Ushba Tesoro, Liberty Island among top names nominated for Dubai World Cup

The 2023 winner Ushba Tesoro is among a glittering collection of top equine names nominated for the 28th Dubai World Cup meeting scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 30.

In total, 868 horses from 19 countries have been nominated across the nine races, which are set to take place at Dubai’s iconic Meydan Racecourse.

200 of the entries have come from Japan and they include Derma Sotogake, winner of the 2023 G2 UAE Derby, who has been nominated for the $12million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline.

In that race he could have a re-match with his Breeders’ Cup Classic conqueror White Abarrio, who is one of 150 nominations from the USA, along with Preakness and Pegasus World Cup winner National Treasure.

Already in the field is Dubai-based Kabirkhan, winner of the $1million G1 Maktoum Challenge which was a Dubai World Cup Bonus Series race, allowing automatic entry.

The Kazakhstan-owned colt had 30 supporters from his home country on course to witness his four and three-quarter length demolition job which gave Champion Trainer Doug Watson a first Thoroughbred Group 1.

The Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, worth $6million, was one of the top five races in the world in 2023, and the 2024 renewal could be even stronger. Among the standout nominations is top Japanese filly Liberty Island, while Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Auguste Rodin could represent trainer Aidan O’Brien. Shahryar, winner of the race in 2022 and fifth in 2023, has also been nominated, as has top British-trained filly Emily UpJohn.

The $5million Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World is always a truly international affair and there would be few more popular winners than Lord North, aiming to win it for an unprecedented fourth time. Up against him could be Arima Kinen winner Do Deuce, while Voyage Bubble brings top Hong Kong form into the mix. Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby is yet to win this race but that could change with Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Master Of The Seas among those nominated.

There are plenty of defending champions elsewhere on the card, with Sibelius entered for a defence of the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Nakheel. He could be up against 2023 runner-up and 2022 winner Switzerland. 2023 G1 Al Quoz Sprint, sponsored by Azizi Developments, winner Danyah could also be back to defend his crown and could face last year’s runner up, The Astrologist, as well as fellow Australian Star Patrol.

Meanwhile, Meydan debutants New London and Warren Point hope to maintain Godolphin’s domination of the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes, highlight of this week’s Dubai Racing Carnival meeting on Friday.

The royal blue silks have been carried to victory in nine of the 10 editions of the mile and a quarter turf contest, including the last six renewals, most notably by multiple G1 winners Ghaiyyath and Ottoman Fleet.

Runner-up in the 2022 G1 St Leger, New London kicks off his five-year-old season following a quiet 2023 that consisted of just three runs.

After coming home third behind Kemari in a Newmarket Listed race, New London finished fifth in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin before going down by a head in another Listed race at Newmarket in late September.

Warren Point also makes his seasonal return for Charlie Appleby following a globe-trotting year that started with Listed success in Bahrain and a half-length second in a local G1 in Qatar.

The son of Dubawi made two G1 appearances at Belmont Park, including taking a close fifth in the G1 Man o’War Stakes, but failed to give his running on heavy ground in a Listed race at Newmarket in November.

Appleby said: “We are hoping the dropping back to a mile and a quarter is going to suit New London. His preparation has gone well and he looks great. This race has always been the plan for him and, if you take the best of his three-year-old form, he looks a serious contender.