2026 Dubai World Cup Trends

It's now over 20 years ago since horse-loving and mega-rich HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had the dream to build a new and exciting race tracks in the heart of Dubai and attract the world’s best thoroughbreds to race for the Dubai World Cup.

Millions of dollars of prize money provided the carrot for trainers around the globe and with the prize now upped to a whopping $10million, from $6 million, for the main race this year’s event is set to be the best yet. 2010 saw the start of a new era with the entire carnival being run for the first time at the newly built Meydan Racecourse, having previously been staged at Nad Al Sheba.

The new futuristic track has cost an estimated $2billion to build and will easily accommodate a bumper 60,000 crowd. 10,000 car park spaces make things easier for visitors, while the track has been built on 76m Sq feet and includes a 12f turf track and an 8.75 Tapeta (AW) course.

This year’s race will be run on Saturday 28th March, the final day of the Dubai Racing Carnival that runs from January and consists of around 10 meetings.

Last year we saw the hot favourite from Japan Forever Young only third, but he's back for more on 2026 - trying to go two places better.

Dubai World Cup Trends (Since run at Meydan 2010)

15/15 - Ran in the last 8 weeks
14/15 - Previous Group/Grade 1 or 2 winners
12/15 - Finished 1st or 2nd in last race
12/15 - Raced in the last 4 weeks
11/15 - Won over 1m2f
9/15 - Favourites unplaced
9/15 - Previous Group/Grade 1 winners
9/15 - Officially rated between 119-123
9/15 - Failed to win last race
9/15 - Aged 5 or older
8/15 - Won at the track
7/15 - Returned a double-figure price
7/15 - From stalls 5-8 (inclusive)
5/15 - Owned by Godolphin (9 wins in total)
4/15 - Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor (9 wins in total)
4/15 - Favourites (1 joint)
2/15 - Ridden by Christophe Soumillon
Bob Baffert has won the race 4 times
11 of the last 13 winners came from stalls 6+
The last 9 winners were aged between 4-6

Trained Dubai World Cup Winners………..

15/29 – Trained in USA (52%)
11/29 – Trained in GB (38%)
2/29 – Trained in Japan (7%)
1/29 – Trained in France (3%)
0/29 - Trained in Ireland (0%)

Previous Dubai World Cup Winners

2025 Hit Show (USA) (5): Florent Geroux / Brad H Cox 66/1
2024 Laurel River (USA) (6): Tadhg O'Shea / Bhupat Seemar  17/2
2023 - Ushba Tesoro (JPN) (6): Yuga Kawada / Noboru Takagi - 10/1
2022 - Country Grammer (USA) (5): Frankie Dettori / Bob Baffert - 15/2
2021 - Mystic Guide (USA) (4): Luis Saez / Mike Stidham - 6/4 (fav)
2020 - No race (Covid)
2019 – Thunder Snow (UAE) (5): Christophe Soumillon / Saeed Bin Suroor – 4/1
2018 – Thunder Snow (UAE) (4): Christophe Soumillon / Saeed Bin Suroor – 8/1
2017 - Arrogate (USA) (4) : Mike E Smith / Bob Baffert - 1/3 (fav)
2016 – California Chrome (USA) (5) : Victor Espinoza / Art Sherman – 15/8 (jfav)
2015 – Prince Bishop (UAE) (8) : William Buick / Saeed Bin Suroor – 14/1
2014 – African Story (UAE) (7) : Silvestre de Sousa / Saeed Bin Suroor – 12/1
2013 – Animal Kingdom (USA) (5) : Joel Rosario/ Graham Motion – 11/2
2012 – Monterosso (UAE) (5): Mickael Barzalona/M Al Zarooni – 20/1
2011 - Victoire Pisa (JPN (4): Mirco Demuro/Katsuhiko Sumii – 12/1
2010 - Gloria de Campeao (FRA) (6): T. J. Pereira/Pascal Bary – 16/1
2009 - Well Armed (USA) (6): Aaron Gryder/Eoin G. Harty – 10/1
2008 – Curlin (USA) (4): Robby Albarado/Steve Asmussen – 4/11 (fav)
2007 – Invasor (USA) (5): Fernando Jara/K McLaughlin – 5/4 (fav)
2006 – Electrocutionist (UAE) (5): Frankie Dettori/Saeed bin Suroor – 5/4 (fav)
2005 - Roses in May (USA) (5): John Velazquez/Dale Romans – 11/8 (fav)
2004 - Pleasantly Perfect (USA) (6): Alex Solis/Richard Mandella – 5/2
2003 - Moon Ballad (UAE) (4): Frankie Dettori/Saeed bin Suroor – 11/4
2002 - Street Cry (UAE) (4): Jerry Bailey/Saeed bin Suroor – 9/2
2001 - Captain Steve (USA) (4): Jerry Bailey/Bob Baffert – 7/4 (jfav)
2000 - Dubai Millennium (UAE) (4): Frankie Dettori/Saeed bin Suroor -
1999 – Almutawakel (UAE) (4): Richard Hills/Saeed bin Suroor -
1998 - Silver Charm (USA) (4): Gary Stevens/Bob Baffert -
1997 – Singspiel (GB) (5): Jerry Bailey/Michael Stoute -
1996 – Cigar (USA) (6): Jerry Bailey/Bill Mott -

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