James McDonald and Romantic Warrior headline busy work morning at Meydan on Tuesday
$12,000,000 Group 1 Dubai World Cup (Sponsored by Emirates Airline) Florida-based conditioner Antonio Sano is set to saddle a horse in the $12 million Dubai World Cup for the third time in the form of the hard-knocking Il Miracolo. A son of top US sire Gun Runner – second behind the remarkable Arrogate in the 2017 World Cup – Il Miracolo is a Grade 3 winner at ages three and four and was last seen finishing down the field behind the re-opposing Mixto in the G1 Pacific Classic (2000m) at Del Mar last September. Sano believes his charge is ready to fire a big shot. “He has settled in very well and I am very happy with him,” said Sano, one of the all-time winningest trainers in Venezuela. “After his last race, we gave him three months on the farm and he’s a different horse.” Owner Eduardo Soto said it was “an honour” to be invited to compete in the World Cup, but that Il Miracolo isn’t here just for the scenery. “I think he’s going to run well,” he said. “And I believe that the stars have aligned for us. We will see on Saturday.” Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who rode the recently deceased Roses In May to win the World Cup at old Nad Al Sheba some two decades ago, is at the controls on Saturday. Sano was also the trainer of Gunnevera, who finished eighth to Thunder Snow in the 2018 renewal before improving to third to the same rival, beaten just two and a half lengths, 12 months later. Ryusei Sakai was a man in demand during the first hour of trackwork and among his big-race mounts for Saturday, none carries more weight of expectation than Forever Young. After working for five furlongs upsides with Dubai Golden Shaheen runner American Stage, Sakai said of Forever Young: “He breezed in a good rhythm. He reacted well on the bridle.”
$6,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic (Sponsored by Longines)
Sakai was also in the plate on recent G3 Neom Turf (2100m) winner Shin Emperor for a five-furlong spin on the main dirt track, and observed: “He moved and reacted well.”
Arguably a more consequential piece of work was that of G1 Tokyo Yushun winner Danon Decile, who managed to stay just ahead of Al Quoz Sprint challenger Puro Magic in a breeze around the turn and up the home straight on the turf track under jockey Keita Tosaki.
“He was in very good form,” said Tosaki. “He stretched his legs well when I asked him on the home straight.
“The turf track suits him and we have responsibility here as a Japanese Derby winner.”
$5,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Turf (Sponsored by DP World)
In a usual year, James McDonald would have been at Rosehill Racecourse in Australia on Tuesday, riding in a rescheduled Group 1 meeting down under.
Instead, while that meeting was taking place thousands of miles away, McDonald was at Meydan guiding his old partner Romantic Warrior through his final turf gallop ahead of Saturday’s Dubai Turf. It was his first time aboard Romantic Warrior since the pair went down in a finish for the ages in the Saudi Cup.
“He’s excellent, he hasn’t missed a beat,” McDonald said. “The guys who live and breathe him every day, they’re very happy with him. He’s taken everything in his stride.
“He seems a lot more relaxed here in Dubai than he was in Saudi Arabia. Obviously, he’s probably in Riyadh for a lot shorter time than he is here, so he’s had time to just be here. He’s relaxed. Even in his work, he’s a lot more relaxed.”
To the eye, the turf gallop appeared a leisurely stroll; the Hong Kong champion having a cruise around the Meydan track that has been his home for much of the last four months. However, there were signs that it was a more vigorous assignment than it first appeared.
Romantic Warrior’s final 400m was clocked in 23.34 seconds, with his last 200m in a brisk 11.67 seconds. He left his regular lead horse Romantic Charm well and truly in his dust, the companion trailing more than 100 metres behind at the end of the work.
McDonald arrived in Dubai on Monday and will make his Dubai World Cup meeting debut on Saturday.
“He usually works well, he does what he has to do and he just enjoys it,” he said. “Hence why he’s such a good horse. He loves his work, thrives on a bit of pressure and he’s all guns blazing.
“I’m just lucky to be a small part of his journey and it’s definitely worthwhile being here to partner him, even if it means missing a big day or two back home.”
