Laurel River wins the Dubai World Cup (G1)

2024 Dubai World Cup Results

Tadgh O’Shea celebrates aboard Laurel River after winning the Dubai World Cup.

Date: 3/30/2024

The $12 million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1) celebrates its 28th renewal this year. Conditions were typical for late March in the Emirates, with clear skies, temperatures in the high 70’s, the main track rated fast and the turf rated “good”. Kabirkhan was sent off as the 5-2 favorite in the field of 12 off his wins in the Dubai Islands Handicap and the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1). In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice Ushba Tesoro, winner of the Tokyo Daishoten (G1) before finishing a close second in the Saudi Cup (G1), and 9-2 third choice Derma Sotogake, fifth in the Saudi Cup after finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Christophe Lemaire, regular rider of Derma Sotogake, was injured in a fall during the Dubai Turf and was replaced by Oisin Murphy for the World Cup.

Jockey Tadgh O’Shea sent 9-1 Laurel River to the lead first time by to set the pace while pressed by 50-1 Defunded and stalked by 25-1 Dura Erede. Turning for home Laurel River left the field in his wake, drawing away to win by 8 1/2 lengths over late-running Ushba Tesoro in 2:02.31. It was a neck back to 9-1 Senor Buscador third, while favorite Kaburkhan checked in 8th beaten 18 3/4 lengths.

Results for World Pool wagering:

9th RACE Meydan Racecourse - DUBAI WORLD CUP (Group 1) 
 7  Laurel River     O'Shea       20.70      6.00         
11  Ushba Tesoro     Kawada                  3.10         
10  Senor Buscador   Alvarado                7.10         

Running time - 2:02.31

$2.00 QUINELLA 7-11                       58.40
$2.00 EXACTA 7-11                        112.80
$2.00 TRIFECTA 7-11-10                   733.60
$2.00 SUPERFECTA 7-11-10-12            7,448.00

Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.

Laurel River in the winner’s enclosure. Winning jockey Tadgh O’Shea said, “When he had his first run for the stable we thought he’d disappointed, but we never lost faith. He was explosive last time and I said the other morning to Bhupat, I pulled him aside and said I’d never ridden a horse with his ability ever. And he’d just done an easy work on his own. With the dirt you can’t be half-hearted, you have to go forward. If he didn’t stay, he didn’t stay. We were aware of that. The main thing that won the race, it’s easy to say when you win, but I was able to keep filling him up and filling him up.”

Right: The trophy celebration. Winning trainer Bhupat Seemar said, “He’s got so much natural pace. He comes out of the gate and this is why we ran him over six furlongs (in the Al Shindagha). Tadhg was able to get some easy fractions and then I saw Defunded coming on his outside but he just kept on going further. I expected to see all the closers flying at him but he kept going. I was a small kid when I was watching these colours winning some of the biggest races in the world. What the late Prince Khalid Abdullah has done for racing is amazing, I couldn’t believe I was going to be training the horse for that farm and in those colours. And now to win one of the world’s great races for them is unbelievable.”

The $6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) is the last of four turf races and is run just before the World Cup. A field of 12 older horses went 2410 meters (about 1 1/2 miles), one complete circuit of the expansive turf oval. Japan Cup (G1) runner-up Liberty Island was sent off as the 9-5 favorite over 2-1 second choice Auguste Rodin, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), and 13-2 third choice Justin Palace off his 4th place finish in the Arima Kinen (G1).

Jockey Wayne Lordan sent 76-1 Point Lonsdale to the lead first time by to set the pace while pressed by 14-1 Stars on Earth and Rebel’s Romance. Into the stretch Point Lonsdale tired allowing Rebel’s Romance to take over. Kept to task by William Buick, Rebel’s Romance drew off to win by 2 lengths over 24-1 Shahryar in 2:26.72. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to late-running favorite Liberty Island third.

Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.

