2025 Dubai World Cup Day: Meeting In Review

The world converged on Meydan for this year’s Dubai World Cup meeting, featuring some of the best horses on the planet including Forever Young and Romantic Warrior.

G1 Dubai Kahayla Classic (2000m)

ANALYSIS: Tilal Al Khalediah entered as favourite having won this race 12 months ago, but it was another past winner – 2022 victor First Classs – who proved too strong. Connor Beasley did well to get First Classs into a prominent position early from a wide gate and took advantage of the noted rails advantage on the Meydan dirt to send him for home early. He kept going strongly through the line to hold off Tilal Al Khalediah; Mubeed finished off solidly for third.

WHAT THEY SAID: Doug Watson, trainer, First Classs (1st) – “He’s a tough horse, I think that’s his fourth race winning a million dollar race, he’s a pure racehorse and it’s lovely to see him come back from an off season and do something like that. He’s been in great form, we did nothing with him after he ran two weeks ago, he just had easy canters every day. He’s won here before and I just thought with that draw we had no chance but he was tough as nails.

“I’ve been here 32 years and I’ve been to every World Cup. Worked the first one as an ambulance driver and now we’re winning races. It’s our first Arabian win, we used to have some extremely nice ones for His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid, finished second a couple of times and never won it. It’s just super to win on the night any time.”

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G2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m)

ANALYSIS: Dubai Future has had numerous injury layoffs throughout his career, but he has been a different horse this campaign. A big win in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy (2810m) last time out suggested he could play a part in the Dubai Gold Cup, but the manner of his success – showing a deft turn of foot to defeat Double Major and Epic Poet.

WHAT THEY SAID: Saeed bin Suroor, trainer, Dubai Future (1st) – “He’ll go to Longchamp next month, there’s a Group 1 for him there (the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier).”

Silvestre de Sousa, jockey, Dubai Future (1st) – “Great performance by Saeed, I’m so delighted to ride this horse for His Highness (Sheikh Mohammed). I felt they didn’t go a strong pace early on but he relaxed for me and when I let him down, I let him organise himself before I really went for him but he responded well.”

G2 Godolphin Mile (1600m)

ANALYSIS: Raging Torrent brought plenty of class as the winner of G1 Malibu Stakes (7f) at his most recent start at Santa Anita in December. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, the meeting’s most successful rider over the last three decades, he got into a good spot on the speed and Dettori executed a masterful front-running ride. The Doug O’Neill trainee was pressured by former American Mufasa at the top of the straight but he proved much too classy late, running clear of the fast-finishing King Gold and Kazu Petrin. Steal Sunshine was the eyecatcher, thundering home from a tailed off last to finish fourth.

WHAT THEY SAID: Frankie Dettori, jockey, Raging Torrent (1st) – “I sat on him about three weeks ago to punch him out for this race. He travelled well, he’s such a beautiful horse. It’s a plan well executed by the Doug O’Neill team…I came for this.”

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G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m)

ANALYSIS: The race was marred by the breakdown of Howdeepisyourlove, who has been euthanised after suffering a fetlock injury at halfway. A good effort by Believing, who was secured by Coolmore from Highclere last year but remains in the hands of George Boughey. She chased resolutely to run down Japan’s Win Carnelian, who looked the winner at the 200m. British sprinter Regional finished third.

WHAT THEY SAID: William Buick, jockey, Believing (1st) – “Credit to the filly because she gave me that bit extra there. It got tough and it got tight. She really showed her toughness so it was a great performance. When he got that length or two on us at the intersection, he was not for stopping. Once my filly got herself organised, then he was within reach and it was a fight to the line. It was a great race and a great ride to pick up.”

Henry Morshead, assistant trainer, Believing (1st) – “Her prep all winter has been fairly flawless. She’s done a lot of gate work after what happened at Del Mar. We became quite bullish. I imagine Ascot next.”

G2 UAE Derby (1900m)

ANALYSIS: A nose separated Saffie Osborne from history as she was narrowly denied her place in the record books as the first female jockey to win a race on Dubai World Cup night. Instead, it was Christophe Lemaire who joined Tadhg O’Shea and Jerry Bailey as a six-time winner at this meeting. His mount Admire Daytona led home a 1-3-4 for Japan, with only Britain’s Heart Of Honor proving any challenge to Japan’s domination of the three-year-old race.

WHAT THEY SAID: Christophe Lemaire, jockey, Admire Daytona (1st) – “I didn’t expect to make the running. When he hit the front, he was very relaxed and I knew he would stay the trip. We had some pressure from the outside all the way but the horse didn’t panic and he fought very well in the straight. The margin was tight. My horse gave everything.”

Yukihiro Kato, trainer, Admire Daytona (1st) – “I thought we were second, but second was enough to get into the Kentucky Derby so we’ll be going to Kentucky.”

