The World’s Richest Horse Race. That is what the Dubai World Cup is branded as. Why is that you may ask? Well it is because there is a $10 million purse on it. Yes, that’s ten million US dollars. The race itself is a 2,000 battle which his annually held on the last Saturday in March. It is part of a huge night of racing, part of the now famous Dubai World Cup Night.
It’s the equivalent of a Group 1 flat race for those heading over to compete from the northern hemisphere and only four year old thoroughbreds get into the race. Southern Hemisphere entrants are three year old thoroughbreds or older. This one goes over a dirt track which of course, will keep the American horses a lot happier.
This year’s event then is on Saturday, March 26th and of the nine races that go off on the special day of racing, the Dubai World Cup is the one that everyone wants to win because of the purse that is on it. This is pretty much the cream of the cream of thoroughbreds taking on each other here not only because of the money but because of the prestige.
It’s a long way for a lot of the competitors to travel, having to make their way to the United Arab Emirates, but it is of course, well worth it if you can land the winner. Heading up this year’s Dubai World Cup racing betting is California Chrome at a price of 6/4 and the popular American radio is looking a much quicker here than he was twelve months ago. He was supposed to visit Ascot last year in the Prince of Wales’ Stakes by had to pull out after an injury in training. But he’s been back out this year and looking stronger than ever in his preparations for another assault at the Dubai World Cup.
California Chrome finished second at last year’s Dubai World Cup being beaten out by Prince Bishop. The main challenger to California Chrome this year around is Frosted, who won last year’s Wood Memorial and the Pennsylvania Derby. Both California Chrome and Frosted have been conditioned in Dubai for some time now, so there shouldn’t be any issues over fatigue here.
Frosted put in a record time at the Meydan track where the Dubai World Cup is held, winning there in February. He has just turned four years old and while he has last four times to the phenomenal American Pharoah, he could be hitting the right age right now to challenge for the Dubai World Cup. It’s a tough run against the 2014 Preakness and Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, but these two appear to the only ones in the hunt for the title.
The best outsider running behind the big two is likely to be Mshawish who has gone well since switching over to the dirt tracks. He has been bombing along in some pretty hot form including a win over Keen Ice, who is the only horse to have beaten American Pharoah last year. That has to count for something and he is a great 10/1 each way shot in the Dubai World Cup betting market.
Dubai World Cup Horse Racing 2016 Betting Odds
California Chrome 6/4, Frosted 9/4, Mshawish 10/1, Special Fighter 12/1, Hoppertunity 14/1, Mib Tahij 16/1, Keen Ice 16/1, Vadamos 20/1, Hokko Tarumae 20/1, Gun Pit 33/1, Teletext 33/1, Candy Boy 50/1.
Dubai World Cup Horse Racing 2016 Free Bet
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Dubai World Cup Horse Racing 2016 Conditions
This is a synthetic dirt surface that the horses go off on. It used to be an artificial turf track, but complaints were coming in from the American runners (who are more used to the dirt) and it was costing a lot to maintain it. So in 2015 the track was changed from the Tapeta all-weather track to the dirt at the Meydan Racecourse.
Meydan Racecourse was only opened in 2010 and it holds around 60,000 spectators and it boasts a mile-long grandstand as well. This is luxury of luxury with the trackside hotel, corporate suites, a museum and a golf course all at the development. The racetrack itself replaced the former Nad Al Sheba Racecourse which was on the same site. This is one of the leitre Thoroughbred Flat Races in the world.
Dubai World Cup Horse Racing History and Stats
The inaugural Dubai World Cup was ran in 1996 with the legendary Cigar taking the win for the USA through trainer William Mott. If you ever find yourself at Belmont Park, there’s a plaque of Cigar on the barn there, honouring him. The jockey on Cigar that day was Jerry Bailey who remains the most successful jockey at the Dubai World Cup with four wins (1996, 1997, 2001, 2002).
This is the 21st edition of the race this year and holding the record for the most wins by a trainer at the Dubai World Cup is Saeed bin Suroor who has won it for the last two years running with African Story and then Prince Bishop last year. The famous Godolphin stable has pretty much dominated the race with six wins as an owner at the event, although they have only struck twice in the last nine editions, the most recent being 2014 winner African Story.
African Story holds the speed record since the switch to Meydan Racecourse for his 2:01.61 run in 2014. Interestingly, Prince Bishop became the oldest winner of the race last year, coming it at 8 years old at the time of the run. Eight of the twenty previous winners have been four years old, the most popular age for winners. However, there have been just two four year old winners in the last twelve editions, five of the last six winners having been five or older.