Left: Rebel’s Romance heads to the winner’s enclosure. Winning jockey William Buick said, “He showed in Qatar what a versatile horse he is,” said Buick. “His best form has usually been when he’s held up but in Qatar I tried something new. I was keen today to adopt a similar tactic and I got a lovely slipstream from the leader. He’s a very good horse on his day and he showed that today. I’m absolutely delighted; he’s a great horse and I’m so glad he’s back to his best.”

Right: Trophy presentation for the Sheema Classic. Winning trainer Charlie Appleby said, “We went into the race as a long shot which shows the depth of the race. We had a bumpy road last year, went to Kempton to bring up his confidence and then Qatar to bring him back to where we wanted him to be. Full credit to the team, especially the logistical team as he went back to the UK from Qatar and then out here. The plan was to go forward and William knows the track and horse very well.”

The $5 million DP World Dubai Turf (G1) is an 1800-meter (about 1 1/8 mile) trip around one turn of the turf course. Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) runner-up Voyage Bubble was sent off as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite in the full field of 16 over 7-2 second choice Measured Time, winner of the Jebel Hatta (G1), and 9-2 third choice Do Deuce, winner of the Arima Kinen (G1).

Matenro Sky and Luxembourg dueled for the early lead down the backstretch while stalked by Catnip and Measured Time. Into the stretch Measured Time gained a short lead until Factor Cheval under Maxime Guyon moved up to lead and held off late-running Namur to win by a head in 1:45.91, just 39/100 off the course record. It was another 3/4 length back to Danon Beluga third, while favorite Voyage Bubble, who sat midpack early, was badly hampered when Catnip fell at the 1/16 pole, finishing 13th beaten 10 1/2 lengths. Catnip fractured his right foreleg and broke down, unseating jockey Christophe Lemaire and was euthanized on the track. Lemaire was sent to hospital with fractures in his collarbone and rib. As a result Frankie Dettori picked up Lemaire’s ride in the Sheema Classic (Stars on Earth, finished 8th) and Oisin Murphy picked up his ride in the World Cup (Derma Sotogake, finished 6th).

Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.

Left: Facteur Cheval in the winner’s enclosure. Winning jockey Maxime Guyon said, “He’s a great champion. We didn’t know how he would handle the faster ground because he has more used to racing on soft and heavy surfaces but you can see how well he did. He gave me a really great turn of foot and really wanted to fight to the line. I didn’t want to go too early because he’s been running over 1600 metres and was stepping up in trip slightly, for all that I think he’ll stay 2000 metres. I always had this thought at the back of my mind that it was his first run of the year and it was further than he’s been running over. But I never felt like he would crack.”

Right: Trophy presentation for the Dubai Turf. Winning trainer Jerome Reynier said, “I said to Maxime I’ve never seen this horse go backwards at the finish, he is always going forward and giving his best. I had no doubts about the distance and Maxime has given him a perfect ride, he had Lord North to follow and he switched off during the race. He switched him to the outside and then waited long enough to save something for the end and that’s just amazing. I am so happy for all my team. It depends how he recovers but he can stay here and take it easy. He’s adapted very well here and seems very happy so maybe we could try Hong Kong next for the QE II Cup at the end of April.”

There are two sprints held on Dubai World Cup night, one on the dirt and one on the turf, both at the standard 6 furlong distance. The $2 million Nakheel Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) is the feature sprint event on the card, contested at 1200 meters (about 6 furlongs) around one turn of the main track. Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) winner Remake was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of 14 over 7-2 second choice and defending champion Sibelius, winner of the Mr. Prospector (G3), and 15-2 third choice Nakatomi, 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

Jockey Cristian Demuro sent 9-1 Don Frankie to the front and battled for the lead with 72-1 Colour Up and 17-2 Tuz. Into the stretch Tuz under jockey Tadgh O’Shea pulled away from the pack to win by 6 1/2 lengths over Don Frankie in 1:10.19. It was another 3/4 lengths back to late-running Nakatomi third, and 1 1/4 more to favorite Remake fourth.

Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay. Results for US wagering:

Left: Tuz in the winner’s enclosure. Winning trainer Bhupat Seemar said, “He’s got so much natural speed; his weapon is his speed. He’s always been a fast horse and it’s like Switzerland – he ran poorly in Saudi and then won the Shaheen. Sprinters mature and they know what to do. I had some confidence.”

Right: The trophy presentation for the Golden Shaheen. Winning jockey Tadgh O’Shea said, “He’s very fast. We had a great gate number [two] but we were getting pressured a long way out. He had to be good and tough. There wasn’t much room to maneuver down the inside, but I had a good, willing partner. He’s a big horse. When he straightened up, he went through the eye of a needle. I was a length down off Cristian [Demuro] on the home turn. I gave [Tuz] a squeeze and the response was immediate. He’s a high class horse and when he gets a rail to shoot at, he’s very, very, very good.”

The $1 million UAE Derby (G2) over 1900 meters (1 3/16 miles) on the main track is the only age-restricted race on World Cup night, open to 3-year-olds and worth 100 points to the winner as part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, however southern hemisphere 3-year-olds are recognized as 4-year-olds in the north and are not eligible for the Kentucky Derby. Forever Young, undefeated winner of the Saudi Derby (G3) was sent off as the 1-2 favorite in the field of 11 over 7-1 second choice Henry Adams, unraced since 4th in the Dewhurst Stakes (G1) in October, and 8-1 third choice Pandagate, winner of the Gander Stakes at Aqueduct.

66-1 Oasis Boy and 31-1 Auto Bahn battled for the lead first time by while stalked by 11-1 Mendelssohn Bay and 14-1 Guns and Glory. Turning for home Auto Bahn gained a short lead but favorite Forever Young, confidently ridden by Ryusei Sakai, took over at the 1/8 pole and drew off to win by 2 lengths in 1:57.89. It was another 4 3/4 lengths back to Pandagate third.

Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.

Left: Forever Young in the winner’s enclosure. Winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi said, “Of course it will be very difficult to manage the horse’s condition [travelling] from Dubai to Kentucky but I really believe my team will be able to get him in good order. He did not travel well from Japan to Saudi Arabia so he was not in great condition but he still performed very well. After travelling from Riyadh to Dubai he improved and he has so much potential, I always have a lot of confidence in him.”

Right: The trophy presentation for the UAE Derby. Winning owner Susumu Fujita said, “This is only my third season as an owner with the Japan Racing Association and I have already found a champion racehorse. He continues to attract international attention for the Kentucky Derby, which tells me that he should have a good chance. Looking forward I would like to underline that I would like to win the Dubai World Cup.”

The $1.5 million Azizi Developments Al Quoz Sprint (G1) is contested at 1200 meters (about 6 furlongs) on the turf straightaway. Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3) runner-up Star of Mystery was sent off as the 9-5 favorite in the field of 12 over 2-1 second choice California Spangle, winner of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (G1), and 6-1 third choice Danyah, third in the Al Fahidi Fort (G2).

Jockey Brenton Avdulla sent California Spangle to the lead down the center of the course while pressed by 27-1 Diligent Harry and stalked by 7-1 fourth choice Frost at Dawn. In the final furlong California Spangle held off late-running favorite Star of Mystery to win by 3/4 length in a new course record time of 1:07.50. It was another 3/4 length back to Diligent Harry third.

Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.

Left: California Spangle in the winner’s enclosure. Winning trainer Tony Cruz said, “I knew it would happen sooner or later. I got this opportunity and I came with a lot of confidence that we would win this race today. I think we’ll go into sprint races back in Hong Kong, that’s the end of April [the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize]. We’ll take on Lucky Sweynesse. He’s always been a sprinter-miler and I believe he’s more a sprinter than a miler. You have to go for those longer races in Hong Kong earlier in their career but I think we know where he is best now. (Royal Ascot is) a possibility. I’ve got to try to work it out.”

