The World Cup program went forward without interruption Saturday evening just four weeks after US and Israel attacks on Iran and subsequent fight backs from the country located to the north, located across the much-discussed Strait of Hormuz. Significant rainfall and wild electrical storms through the week cast further doubt on the meeting, but - with none other than Dubai's ruler on hand to watch his talented Ombudsman (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) dominate the G1 Dubai Turf - it all came off without a reported hitch.
“Marking its 30th year, this year's Dubai World Cup is a new achievement for Emirati sport and yet another testament to our ability to organize world-class events,” Sheikh Mohammed was quoted in a tweet from the Dubai Media Office. “Horses symbolize speed, strength and unbreakable determination, qualities reflected in the UAE and its people.”
It’s Magnitude’s G1 Dubai World Cup
By Alan Carasso, TDN
When Dubai welcomed the world to old Nad Al Sheba Racecourse for the first time in 1996, 'America's Horse' Cigar repelled what seemed an inevitable challenge from compatriot Soul Of The Matter to help cement His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Makoum's goal of creating a worldwide Thoroughbred spectacle in the Emirates.
The eyes of the racing public were on sprawling Meydan Racecourse Saturday for the 30th renewal of the G1 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates - at US$12 million (AU$17.4 million) now worth three times the original pot - and Japan's Horse of the Year and American Eclipse Award winner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who looked to complete an unprecedented sequence of the world's three richest dirt races.
Ultimately it was not meant to be, as Winchell Thoroughbreds' Magnitude (Not This Time) took control right out of the stalls and Forever Young - in the role of Soul Of The Matter - just plain ran out of real estate. The victory earns Magnitude a fees-paid berth into the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland this fall.
Though Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen won the 2008 World Cup with Curlin (Smart Strike), Saturday's victory would have been that much sweeter given what transpired on these grounds nine years ago.
Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) turned into the stretch with what appeared to be a winning margin, but Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), who was left at the break and looked hopelessly beaten, conjured up a rally for the ages beneath Mike Smith to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
To this year's victors go the spoils.
“What an incredible win,” Asmussen, who did not make the trip over, said when reached by phone Saturday. “We just wanted to let him to run his race from point A to point B. The horse is running with a lot of confidence and that gave us confidence. It unfolded just how we wanted it to.
“It's so fitting that this team has won the Dubai World Cup,” the conditioner continued. “Ron Winchell, (racing manager) David Fiske, (assistant trainer) Scott Blasi. Our exercise rider Carlos (Rosas) also rode Curlin, so it's a great win for the whole team.”
Pedigree: Magnitude is the 12th Grade 1/Group 1 winner by Not This Time, each of which is from a mare by a unique broodmare sire. Daughters of the late Bernardini are now responsible for 22 elite-level scorers. Magnitude is just the second of those by a Storm Cat-line stallion, the other being Sovereignty.
Breeder Ron Stolich acquired dam Rockadelic (Bernardini) for US$140,000 (AU$203,000) carrying the colt that would become Magnitude at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale, then sold the foal for US$310,000 (AU$450,000) and Rockdelic to Freddie Bloodstock for US$110,000 (AU$160,000) carrying to McKinzie at Keeneland November in 2022. Winchell Thoroughbreds gave US$450,000 (AU$654,000) for Magnitude at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale.
Rockadelic is a daughter of Octave (Unbridled’s Song), winner of the 2007 G1 CCA Oaks and purchased by John Ferguson on behalf of Godolphin for US$4 million (AU$5.8 million) at Fasig-Tipton November later that fall after she finished second in the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Five in succession for Calandagan
By Adam Houghton, TDN Europe
Back in competitive action for the first time since being crowned Longines World's Best Racehorses for 2025, Calandagan (Gleaneagles) signalled that he won't be giving up his crown without a fight when reeling in longshot West Wind Blows (Teofilo) to avenge last year's defeat in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Saturday.
