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 30th March, the final day of the Dubai Racing Carnival that runs from January and consists of around 10 meetings.

Last year we saw the second winner from Japan as the Noboru Takagi-trained Ushba Tesoro landed the lucrative pot. The first 6 year-old winner of the race since Well Armed in 2009 and only the fourth of that age group to take the prize.

Dubai World Cup Trends (Since run at Meydan 2010)

13/13 – Had raced in the last 8 weeks
12/13 – Previous Group/Grade 1 or 2 winners
11/13 – Had won over 1m2f before
11/13 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
10/13 – Had raced in the last 4 weeks
9/13 – Previous Group/Grade 1 winners
9/13 – Officially rated between 119-123
8/13 – Didn’t win their last race
8/13 – Aged 5 or older
8/13 – Unplaced favourites
7/13– Had won at the track before
6/13 – Returned a double-figure price
6/13 – Came from stalls 5-8 (inclusive)
5/13 - Owned by Godolphin (9 wins in total)
4/13 - Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor (9 wins in total)
3/13 – Winning favourites
2/13 - Ridden by Christophe Soumillon
9 of the last 11 winners came from stalls 6+
The last 7 winners were aged between 4-6
Trainer Bob Baffert has won the race 4 times
Jockey Frankie Dettori has won the Dubai World Cup 4 times

Trained Dubai World Cup Winners………..

13/27 – Trained in USA
11/27 – Trained in GB
2/27 – Trained in Japan
1/27 – Trained in France
0/27 - Trained in Ireland

Previous Dubai World Cup Winners

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 -