Right: The trophy presentation for the Al Quoz Sprint. Chester Liang representing the owner (executors of the estate of the late Howard Liang Yum Shing) said, “The horse means a lot to my family and I and I’m really happy that we were able to win. Tony said if he won last time in Hong Kong, then we’d come. He did, we decided the horse was in good form, so we came. This was my dad’s favourite horse, so he always means a lot. He is probably looking down on us.”

The $1 million Al Tayer Motors Dubai Gold Cup (G2) is the longest race on World Cup night, contested at 3200 meters (about 2 miles) on the turf. Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3) winner Tower of London was sent off as the 3-1 favorite in the field of 15 over 7-2 second choice Siskany, winner of the Nad al Sheba Trophy (G3), and 8-1 third choice Coltrane, unraced since 5th in the Champions Long Distance Cup (G2) in October. The originally drawn maximum field of 16 went to post but Eldar Eldarov reared in the gate after being loaded in, and struck his head so he was scratched by the stewards.

38-1 Libyan Glass battled for the lead with 9-1 Trawlerman while stalked by Siskany and 44-1 Al Nayyir. Turning for home Trawlerman gained the lead but favorite Tower of London, unhurried early under Ryan Moore, rallied by to win by 2 lengths over Al Nayyir in 3:17.29. It was another 1 1/2 length back to Trawlerman third.

Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.

Left: Tower of London in the winner’s enclosure. Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said, “You would have to be very impressed with that. He has become a very classy horse. He is very pacey. He quickens so well. Ryan said there wasn’t much pace on, but he was happy to wait with him like he did in Saudi last month. He settles well, then quickens. And he loves that fast ground on a flat track.”

Right: The trophy presentation for the Dubai Gold Cup. O’Brien added, “I am not sure what the plan will be for him. I don’t know if he would get the trip in an Ascot Gold Cup. He might, though. Ryan said he could drop back to 1 1/2 miles, too, so we have options with him. Races like the Coronation Cup or the Hardwicke Stakes we could think about. Ryan was very confident beforehand. We felt him and Auguste Rodin were our best chances of the day and it is great to start with a win.”

The $1 million Emaar Godolphin Mile (G2) featured a field of 13 older horses go 1600 meters (about 1 mile) around one turn of the main track. Saudi Cup (G1) third place finisher Saudi Crown was sent off as the 9-10 favorite over 11-4 second choice Isolate, 6th in the Saudi Cup after winning the Al Maktoum Mile (G2), and 19-2 third choice Swing Vote, 5th in the Burj Nahaar (G3).

Isolate was quickest away but was soon headed by Saudi Crown down the backstretch stalked by 15-1 Two Rivers Over and 11-1 Walk of Stars. Into the lane Saudi Crown tired as Isolate battled through the stretch with Walk of Stars, however Two Rivers Over collared them inside the 1/16 pole to win by 3/4 length in 1:37.49. It was a nose back from Walk of Stars to Isolate third, while Saudi Crown checked in 12th beaten 21 1/4 lengths.

Results Chart for the race from Emirates Racing Authority which includes a link to the video replay.

Left: Two Rivers Over heads to the winner’s enclosure. Winning jockey Edwin Maldonado said, “He is not a horse that takes the kickback well so I was hoping he would be close in the run and he was. When he came into the stretch I was confident I would get there because I had him in the clear, outside of kickback. He’s very genuine. He gave me everything.”

Right: The trophy presentation for the Godolphin Mile. Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill said, “I am extremely happy about how it’s worked out for us and it’s amazing that we have won the Godolphin Mile in the presence of HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum. I actually asked Edwin to stay closer to the pace but it did not work out that way. He knew he was in a little bit of trouble but the horse responded for him.” Owner Todd Cady added, “What an experience! We were happy to be a part of the occasion but we knew it would be hard to win with the likes of Saudi Crown and Isolate in the field. He was so tough and classy in the finish.”

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