The ‘World’s Best Jockey’ will ride his other Hong Kong mounts, Al Quoz contender Howdeepisyourlove and Godolphin Mile runner Sword Point, in gallops on Wednesday morning.
Two of Japan’s leading challengers for the race got a feel for the Meydan turf, with Mile championship winner Soul Rush breezing over five furlongs.
“I asked [him] in the final furlong and he reacted sharply” said Yuki Iwasaki, stable representative for Yasutoshi Ikee.
Five furlongs on the grass was also the task for Liberty Island, who will be attempting to upgrade to victory in the Dubai Turf after finishing third in the Sheema Classic 12 months ago.
“She was little bit heavy when she arrived Dubai,” said Yuya Katayama, representing trainer Mitsumasa Nakauhida. “I asked her [to quicken] and she reacted well. She concentrated and handled the ground well”
Form against the finest horses in Europe last season gives trainer Clive Cox confidence that Ghostwriter can make his presence felt in the Dubai Turf.
The Jeff Smith-owned, a Group 2 winner as a juvenile, was fourth in last year’s 2,000 Guineas behind Notable Speech, third to the brilliant City Of Troy in both the Eclipse Stakes and the Juddmonte International and fifth behind Economics in the Irish Champion Stakes, not beaten far on any occasion.
“I think he’s strengthened more again from three to four. His form last year was hugely consistent throughout,” Cox said. “We’ve had a nice prep home back in England and I’m very happy with his whole outlook and that hopefully he can replicate what he showed last year, and if he’s a bit stronger, a little bit more.
“He ran in what was recorded as the best race in the world last year [the International at York]. It’s a hugely competitive field and we’re very respectful of the opposition from all over the world but it’s exciting to be able to come and take part with a horse of this calibre.”
Ghostwriter had a gentle canter of the dirt track on Tuesday, keeping close to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Continuous.
“It was his first day out of quarantine and out of the main yard here but I’m thrilled with the way he travelled over and has taken it all in,” Cox said.
“He’s pretty much there, it’s just a case of keeping the wheels turning and familiarising himself with the new surroundings after a long journey over here. It’s nice to have a bit of warm sunshine on his back and I couldn’t be happier.”
Already a favourite among the photographers, Facteur Cheval was once again on good terms with himself as he made an easy tour of the main track, while his trainer Jerome Reynier was equally entertaining in front of the international media during the first official press conference of the week.
Asked whether the one-turn 1800 metres at Meydan provided the ideal setup for last year’s Dubai Turf winner, Reynier said: “ You can’t say anything other than that because he won his only Group 1 over this trip, so yes I would say that is the key!
“He doesn’t mind anything, he can go on heavy or soft ground, he won his only Group 1 on firm and over this trip.”
While lauding Facteur Cheval’s adaptability, Reynier did zero in on one aspect of the test he faces on Saturday which he believes will play particularly to the six-year-old Ribchester gelding’s strengths.
“He accelerates with the right leg so when he changes legs coming out of the turn he can really show a strong turn of foot on the right leg,” said Reynier.
“So I prefer him going over a lefthanded course over a righthanded course, but he’s done everything.
“He needs to produce the same performance as last year to be competitive this year but I’ve got no doubt he will answer once again.”
$2,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Sponsored by Nakheel)
While Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Straight No Chaser brings a fresh element to the G1 Golden Shaheen (1200m), the first, third and fourth from the 2024 edition are all back for another crack.
The Koichi Shintani-trained Remake was sent off as joint-favourite for the race 12 months ago but was slowly away and then got plenty of buffeting from tiring rivals as he made up ground into a never-nearer fourth.
Frankie Dettori will wear the red and blues silks of owner Koji Maeda – carried to victory at Meydan by Remake’s sire Lani in the 2016 UAE Derby – and the veteran Italian-born rider will have been heartened by film of the six-year-old going through the gears on the main track.
Masafumi Matsuda, a Shintani stable representative said: “He was very strong and hard to hold in a good way. He is ready for the race”
Compatriot American Stage will represent the ever-present Yoshito Yahagi and breezed five furlongs in company with the stable’s World Cup challenger, Forever Young.