G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m)

ANALYSIS: Only two northern hemisphere three-year-olds had ever contested the Golden Shaheen: My Catch, 12th in 2014, and Dios Corrida, 11th in 2017. This year, Dark Saffron was the lesser-fancied of two representatives of that age group; Japan’s American Stage was the leading contender, but still not seen as on the same level as defending champion Tuz or American champion Straight No Chaser. However, a daring tactical ride from Connor Beasley saw Dark Saffron fend off Nakatomi and Tuz to score a memorable success.

WHAT THEY SAID: Connor Beasley, jockey, Dark Saffron (1st) – “He’s gutsy and determined. We knew there was going to be plenty of speed on. He was getting plenty of weight off them with his age allowance and he was mighty quick out of the gates. He bounced his way into the lead, he dragged me around into the lead. Halfway down the stretch, I thought I was in a bit of trouble here but once he saw the other horses come to challenge him, he really dug deep. The world’s his oyster. He deserves a good summer on his back.”

G1 Dubai Turf (1800m)

ANALYSIS: Romantic Warrior was sweaty behind the stalls and was keen at stages for James McDonald behind early leader Meisho Tabaru. Meanwhile, Cristian Demuro on Soul Rush tracked him through the early stages. Upon straightening, it looked Romantic Warrior’s race to lose – but he didn’t quite get away as he had done at most of his starts this season. A relentless drive from Demuro saw Soul Rush make a late bid for victory, but it took more than five minutes for the result to be announced. The margin? Mere millimetres. Maljoom charged home for third.

WHAT THEY SAID: Cristian Demuro, jockey, Soul Rush (1st) – “Last year, I was beaten by a nose (on Namur, second to Facteur Cheval). This year, I win by a nose. The luck was with me today. It’s as good a performance as he’s ever produced, he beat the best horse in the world today. He travelled well and he fought until the end. I’m so happy.

“Last year, I thought I had won until the last second. I just waited until the number went up. This year, I was more sure that I had won but I didn’t want to get ahead of myself. It is a special win because we are now part of the Romantic Warrior story; he doesn’t lose many races, but today he found a good horse.

“Dubai World Cup night is the most special meeting. I’m very happy to come back here every year. I’m very lucky to get to ride some good horses every year and I’ve had some success here.”

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer, Soul Rush (1st) – “He’s still improving as a seven-year-old. He’s been quite lightly raced for his age, three runs in the spring and three runs in the autumn.”

G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2400m)

ANALYSIS: A keen Shin Emperor set the early speed, but Ryusei Sakai was reluctant to lead and Durezza – who dead-heated with Shin Emperor for second in the Japan Cup last year – also didn’t want the front. Into the back straight, Rebel’s Romance whipped around them to take up the running as William Buick tried to replicate his win from 12 months ago in this race. Danon Decile sat midfield with Calandagan in behind and they were the two to sprint stoutly down the middle of the track into the stretch. Danon Decile got first run on Calandagan and that proved the difference as the Tokyo Yushun winner became the second Japanese Derby winner to take the Sheema, after Shahryar. However, Calandagan lost no admirers in defeat and looks set for a huge 2025.

WHAT THEY SAID: Shogo Yasuda, trainer, Danon Decile (1st) – “He was a bit nervous and excited before the race but he settled in the stalls. When he came out, he was always on the bridle.” – Keita Tosaki, jockey, Danon Decile (1st)

“He performed a brilliant race in a new environment. Such a young horse, he’s just turned four. We’ll need to see how he comes out of the race and talk to the owner about whether he travels later in the season.”

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G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m)

ANALYSIS: No whip? No worries for Florent Geroux, who managed to go one better than his second aboard Gun Runner eight years ago by steering Hit Show to an improbable success. It looked a lottery if Forever Young didn’t win and he looked in trouble at halfway. Walk Of Stars and Mixto skipped away and, when Mixto shook off Walk Of Stars, it appeared as though Frankie Dettori may have been poised for his fifth Dubai World Cup success. But then, from nowhere, came Hit Show, charging late to take the prize. Forever Young could only manage a battling third and the Saudi Cup-Dubai World Cup double remains elusive.

WHAT THEY SAID: Florent Geroux, jockey, Hit Show (1st) – “It was a great trip and my horse responded for me all the way. There were a few anxious moments during the race between the far turn when Forever Young was stopping, I feel like in front of me. I can’t believe it honestly, it’s a dream come true.

“I don’t know what it is about this horse, every time I ride him, he responds. And listen, this was the cherry on the cake. It’s going to be very tough to beat this performance. I hope he can continue his career like Gun Runner did when he came back from the Middle East and win a few more Grade 1s.”

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