesting Outsiders
Little to get excited about amongst the outsiders here with few of them having form at Group or Graded level. THE CAMDEN COLT is mildly interesting. He was well held behind COMMISSIONER KING last time out but this strong-travelling sort gets Ryan Moore aboard and looks to be building towards something better. He should love a collapsing pace.
DAVID OF ATHENS is another who will benefit from a strong gallop. He was felt good enough to run in the Pennsylvania Derby last year and has been building up since switched to Hamad Al Jehani. He’s won his last two at Jebel Ali and is better than he showed when dead-heating with MASMAK last time out as little went right for him from a wide gate. He’s got a good berth in 5 here and should be finishing.
DIAMOND DEALER finished behind DAVID OF ATHENS three back but has readily two won handicaps here since. His new mark doesn’t give him much to find and this 4-year-old probably has more to come, although a post of 11 could have been better.
12:55 – Dubai Gold Cup (Group 2) – 10 runners – Turf – 2 Miles
Market Leaders
AL RIFFA deservedly heads the market here. The 2025 Irish St Leger winner ran very well in the Melbourne Cup giving away plenty of weight and subsequently produced a blinding effort in the Hong Kong Vase when running on late in fourth over a trip that would have been too short for him. A return to staying distances shouldn’t be an issue and, presuming he is fit enough to fire close to his best shot, I think he’ll have too much class for these. I would imagine he will start odds-on.
Key Contenders
Stablemate SONS AND LOVERS has the benefit of a recent run and seems to have improved for a gelding operation and stepping up in distance. He won the Red Sea Turf Handicap last time out and should step forward from that. There’s not much pace in this on paper and he might be able to put his speed to good use here.
AL NAYYIR is a very talented sort on his day and it was good to see him return to winning ways in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy after a pretty disappointing 2025. He’s got one of the best tactical jockeys aboard and stall 11 should allow him to slide forward and adopt a prominent pitch.
SUNWAY finished behind AL NAYYIR last time out but that doesn’t tell the full story. Having travelled well, SUNWAY produced by far the best turn of foot in the race to go clear but was reeled in by AL NAYYIR inside the final furlong. He rallied once headed, however, and was ahead again on the gallop out. I think he was in front plenty soon enough there and he might do even better with blinkers applied and waited with a little longer – the gelding operation seems to have improved this tough sort.
Interesting Outsiders
DUBAI FUTURE won this last year but he’s missed his prep this time around and is a 10-year-old now.
EPIC POET is very talented performer and has run well against the flow the last twice behind SONS AND LOVERS and SUNWAY. He’d definitely come into this if the gallop is stronger than anticipated.
1:30 – UAE Derby (Group 2) – 12 runners – Dirt – 9.5 Furlongs
Market Leaders
PYROMANCER heads the market for the Japanese and Godolphin, and this home-bred has presumably had this as the plan all along. He’s unbeaten in three starts in Japan, winning the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun in gritty fashion last time out. That run has him 5lb off the best in Japan according to the local handicappers which clearly must mean he is a very talented performer. The third that day was well beaten in the Saudi Derby last month and the horse he beat two back, WONDER DEAN only finished 4th in the same contest. Nonetheless, he looks to have strong claims.
Key Contenders
He faces a couple of local performers who look well above average. SIX SPEED was beaten at 2/5 on debut but has shown that market confidence was not misplaced, winning all three starts since and improving his numbers every time. He bolted up from the smart-looking Godolphin horse DEVON ISLAND in the UAE 2000 Guineas last time out, running a fast time in the process, seeing his race out really well. He has to prove his stamina but looks a classy sort and has little to find on form and ratings.
SALLOOM comes from the same barn as SIX SPEED and was well-backed on debut himself, going one better than his stablemate had. He was super impressive that day, getting into stride quickly and making the running at a pace that seemed easy for him but was too much for his rivals. He cruised clear to win by a wide margin in a fast time and this fine physical specimen could be anything still. He only has about 7lbs to find with PYROMANCER on Timeform ratings – a perfectly feasible jump to make from a debut win.
Interesting Outsiders
WONDER DEAN only closed up off a very strong pace last time out but should enjoy this extra distance.
LABWAH is clearly a talented filly having won the UAE Oaks by a wide margin last time out, but she only beat an 80-rated rival there and this looks much tougher against the boys.
2:20 – Al Quoz Sprint (Group 1) – 13 runners – Turf – 6 Furlongs
Market Leaders
LAZZAT should be very hard to beat here and I’m not surprised that the 2/1 that was available has now gone. The best sprinter in Europe last season, he ran extremely well on his return in the 1351 Turf Sprint. Drawn wide there, he was trapped on the outside close up to a strong pace and was softened up to be run down late by REEF RUNNER, who was ridden with a bit more restraint. I think he should reverse that form here back down in distance and with that run under his belt. Clearly the best horse here on form and ratings.
REEF RUNNER goes there with every chance again. He’s super tough and talented and looks the most likely to take advantage of if LAZZAT doesn’t run up to his best.
Key Contenders
Japanese raider LUGAL is an interesting runner but is a little shy of the best in his homeland. He’ll need a career-best to take this.
RAYVEKA is a smart filly and should improve again at 4. She came up short at this level on several occasions last season and needs to find more to push the likes of LAZZAT, although she ran pretty well on her return over course and distance when drawn on the wrong side.
Interesting Outsiders
COVER UP did best of those ridden with restraint last time out and this 6-year-old continues to improve. He should enjoy coming from behind off a strong gallop here.