Runner-up to Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) 12 months ago, Calandagan was a warm order to go one place better in this six-strong field and register a fifth consecutive Group 1 success for Francis-Henri Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs.
Calandagan simply would not be denied as Mickael Barzalona conjured a sustained run from the fan favourite, who ultimately won a shade cosily by three-quarters-of-a-length from West Wind Blows, clocking a final time of 2:27.88. Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman) was 3.5 lengths further back in third for Marco Botti.
“I'm relieved,” Graffard said of his overriding emotion in the aftermath. “The winter was long, he's a world champion now and has a big reputation, so we just needed to start and get the season going. It was a big race today and it's always hard to have a horse completely ready for a race like that. I said to Mickael that he might need the race. It was tactical and painful to watch, but he's a champion.
“Mickael and him get on well now but, during the race, he was a little on and off the bridle. On the last bend he was asking him to go. I think he needed the run and to get going, but it is now five Group 1s in a row and he's a real champion, so I'm glad that Princess Zahra decided to start the season here.”
Calandagan hasn't looked back since following last year's Sheema Classic defeat with another runner-up finish in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom. From there he rattled off four consecutive top-level victories in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Champion Stakes and Japan Cup. Earlier on the card, the strength of his form was advertised by Champion Stakes runner-up Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder), a smooth winner of the G1 Dubai Turf.
The Sheema Classic is a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Turf, which takes place this year at Keeneland on October 31. Graffard confirmed that the Breeders' Cup Turf would be among a number of international targets considered as his stable star is tasked with trying to maintain his remarkable winning streak in 2026.
“He's important for the sport and a flagship horse, so we won't be afraid to travel,” Graffard added. “The Breeders' Cup could be an option, and I don't see why not, but it might depend if we go back for the Japan Cup again. They are very hard races to win and American tracks are quite tight, so it might not really suit his abilities.
Francis Henri-Graffard | Image courtesy of Graffard Racing
“The Cox Plate could be a possible, especially this year at Flemington, which is a big galloping track. But we don't want to be too greedy and we need to think about it and respect the horse. I said to Princess Zahra, 'I hope your passport is okay!' Because we are going to travel.”
Pedigree: Calandagan is one of four winners from as many runners out of the G3 Prix Minerve second Calayana (Sinndar), with the others including the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit third Calamandra (New Bay), along with the 3-year-old filly Calasita (Zarak), the winner of a maiden at Saint-Cloud earlier in the week. He is from the family of Danehill's Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Clodovil and the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational runner-up Canndal (Medicean).
Ombudsman too good in G1 Dubai Turf
By Adam Houghton, TDN Europe
A model of consistency in Europe's premier middle-distance races throughout 2025, Godolphin's Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) teed himself up perfectly for another productive campaign when making light of a five-month absence to run out a smooth winner of Saturday's G1 Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World at Meydan.
Bettered only by Calandagan when last seen filling the runner-up spot in a vintage edition of the G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot back in October, Ombudsman faced nothing of that calibre in this 1800-metre contest and duly proved himself a notch above his 10 rivals.
“I was delighted with him in every way and he's a big and strong horse – he's five now and fully matured,” said John Gosden. “I liked that he was fresh but didn't pull – William said that he listened and settled. They did the usual thing of going quick then pulling it up on the bend. William crept close and I think where he was correct was by staying wide and giving away ground, because when they straightened up he had a clear run.”
The Dubai Turf is a “Win and You're In” for the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in the autumn, with Gosden reporting that a return to Royal Ascot for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes will be next on the agenda for the winner.
“He was probably 90% today, and I think it is one where the race will bring him on, but there is a bit of a gap now before Royal Ascot because they don't put a lot of these races on. He's come here off a long winter, but we've been very happy with his training,” said Gosden.
“I think you are looking at the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, Eclipse, Juddmonte International – those are the obvious big summer races. William was hinting that, if you did want to go further at the end of the year, over a mile and a half, you could. I did talk about a Japan Cup last year but, if you remember, a certain horse called Calandagan was going for it, that old gelding, and I thought we might stay away from him.
