Horseracing in the United Arab Emirates is of the highest standard
and the world's richest race, the US$6-million Dubai World Cup, which
is due to celebrate its tenth anniversary on March 25, 2006.
This sensational Group 1 contest over a mile and a quarter on dirt is
supported by three more Group 1 thoroughbred races, the Dubai Duty
Free, the Dubai Golden Shaheen and the Dubai Sheema Classic, each worth
US$2 million. The remaining two races for thoroughbreds on the same
card are the US$2-million UAE Derby and the US$1-million Godolphin
Mile, both of which hold Group 2 status.
The opening race, the Dubai Kahayla Classic is a Group 1 event for
purebred Arabian horses who have their own calendar of races throughout
the UAE season, which lasts from late October through to April and is
organised by the Emirates Racing Association.
Dubai World Cup day has been a tremendous international success since
it was first staged in 1996. On the big day the title race was captured
by the great American-trained racehorse Cigar, a superstar of the
racing world who still holds the world record for the biggest earnings
of any racehorse. Last year, another American hero, Roses In May
claimed the Dubai World Cup with the Saudi-owned .
In between, there have been four home victories in the Dubai World Cup,
all trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin - Almutawakel (1999),
Dubai Millennium (2000), Street Cry (2002) and Moon Ballad (2003).
Dubai Millennium, who made all to win by six lengths in a record time,
was the best horse owned by Godolphin. Following his Dubai World Cup
victory, he captured the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal
Ascot, England, in runaway fashion. But injury cut short his career in
August of 2000 and tragically he died from grass sickness on April 29,
2001 towards the end of his first season as a stallion at Sheikh
Mohammed's Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, England.
Of the three other Dubai World Cup winners, two came from America,
Silver Charm in 1998 and Captain Steve in 2001, with both trained by
Bob Baffert, while the remaining victor, Singspiel (1997) was trained
in England by Sir Michael Stoute.
Racing in the UAE commenced initially at Sharjah in 1983, followed by
Abu Dhabi in 1991, Nad Al Sheba in 1992 and Jebel Ali in 1993.
The sport has come a very long way in a short time and the second Dubai
International Racing Carnival has this year generated the most
international racing anywhere in the world, attracting horses trained
in 23 countries, with winners emerging from England, Ireland, Dubai,
South Africa, Turkey, Brazil, Macau, Singapore, Norway and French
contingents.
The future is very bright for racing in the UAE. Fin Powrie, Director
of Racing at the Emirates Racing Association, commented: "The Carnival
this year has provided the most international racing without any shadow
of doubt.
"It is probably testimony to the fact that we have structured the
Carnival very well and also the incentives for being here are very
sound. Without pre-empting any decisions, I can see the Carnival being
extended in 2006 with the emphasis on quality."
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Street Cry MJM
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Street Cry MJM
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