2:55 – Dubai Golden Shaheen – 12 runners – Dirt – 6 Furlongs
Market Leaders
BENTORNATO will go to post as the favourite here and it’s not difficult to see why. Arguably the best dirt sprinter in the world, the one-time Saudi Derby third has improved beyond recognition since dropped back in distance and confirmed himself amongst the very best with a dominant win in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last November having finished runner-up in the race in 2024. A 110 Beyer backed that performance up nicely and there’s no reason why he can’t improve again this season given he’s only had 11 runs in his lifetime. He’s drawn to attack from stall 2 and he should be hard to deny another big pot.
Key Contenders
EL NASSEEB continues to improve. He was never on the bridle in a Group 3 last time out but got going late to grind his way into the lead and win going away. The time he clocked that day was good but he’ll need another pace collapse here.
MIDLAND MONEY is interesting. He’s switched to Michael Costa from Bob Baffert and his overall profile in the US was a nice one, improving steadily and producing a peak effort on his most recent start in the Malibu. The 106 Beyer he ran that day wouldn’t give him much to find with BENTORNATO, particularly if he is a bit more forward than that rival who will surely have one eye on the Breeders’ Cup again. He looks the best late pace if anything eyeballs the favourite.
TUZ should be involved in that pace scenario. He was a short price for this race last season off the back of some big, fast runs but just came up a little short. He looked rusty behind EL NASSEEB on his only run of the season when turned over at odds-on but I think he should sharpen up for that run and he has followed a very similar route to when romping in this race in 2024. Not hard to see him running a big race and he is right there on his best efforts.
Interesting Outsiders
NAKATOMI overcame a wide trip to finish runner-up in this last year from and gets a better post position here. He didn’t get much run in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last year so you can forgive that run and he does go well fresh – every chance he can hit the board here.
3:35 – Dubai Turf – 11 runners – Turf – 9 Furlongs
Market Leaders
A race that revolves around OMBUDSMAN. This top-class European performer returns to action here with plenty in hand of this field. He should win if anywhere near his best, but is unlikely to be much of a price.
Key Contenders
FACTEUR CHEVAL is a very likeable, consistent sort but he usually comes up a little short at Group 1 level. That was the case in the Neom Turf Cup last time out and he’s probably playing for places again here unless the favourite bombs.
GAIA FORCE is a 7-year-old now but is still searching for a breakthrough at Group or Grade 1 level. He’s pretty consistent but has around 10lbs to find on Timeform ratings and it’s hard to figure where that improvement comes from here.
Interesting Outsiders
FORT GEORGE continues to improve. He was the only one who could go with Rebel’s Romance in the Dubai City Of Gold last time out and might be capable of better still. One for exotics.
QUDDWAH is 2/2 at this track but has come up short at this level in the past.
His ownermate ELNAJMM has won both starts this year over 7 furlongs. He’s a winner over this distance in the past and might be a better model as a 6-year-old.
4:10 – Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) – 6 runners – Turf – 12 Furlongs
Market Leaders
Another race that revolves around a short-priced favourite, with CALANDAGAN, who won the Japan Cup last time out, well clear on ratings having proven himself the best horse in Europe last season. He was beaten at this meeting last year, which would temper enthusiasm for wading in at a short price, but he really should win.
Key Contenders
ETHICAL DIAMOND returns following his stunning win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last season. Despite his price that day, I didn’t see any fluke about it and thought he showed a pretty wicked turn of foot and beat the right horses. He’s probably going to be more forward in his campaign than the favourite and that could allow him to spring the upset.
GIAVELLOTTO is a very likeable sort and comes here with the benefit of a recent run. He’s got some top-class form and looks pretty sure to run his race; if others underperform he looks the one to take advantage, particularly as he should be in front of his main rivals in the run.
Interesting Outsiders
Big prices the rest. BY THE BOOK ran well enough against the flow last time but this is a different level of competition.
4:45 – Dubai World Cup – 9 runners – Dirt – 10 Furlongs
Market Leaders
FOREVER YOUNG is clearly one of the best horses on the planet right now and a victory here should secure his legacy. I’ve never quite bought into him as much as I perhaps should have, and thought Romantic Warrior should have beaten him in the Saudi Cup last year. He couldn’t get the job done in this in 2025 and I’m not really convinced that the Classic he won this year was all that, although he clearly beat the best dirt horses around. Similarly, I thought he was pretty workmanlike beating Nysos last time. With that said, he clearly has the best form on offer and probably doesn’t face anything as good as that rival here on pure numbers. A repeat of the 111 Beyer he ran in the Classic should be comfortable enough to win, but I can watch on at current odds of 4/7.
Key Contenders
MEYDAAN would be an appropriate winner and this gelding seemed to relish the switch to dirt last time out. Despite the pace not being overly strong, he picked up incredibly well from the rear, storming clear of a solid yadrstick in Walk Of Stars, who was fourth in this race last year. I love the way he ran through the kickback there and he should be even better suited if they go hard here given he is a winner over as far as 14 furlongs. Don’t underestimate him.
MAGNITUTDE has a verdict over HIT SHOW to his name, overcoming him in the Clark Stakes before going on to win his only start of 2026 in the Razorback Handicap. Beyers of 101 and 102 are solid, but suggest he will need more to beat a horse like FOREVER YOUNG.
HIT SHOW was a shock winner of this race last year and comes here off the back of a win in the Mineshaft Stakes last time. This inconsistent performer has a chance on his best but isn’t one to trust.
Interesting Outsiders
IMPERIAL EMPEROR went off at just 4/1 for this last year but bombed out badly. He’s won both starts this winter, including a Group 1 last time, but I think he has a bit to find on FOREVER YOUNG even at his best. Indeed, a line through TUMBARUMBA gives him a few lengths to find.
