Dubai Racing Club

There was a truly international flavour to Thursday’s seventh meeting of the 2014 Dubai World Cup Carnival with Europe dominating proceedings, highlighted by the victory of L’Amour De Ma Vie in the featured Group 2 Balanchine Stakes.

Trained by Mme Pia Brandt, she had finished second on her local debut, behind Certify in the Group 2 Cape Verdi Stakes three weeks ago but, with that rival disappointing, she opened her UAE account in style.

Dubai Racing Club

Listed Dubai Millennium Stakes Attracts Competitive Field for Inaugural Running

Godolphin’s unbeaten Certify, impressive winner of the Group 2 Cape Verdi Stakes three weeks ago over 1600m, bids to maintain her unblemished record when facing five rivals in Thursday’s fillies and mares race, the Group 2 Balanchine Stakes at Meydan Racecourse, over 1800m.

Dubai Racing Club

Long John Makes Short Work of UAE 2000 Guineas Field on Night Full of World Cup Clues

On a Dubai World Cup Carnival night that featured three Group 3 contests, Australian galloper Long John and dual South African Horse of the Year, Variety Club emerged as serious Dubai World Cup day contenders..

With just seven weeks until the world’s richest day of racing, trainers are beginning to lay down markers as to the likely port of call for their charges on Saturday March 29.

Dubai Racing Club

A trio of Group 3 races highlight Thursday's US $1.11m Al Tayer Motors-sponsored card at Meydan Racecourse, including the first Colt’s Classic of the season, the UAE 2000 Guineas, the Firebreak Stakes and the Al Shindagha Sprint.

The speedballs are out in force for the 1200m US$200,000 all-weather Al Shindagha Sprint, the fifth race of the night, which has attracted a maximum field of 14.

Dubai Racing Club

The nominations for the 2014 US$10m Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline represent a unique line-up of international stars that includes the current winners of the Breeder’s Cup Classic, the Breeder’s Cup Turf and Irish 2000 Guineas, the Japan Cup, the Epsom Derby, the Hong Kong Cup, the Durban July victor and a previous Melbourne Cup winner.

Breeder’s Cup Classic star Mucho Macho Man, Breeder’s Cup Turf winner, Magician, Japan Cup Dirt winner, Belshazzar, Epsom Derby hero, Ruler of the World, Hong Kong Cup victor, Akeed Mofeed, Heavy Metal the winner of the Durban July and former Melbourne Cup winner, Dunaden are among 341 nominations for the world’s richest race.

Dubai Racing Club

Today’s (Thursday) Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2, the second of three prep races for the US$10m Dubai World Cup features three Group 1 and three Group 2 winners among a quality field of 16.

Three-time Group 1 winner and 2011 Melbourne Cup star, Dunaden, Durban July victor, Heavy Metal, and Hunter’s Light, winner of the final two rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge in 2013 head up a classy field in the Group 2 contest held over 1900m of Meydan’s all-weather track.