The Saudi Cup, which was first run in 2020, is currently the richest horse race in the world with a total prize purse of $30.5 million. The Dubai World Cup, which was previously the richest horse race in the world, now offers a total prize money of $12 million.
In place since 1996, the Dubai World Cup was originally held at Nad Al Sheba but in 2010 the race was moved to Meydan and run on Tapeta. It remained on that surface for 5 renewals before cost and the unpopularity with American runners saw it moved back to a Dirt race.
Covid cost us the 2020 running, so we’ve 9 renewals to look at since it’s been back on the Dirt, but I’ve gone back to the start of Meydan’s coverage just to see what it’s taken to win this race, at this track on either surface.
Top Trends
- Will be aged 4 to 6-years-old
The last two winners were both 6-year-olds and the 6 winners before that were a mix of both 4 and 5-year-olds. There have been two 7-year-old winners of the race and one 8-year-old winner since the race moved to Meydan. Before that though, all winners were in the bracket of being 4 to 6-year-olds.
As a Dirt Race, there has only been one winner older than 6 who was the 8-year-old Prince Bishop who took the first renewal in Meydan back on the Dirt. He crops up a few times against the grain.
- Will have placed Top 2 last time out
Only looking at renewals in Meydan, there have been 12 of the 14 winners having ticked the box for placing Top 2 last time out and the two who didn’t were both winners on the Tapeta surface. Back on the Dirt, look to runners who placed Top 2 last time out.
- Most likely to be sporting some form of Headgear
8 of the last 9 winners wore some form of Headgear and the other runner had a Tongue-Tie applied. Another 4 winners also were accompanied by a Tongue-Tie alongside their choice of Headgear.
Across these 8 winners; 3 wore Blinkers (3 of the last 4 winners), 2 wore Visors (2015, 2016), 2 wore Cheekpieces (Both Thunder Snow) and one wore a Hood (the last Japanese winner).
- Look away from low drawn horses
Since being run at Meydan on either surface, there has been just one winner drawn lower than Stall 4, and they came from Stall 1 in the first running back on Dirt (Prince Bishop again). 11 of the 14 winners came from Stall 6 or higher and 6 of the last 8 winners came from Stall 8 or higher.
- Most likely to have last run 21 to 30 days ago
11 of the 14 winners at Meydan had last ran between 21 and 30 days ago. The three exceptions were 49 days for Animal Kingdom, 56 days for Arrogate and 52 days for Ushba Tesoro. The first two mentioned held the two highest winners Official Ratings of winners since 2010 (123 for Animal Kingdom and 134 for Arrogate)
- MUST have an Official Rating of 115+ but ideally 119+
All winners since the race moved to Meydan held an Official Rating of 115 or higher but 3 of the last 6 winners held the bottom end of this with 115 each.
10 of the 14 running’s at Meydan have seen the winner holding an Official Rating of 119 or higher, this includes every running on Tapeta and 3 of the last 6 winners.
- Most winners had a prominent racing style
9 winners from the last 14 either raced from the front early (2 soon led, 1 took it up after 1f) or tracked the leaders (4 of the last 5 winners tracked leaders).
Of the other 5 winners, only one raced in Mid-Division and the other 4 were settled at the rear of the field.
- Likely to return a single-figure priced SP
There have been 6 double-figure priced winners of this race since it’s been run at Meydan, however, 5 of those came in the first 6 races at the track, and of course 5 of those races were on the Tapeta surface.
Since the race has been run back as a Dirt Race, we’ve had 2 double-figure priced winners, the first came in the 2015 renewal (Prince Bishop again). The other winner was 2 years ago when 10/1 shot Ushba Tesoro took the race, but even he’s only just a double-figure priced winner.
3 favourites have won the race since it’s been at Meydan, they came from the last 8 renewals and include a 15/8 joint favourite, a 1/3 favourite and a 6/4 favourite. Expensive to follow!
- Doesn’t need to have won here, or at 10 furlongs, or even a Group 1 before now
I’ve grouped this bunch together because winning course form will always be a positive but it’s not a negative if you don’t have that box ticked. Equally, distance form would be desirable but 3 of the last 6 winners had NOT won over 10 furlongs before taking this, these include a 6/4 favourite for the race. Lastly, Group 1 winning form isn’t essential either, but of course would be desirable. The absolute bottom line must be drawn that the winner of this race WILL have won a Group 2 before now though.
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