“He moved well and has improved from his last appearance” said Yukihiko Araki, stable representative.
$1,500,000 Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (Sponsored by Azizi Developments)
George Scott’s British challenger West Acre has been one of the stories of the UAE season with his stellar victories in the Group 2 Blue Point Sprint and the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint.
Daniel Tudhope deputised for his weekend rider Callum Shepherd, who is on duty in the United Kingdom for the next couple of days, in partnering West Acre in a piece of work on the Meydan training track at 8am on Tuesday.
The pair breezed steadily over 1200m on the turf to the satisfaction of connections.
$1,000,000 Group 2 UAE Derby (Sponsored by Atlantis The Royal)
Heart Of Honor is now a familiar name at Meydan having raced on the track four times already, and the gallant runner-up in the UAE 2000 Guineas and the Al Bastakiya is a leading contender this weekend.
His trainer Jamie Osborne was back in Dubai to see the colt continue his build-up with routine exercise on the dirt course.
“Very happy with him,” Osborne said. “He just had a light canter, his work’s done and he’s not going to do a lot between now and Saturday. He did a good bit of work last Friday and we’re just going to taper down a bit.”
$1,000,000 Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup (Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors)
The David O’Meara-trained Epic Poet will be out to return to winning ways in Meydan and avenge a galling defeat in last month’s Red Sea Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia.
Jockey Daniel Tudhope had no luck in running in Riyadh, waiting for the gaps and closing into second behind Byzantine Dream when they finally came.
The rider, who has clocked up 26 winners during his stint in the UAE this season, was on board at 7am to take Epic Poet around the dirt course. They stretched out over 1600m, breezing the final 1000m.
“He can be quite lazy so that should be perfect, he’s pretty much done now,” Tudhope said.
The jockey has ridden the progressive gelding on three outings during 2025, with a win in a conditions race at Meydan in early January before another run in the same month when a very close third in the Group 3 Al Khail Trophy.
“It was a cracking run [in Saudi Arabia],” Tudhope said. “He was a bit unlucky and maybe he would have won in different circumstances, but he hasn’t put a foot wrong all year and goes there with every chance.
“He’s been out here all season, which is an advantage fitness-wise. We had always thought he was a mile and half [2400m], mile and six [2800m] horse but he definitely stays. We’ll just hope for a bit of luck.”
$1,000,000 Group 2 Godolphin Mile (Sponsored by EMAAR)
Musabbeh Al Mheiri has enjoyed a superb season and is hoping to cap it off with a positive performance from two major runners on Dubai World Cup night.
The trainer is just one behind Michael Costa in the race for the Emirates Racing Authority trainers’ championship on 37 wins and has the chance to add to his tally on Saturday.
He said: “I have had a good season and I am second in the trainers’ championship. I think I could easily still have a chance of winning. I’m going to try my best.”
The trainer is hoping Qareeb, who completed a lap around Meydan’s dirt course on Tuesday, can build on a promising season in the Godolphin Mile.
The powerful chestnut was second in the Al Maktoum Mile in December before finishing an excellent fourth behind Dubai World Cup hopes Walk Of Stars and Imperial Emperor in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge in January.
A win in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile (1600m) the following month marked a new career best, while he is expected to appreciate the step back to a mile after running over the 2000m of the Al Maktoum Classic at the beginning of March.
“Qareeb has improved, he’s a very good horse,” Mheiri said. “He is a very good local horse, but now he will run against the international horses who have come for this race. It will be a stronger race.
“His recent performances on track have been very good. Every time he’s run he’s improved. His last gallop was very good.
“He did his last serious piece of work on Saturday and we will give him one half-pace piece of work before the race.”
$1,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic (Sponsored by One Za’abeel)
Also in with a chance of enhancing Mheiri’s championship claims is Djafar, who will take on new conditions in the Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians.
“Djafar is a grass horse but he’s going to run on the dirt,” Mheiri said. “There will be very strong challengers against him. He’s in good form, the only problem will be the surface.”
