Dubai World Cup

The main event on Saudi Cup Day two weeks ago was all about the host nation, with the locally owned and trained Emblem Road (Quality Road) posting a remarkable upset in the world's richest horse race. Saudi Arabia has announced its presence on the global horse racing scene loud and clear, and the country-with its ever-increasing investment in racehorses and breeding stock globally--will continue to be heard from for years to come. When the layers are peeled back on the third running of the Saudi Cup card, however, it was...

Never afraid to explore different avenues, Goffs brings an international flair to this year's breeze-up circuit with the launch of a 2-year-old sale in Dubai. Hosted by the Dubai Racing Club (DRC) in association with the sales company at Meydan racecourse during Dubai World Cup week on March 23, the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale represents an audacious move that involves the shipment of 69 horses to Dubai from Europe. This is done with the aspiration that exposure of the European breeze-up product to an international audience will be rewarded with...

Azure Coast (Street Sense) was plucked out of the Gainesway consignment at Keeneland September in 2020 by owner Vladamir Kazakov for $65,000, and that has proven to be an inspired purchase with the colt now three-for-three and a stakes winner after taking Friday's G3 UAE 2000 Guineas on his black-type debut. Debuting over a mile in Moscow in September, Azure Coast came home a six-length winner. He resurfaced at Meydan for trainer Pavel Vaschenko in December, dropping back to seven furlongs to win a conditions race over the Meydan dirt...

American stars Life Is Good (Into Mischief) and Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) are among 153 horses nominated to the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup, which will be run at Meydan on Mar. 26. A total of 750 horses from 20 different countries have been nominated for the nine-race, $30.5-million card. The 4-year-old Life Is Good was the emphatic winner of both the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar and the GI Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 29, while Hot Rod Charlie was multiple Classic-placed last year and won...

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland Tuesday fresh off of a pair of seven-figure wins at Gulfstream and amid one of the hottest streaks of his training life. Sitting down with Joe Bianca, Bill Finley and Jon Green as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Pletcher talked about Life Is Good's dazzling win in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. and what's next for the superstar son of Into Mischief, a planned Dubai trip for MGISW turfer Colonel Liam (Liam's...

It's not too early to lump Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in with some of the best horses of the modern era. That's how good he was Saturday at Gulfstream when he dominated over a field that included the soon-to-be-named 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. in what was nothing less than a sensational performance. But is he even the best horse in training? It's a rare and special time for horse racing, which has been blessed with not just...

Flying P Stable and R. A. Hill Stable's Lone Rock (Majestic Warrior), winner of the 13-furlong GII Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance S. on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Del Mar Nov. 6, is a possible candidate for the G1 $12-million Dubai World Cup Mar. 26, according to trainer Robertino Diodoro. If all goes well in the 7-year-old gelding's next start, the GIII Razorback H. at Oaklawn Feb. 12, the Dubai World Cup will likely be next. "I don't know if we have to win [the Razorback]," Diodoro said. "We are shortening...

There will be a range of new benefits for registered owners offered by the Dubai Racing Club in conjunction with the Emirates Racing Association for the 2021/22 UAE racing season. Some of the benefits for existing and new owners is as follows: Season Badges (1 x ERA Owner, 1 x ERA Horse Connections and 2 x Guests), but admission not included on DWC night on Mar. 26. Hospitality Invitation for two for Opening Season Racenight at Meydan on Nov. 4th Hospitality Invitation for two for Carnival Opening Night on Jan....

Breeze-up consignors shopping at this season's yearling sales will have a new and innovative target to aim at with the news late last month that the Dubai Racing Club will host the first-ever Dubai World Cup Breeze-Up Sale in association with Goffs next Mar. 24, two days prior to Dubai World Cup day at Meydan. The sale will have a maximum 69 2-year-olds catalogued. Horses in training are offered twice a year in Dubai through the Emirates Racing Authority Racing in Dubai sales, but the Dubai World Cup sale will...

The new Dubai World Cup Breeze-Up Sale in association with Goffs will be conducted by the Irish sales company on Mar. 24, 2022, the Dubai Racing Club (DRC) announced on Sunday. Held during Dubai World Cup week, the sale will have a maximum size of 69 2-year-olds that will be sourced from vendors by Goffs which will appeal to both local and international buyers. All lots will undergo a full veterinary examination prior to departure to ensure full transparency and buyer confidence. Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of...

Leading Horse-of-the-Year candidate Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) is scheduled to have surgery to remove a chip in his knee, his owner, Godolphin LLC, announced Saturday morning. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Larry Bramlage at the Rood and Riddle Clinic. According to the Godolphin statement, Bramlage expects that the surgery will be straightforward and uncomplicated. It remains unclear whether or not the 4-year-old 'TDN Rising Star' will race again or head off to stud. Addressing that question, Godolphin President Jimmy Bell said: "Mystic Guide is in great hands with Dr....

Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), who kick-started his career as a second-out 'TDN Rising Star' and most recently won the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup at the end of March, is preparing for a late summer and fall campaign. After having spent the last few weeks at trainer Michael Stidham's Keeneland barn, he will ship to Maryland's Fair Hill Training Center this week to resume serious training. "Since he's been back, I've been shocked and amazed with how well he's handled that whole experience, from all the traveling to the stress of...