In the weeks after Dubai World Cup day, the talk has been of Thunder Snow's remarkable victory in the Dubai World Cup Presented by Emirates Airline (G1) and Mendelssohn's jaw-dropping 18 1/2-length score in the UAE Derby.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien said Mendelssohn had questions to answer coming into the UAE Derby Sponsored By Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) March 31 at Meydan.
He has been the understudy in the stable and this is West Coast's chance to step into the spotlight in a starring role in the March 31 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).
Should things go well for them in Dubai, trainer Aidan O'Brien's 3-year-olds are poised for an all-out assault on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
When graded stakes winner Economic Model starts in the March 31 Godolphin Mile Sponsored By Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City—District One (G2), it will represent both a career first for trainer Chad Brown and a swan song of sorts.
Trainer Antonio Sano spent a sleepless night after his Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) contender Gunnevera became slightly lame March 28.
Lisa-Jane Graffard (Godolphin) talks about Talismanic's prospects for the 2018 Dubai World Cup. Courtesy Dubai Racing Club
The band certainly won't be playing "My Old Kentucky Home" when an international field of 3-year-olds takes the track March 31 at Meydan for the UAE Derby (G2), but connections of several starters also are thinking about a trip to Louisville.
West Coast is the clear favorite for the March 31 Dubai World Cup (G1), and he has the opportunity to claim the title of best dirt horse in the world if he can run to his odds.
In her final breeze at Fair Grounds in preparation for the March 31 $10 million Dubai World Cup, reigning champion older mare Forever Unbridled drilled five furlongs in :59 3/5 March 15.
North America, a 6-year-old son of Dubawi, was among the most impressive on Super Saturday at Meydan March 10, as the locally based horses sorted themselves out in preparation for the big night three weeks away.
Super Saturday at Meydan March 10 gives locally based horses a final shakedown for the big races on Dubai World Cup night three weeks later when many of the world's top horses will arrive.
Graded stakes winner Holding Gold will head overseas for a start in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1), while Pavel is set to start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).
The third time was the charm for Rayya, who rebounded from two straight losses to Winter Lightning (IRE) to land the UAE Oaks Sponsored by Al Nabooda Construction Group (G3) by an easy 3 3/4-lengths March 1 at Meydan.
Winter Lightning (IRE) and Rayya renew their rivalry March 1 at Meydan in the UAE Oaks Sponsored by Al Naboodah Construction Group (G3).
Trainer Mike de Kock's history of success in the $250,000 Zabeel Mile sponsored by District One Legacy (G2) continued Feb. 22 when sent Janoobi (SAF) out to victory in the 1,600-meter turf test at Meydan.
Some of South Africa's brightest recent exports are prominent on the two featured races Feb. 22 at Meydan as the Dubai World Cup Carnival rolls along.
Godolphin unleashed another budding star in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G3) Feb. 15 at Meydan, as Gold Town kicked away from the field in the stretch to win by 10 1/2 lengths.
Group 1 winner Thunder Snow (IRE) and his half sister Winter Lightning (IRE) produced a double victory for the Godolphin "home team" Feb. 8 at Meydan Racecourse.
The Al Maktoum Challenge Round II (G2), featuring Thunder Snow (IRE), Heavy Metal (GB), and Second Summer, is the marquee race as the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival hits the midway point Feb. 8 at Meydan Racecourse.
Winter Lightning, a half sister to multiple group 1 winner Thunder Snow, highlighted the second night of the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival Jan. 18, when she edged out Rayya in a pulsating finish to the UAE One Thousand Guineas Trial at Meydan.
Local legend Reynaldothewizard takes center stage in the Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting at Meydan Racecourse Jan. 18. He faces six rivals in an attempt to win the upgraded Dubawi Stakes Sponsored by Borealis (G3) for a fifth time.
Veteran Heavy Metal started his 8-year-old season the way he ended his 7-year-old campaign: He scored a stakes victory on the dirt at Meydan.
Two-time group 1 winner Thunder Snow is scheduled to make his 4-year-old debut Jan. 11 in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 presented by Longines Longines Gents Master Collection (G2) at Meydan Racecourse.
Juddmonte Farms' Arrogate broke last, but rallied easily to win the $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Thunder Snow, only days after being made a late nominee to the U.S. Triple Crown series, justified the investment with a hard-fought victory March 25 in the UAE Derby Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) at Meydan Racecourse.