“I'm sure he will go to stud at the end of the year, so let's be bold with him. Sheikh Mohammed is keen to take things on.”
John Gosden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Pedigree: Bred by James Hanly of Ballyhimikin Stud, Ombudsman was purchased by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 340,000gns (AU$689,000) at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. He is the second foal out of the winning Dansili mare Syndicate, a 25,000gns (AU$50,700) Juddmonte cast-off at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Syndicate herself is a full sister to the G3 Premio Carlo Vittadini hero Runnymede, as well as the dual Listed scorer and G2 Celebration Mile runner-up Stipulate.
Ombudsman's fourth dam is All At Sea (Riverman), who won the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and also finished second in both the Oaks and Juddmonte International.
G1 Al Quoz Sprint won by Too Darn Hot's Native Approach
By Heather Anderson, TDN Europe
Campaigned exclusively on straight courses for his entire career, Native Approach (Too Darn Hot) ran out a game winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by AZIZI Developments. He held a determined Lugal (Duramente) to a neck at the line with Lazzat (Territories) another 1.25 lengths back in third for the 1200-metre grass affair.
Hamdan Al Mansoori, racing manager for owner Hamdan Harmash, said, “This is the best day! Ahmad is very good at picking out the right races for his horses. After he arrived he was running over longer but he always showed a lot of speed so then he dropped him back to six furlongs.
“Ahmad loves to sit with the jockeys and the owners and make a plan after the race. He came from Godolphin and is an experienced traveller, but we will see (about future targets).”
A Listed winner locally back in December of 2024, Native Approach failed to win in eight subsequent starts, and transferred from Godolphin and Charlie Appleby to Ahmad bin Harmash and Hamdan Harmash during that stretch.
Pedigree: Native Approach is the sixth Group 1 winner worldwide for Darley Europe stallion Too Darn Hot. The stallion is credited with 33 stakes winners (19 Group winners). He is one of four stakes winners out of a Shamardal mare for his sire alongside G2 Edward Manifold Stakes heroine Too Darn Discreet, and German Group 3 heroine Caroline Reaper among others.
The gelding is a half-brother to G3 Burj Nahaar hero Discovery Island (Dubawi), with the duo out of the Listed winner Sperry (Shamardal).
Sperry, in turn, is a half-sister to stakes winner Dunelight (Desert Sun) and to the multiple stakes-placed Interception (Raven's Pass). Third dam Miss Gris (Hail The Pirates) claimed the Italian 1000 Guineas and Italian Oaks when both of those races held Group 1 status.
Group 1 double for Beasley and Bin Harmash
By Alan Carasso, TDN
Dramatically off form for the bulk of the 2025-2026 Dubai Racing Carnival, Sultan Ali's Dark Saffron (Flameaway) was put right into play from a wide draw in defence of his title in Saturday's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen and outsprinted reigning G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Bentornato (Valiant Minister) to give jockey Connor Beasley and trainer Ahmad Bin Harmash a rolling Group 1 double. The pair teamed to win the Al Quoz Sprint with Native Approach about 35 minutes earlier.
Dark Saffron joins the likes of Caller One and Mind Your Biscuits as back-to-back winners of the Golden Shaheen, which serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for this year's Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland.
“Obviously he won this race last year and he come back and run really well, it was a bit of a workout first time he ran this season,” Beasley said. “Then he had a bit of an incident in the stalls and banged his head and sort of lost his way. I think he lost a bit of confidence for his next three or four runs, but his last run we felt he was coming back to himself.”
Pedigree: Dark Saffron is one of 15 worldwide stakes winners, sixth at the Graded/Group level and his only Northern Hemisphere top-level scorer. He is also the sire of two Group 1 winners in Chile, where his influential late sire Scat Daddy left an enormous legacy behind.
He is one of six winners from seven to the races for his dual stakes-winning and Grade 2-placed dam, Meadow Saffron (Military).
