Saturday’s international simulcast of the 30th Dubai World Cup will be offered to Xpressbet and 1/ST BET customers in its full-card entirety. Early bird wagering begins Friday on the 9-race program from Meydan, featuring globetrotting superstar Forever Young and defending champ Hit Show (pictured) in the $12 million main event. First post will be 7:45 am ET with the Dubai World Cup slated for 12:40 pm ET.
Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Forever Young drew post 6 of 9 at Wednesday’s ceremony and looks to add to his already world-record bankroll of nearly $30 million. The Japanese stalwart won the Saudi Cup for the second straight year when last seen Feb. 14 and looks to make amends for last year’s third-place finish at Meydan.
The Americans are represented in the mile and one-quarter DWC by Hit Show (post 5), the improbable hero last March at Meydan for trainer Brad Cox and repeat rider Florent Geroux. He won the Mineshaft at Fair Grounds in preparation for his defense. Steve Asmussen-trained Magnitude (post 1) may be second choice in the betting off back-to-back wins in the Clark at Churchill and Razorback at Oaklawn a month ago. Heart of Honor (post 4), alum of last year’s Preakness and Belmont, as well as Tumbarumba (post 9), fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, represent international connections but will be familiar to US followers.
The undercard features Florida-based Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen; Charles Town Classic winner Banishing in the $1 million Godolphin Mile; international Kentucky Derby qualifying points on the line in the $1 million UAE Derby; and Japan Cup / English Champions winner Calandagan trying to one-up his second-place finish last year in the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic on turf.
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$12 million Dubai World Cup Field
1-Forever Young (post 6) | Yoshito Yahagi | Ryusei Sakai
2-Magnitude (post 1) | Steve Asmussen | Jose Ortiz
3-Hit Show (post 5) | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux
4-Meydaan (post 2) | Simon Crisford | William Buick
5-Imperial Emperor (post 7) | Bhupat Seemar | Tadhg O’Shea
6-Tumbarumba (post 9) | Al Jehani | James Doyle
7-Walk of Stars (post 3) | Bhupat Seemar | Mickael Barzlalona
8-Heart of Honor (post 4) | Jamie Osborne | Saffie Osborne
9-Tap Leader (post 8) | Doug Watson | Pat Dobbs
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Saturday’s Meydan Racecourse Racing Schedule
7:45 am ET | Race 1 | $1 million | Dubai Kahayla Classic | 1 mile on dirt
8:20 am ET | Race 2 | $1 million | Godolphin Mile | 1 mile on dirt
8:55 am ET | Race 3 | $1 million | Dubai Gold Cup | 2 miles on turf
9:30 am ET | Race 4 | $1 million | UAE Derby | 1-3/16 miles on dirt
10:20 am ET | Race 5 | $1.5 million | Al Quoz Sprint | 6 furlongs on turf
10:55 am ET | Race 6 | $2 million | Dubai Golden Shaheen | 6 furlongs on dirt
11:30 am ET | Race 7 | $5 million | Dubai Turf | 1-1/8 miles on turf
12:05 pm ET | Race 8 | $6 million | Dubai Sheema Classic | 1-1/2 miles on turf
12:40 pm ET | Race 9 | $12 million | Dubai World Cup | 1-1/4 miles on dirt
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World Pool Wagering Notes
Early Pick 4: begins Race 2
Pick 6: begins Race 4
Pick 5: begins Race 5
Late Pick 4: begins Race 6
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