Dubai Sheema Classic

Shadwell's Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the winner of three Group 3s over middle distances last season, is being set toward the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Mar. 26. The 5-year-old won Goodwood's Listed Tapster S. in May before finishing third in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot. After that Hukum put together back-to-back scores in the G3 Silver Cup S. and G3 Geoffrey Freer S., and was second in Kempton's G3 September S. before closing out his campaign with a 6 1/2-length win in the...

Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}), the winner of last year's G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot, will begin his 4-year-old campaign in the G3 Winter Derby at Lingfield on Feb. 26. After his Royal Ascot triumph, the William Haggas-trained Alenquer finished third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and second in the G1 Juddmonte International. He wrapped up his campaign with a ninth-place finish in the heavy ground G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. "He's a nice horse," Haggas said. "He ran in the Arc, which he probably...

In the wake of Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire})'s second-place finish in Sunday's G1 Hong Kong Vase, co-trainer William Muir has said that the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic is on the soon-to-be 5-year-old's agenda, with a stop at the Saudi Cup meeting along the way a possibility. "Everything's on the table," Muir said. "He's definitely going to have a winter campaign and it's going to end up at the Sheema Classic before he comes home to have a little bit of a break. Let's keep our fingers crossed, we all...

Saturday's $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup may lack the star power of past renewals, but with 14 runners signed on from six countries for the race's 25th renewal it is nonetheless a fascinating event that has the potential to crown a new headliner, the most obvious being Godolphin's American shipper Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper). Trained by Michael Stidham, Mystic Guide broke his maiden by five lengths at second asking last March, and despite the American Triple Crown being re-arranged by the Covid-19 pandemic connections took a patient approach. Mystic Guide picked...

Expected fields have been released for Meydan's $26.5-million Dubai World Cup card on Mar. 27, with 14 Group 1 winners set to line up on the night. The featured $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup is as ever an international affair. Godolphin brings three runners trained in three different countries, headed by homebred Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), winner last time of the GIII Razorback H. at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 27 for trainer Mike Stidham. Saeed bin Suroor sends out Gifts Of Gold (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who won the Red Sea...

Saudi Cup winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) will make his next appearance in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on Mar. 27, Racing Post reports. After winning the world's richest race in his second try on the dirt, the 4-year-old Mishriff had been considered a leading candidate for the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup, but he will instead return to the turf for the $6-million Sheema Classic and step up to a mile and a half for the first time. Mishriff won the...

Champion Hong Kong stayer Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) can earn a long-awaited trip overseas with a strong performance in Sunday's G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin Racecourse, with the US$6-million G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) on the horizon. Winner of the 2018 G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m), the horse formerly trained by Mick Halford as Irishcorrespondent landed this event, but focused on a domestic campaign that saw him close the season victoriously in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m). Third from a...

Grade I-winner Arklow (Arch) is expected to make his start in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25 followed by the Mar. 28 G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, confirmed Donegal Racing founder Jerry Crawford. A graded stakes winner in 2017 and 2018, the bay recorded his most significant career score in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont in October. Luis Saez will ride the 6-year-old in the Pegasus Turf. "We're excited about the opportunity to run in the Pegasus Turf," said Cox,...

When stablemates Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) and Robert Bruce (Chi) (Fast Company {Ire}) first met in the June 8 GI Manhattan S. at Belmont, division-leading Bricks and Mortar got the jump while Robert Bruce was stuck in some midstretch traffic, and kicked away to a 1 1/2-length conquest. Saturday, the two will reconvene at Arlington Park for the 37th running of the GI Arlington Million, where Robert Bruce will be defending his title after taking home last year's Million trophy. Klaravich Stables and Bill Lawrence's Bricks and Mortar, four-for-four...

In the midst of a hot streak for Japanese-bred runners in Britain, 2017 G1 Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is gearing up for a second British start of the summer in the G1 Juddmonte International at York on Aug. 21. The 7-year-old entire kicked off 2019 with a second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Mar. 30, after which he was beaten 13 lengths by Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. on July 27, an effort assistant...