For some reason, or combination of reasons, I never seem to do much good on Dubai World Cup Day, so even though they're running nine stakes worth a total of $30 million in the desert Saturday, I am again finding it difficult to come up with a plan.
For all the words Baffert has said to all those who inquire about what makes Juddmonte Farms' champion Arrogate the most fearsome horse in training, it is the trainer's presence in Dubai this week makes the most emphatic statement.
Horses preparing for the 2017 Dubai World Cup Day, including Mind Your Biscuits (#2 Gold), Gun Runner (#2 White), Qatar Man (IRE) (#10 Pink), Vettori Kin (BRZ) (#3 Pink), Hoppertunity (#5 White), and Neolithic (#12 White). Courtesy Dubai Racing Club
Horses preparing for the 2017 Dubai World Cup Day, including Awardee (#3 White), Lani (#14 White), Ribchester (IRE) (#1 Yellow), and Master Plan (#11 Pink). Courtesy of Dubai Racing Club
Horses preparing for the 2017 Dubai World Cup Day, including Arrogate (#1 White) and Apollo Kentucky (#4 White) Courtesy Dubai Racing Club
Chad Summers is hoping his first career win as a trainer comes against some of the world's best with $2 million in prize money on the line.
A pair of $6 million group I turf races play counterpoint to the group 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline's main refrain on the March 25 World Cup card at Meydan.
No one questions whether Gun Runner will show up in the Dubai World Cup. What he'll answer at Meydan Racecourse is whether his best is good enough to challenge the favorite Arrogate, who is so far without peer.
Judging his recent race form, trainer Jorge Navarro is declaring the current version of Sharp Azteca to be the best he has seen, a claim the dark bay runner will aim to back in the Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Meydan Sobha (G2) at Meydan Race Course.
Mind Your Biscuits, Stallwalkin' Dude and St. Joe Bay will carry the U.S. banner in the 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) dirt sprint, which pays $1.2 million to the winner.
The UAE Derby features a Japanese runner already qualified for a spot in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) in the form of Epicharis. Another, Adirato, could earn a spot with a victory March 25 at Meydan.
Starlight Racing has reached an agreement to sell a half interest in Dubai World Cup contender Neolithic to Qatar Racing, it was announced March 21.
For the last couple of years, French trainer Alain de Royer Dupre has left Meydan with at least one valuable prize in his pocket.
Footage of morning training at Meydan on March 20, 2017 in the days leading up to the Dubai World Cup. Courtesy of the Dubai Racing Club. Neolithic (#12 White), Hopportunity Bob Baffert (#5 White), and Keen Ice Todd Pletcher (#8 White)
Interview with Bob Baffert on March 20 at Meydan in the days leading up to the Dubai World Cup. Courtesy of the Dubai Racing Club
Neolithic, third last time out in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), will take another crack at Juddmonte Farms' champion Arrogate in the $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) March 25.
Locals and early arrivals audition the evening of March 4 at Meydan for the $10 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).
The group 3 U.A.E. Oaks Sponsored by Al Naboodah-Ashok Leyland and the Nad Al Sheba Trophy Sponsored by Al Naboodah VDL Buses highlighted racing at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates Feb. 23.
The two grade 3 stakes on Meydan's Feb. 11 card moved their runners one step closer to the big prizes offered during the March 25 Dubai World Cup Festival.
Color the Meydan winner's circle blue, Godolphin blue precisely, as Sheikh Mohammed's racing pipeline provided a steady supply of horses to win five of the six Thoroughbred races on the Jan. 26 card.
Reynaldothewizard might be an 11-year-old (by some calculations that's 37.5 human years), but he doesn't know it and his races sure don't show it.
This year's Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) runner-up will target next year's $6 million Dubai Turf (UAE-I), according to assistant trainer Norman Casse.
The Dubai World Cup Carnival, which starts Jan. 5 and features 10 meetings prior to Dubai World Cup day March 25, will see purses increased for the 2017 season as well as some changes to several races.
Since 2011, Laura Donnell has been photographing for Taylor Made Farm. Since then, many champions have crossed through her lens, but none have been quite as magnificent as California Chrome. Here's a look back at Chrome's past year with Taylor Made.
