The nominees for the USUS$35 million Dubai World Cup race day 2019 include a star studded line-up of top notch thoroughbreds & Arabians, including Almond Eye, Beauty Generation, Thunder Snow, Magical, McKinzie, Santa Ana Lane, Roy H and Al Shamoos. Malih Al Basti, Meydan Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Meydan Racing Committee said: “The 2019 Dubai World Cup, with a world-leading US$35 million in purses and the world’s richest race, promises a brilliant global race day,”
The USUS$12 million Dubai World Cup will feature defending champion Thunder Snow and his local Group 1-winning rival North America. American nominations include Grade 1 winners McKinzie, Leofric, See
The 2400m US$6 million Dubai Sheema Classic on turf has attracted Japanese triple crown and Gr.1 Japan Cup winning filly Almond Eye, the brightest rising star from the land of the rising sun, leading an honour roll of Japanese Group 1 winners, including Cheval Grand, Lys Gracieux and Rey de Oro. Hong Kong’s Exultant and Eagle Way, as well as Ireland’s Magical and U.S. Grade 1 winners Sadler’s Joy and Channel Maker add significant depth.
Hong Kong’s Beauty Generation tops the nominations for the 1800m US$6 million Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World , which also has a potent Japanese presence, including 2017 winner and 2018 runner-up Vivlos, Hong Kong Cup runner-up Deirdre, third in this last year, and Yasuda Kinen winner Mozu Ascot. Defending champion Benbatl, Australian Group 1 winner Comin’ Through, veteran South African Group 1 gelding Marinaresco, St James’s Palace Stakes winner Without Parole from England and Shadwell Turf Mile winner Next Shares from America already make this an exciting event to anticipate.
The 1200m US$2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, the richest dirt sprint in the world, has attracted nominations from the likes of American champion sprinter Roy H and other top U.S. sprinters Imperial Hint, X Y Jet and Promises Fulfilled, as well as Japanese sprint star Matera Sky and improving local rivals Raven’s Corner and Drafted. Its turf equivalent, the Al Quoz Sprint, has been doubled in purse to US$2 million and has attracted nominations from some of the top turf sprinters in the world, including multiple Group 1-winning Australian sprinter Santa Ana Lane, King’s Stand winner Blue Point, dual Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Stormy Liberal and British Champions Sprint winner Sands of Mali.
Over 1900m on dirt, the UAE Derby has attracted upstarts such as local star Walking Thunder, Argentine Group 1 winner Grecko, Bob Baffert-trained Improbable
The US$1 million Dubai Kahayla Classic will feature the best Purebred Arabians in the world, with nominations being topped by last year’s dominant winner Tallaab Al Khalediah of Saudi Arabia, as well as talented mare Al Shamoos of France, winner of the rich Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown in November.
Credit: Dubai Racing Cup