Senor Buscador can become the first horse to win the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup. Ushba Tesoro can become the second horse to win two renewals of the Dubai World Cup. And the mere fact that a horse named Kabirkhan has any chance at all in the World Cup is almost unbelievable.
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What worked to perfection at the start of 2023 may once again lead to a win in Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai for the Florida-based gelding Sibelius.
In early 2023, Sibelius won the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park and the $75,000 Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in consecutive starts before a career-defining win by a nose in the $2 million Golden Shaheen at six furlongs at Meydan.
From Japan to New Mexico to the steppes of Kazakhstan, they’re putting the “World” into the Dubai World Cup this year.
Drawn Wednesday, a dozen horses whose lives span the globe – among them 2023 World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro and Senor Buscador, who beat Ushba Tesoro last month in the $20 million Saudi Cup – were entered in the Group 1, $12 million World Cup, contested Saturday at Meydan Racecourse over 1 1/4 miles.
Paul Lally:
R1 5-6-1-2
R2 5-1-8-7
R3 3-1-4-11
R4 6-11-9-3
R5 4-3-7-12
R6 12-5-8-1
R7 6-4-5-2
R8 10-12-3-2
R9 4-6-9-11
Best Bet R6 N12 Cheer For South
Longshot R1 N5 Foremost Teddy
Plays R7 QQP 4-5-6
Tom Wood:
R1: 2-1-7-6
R2: 5-8-1-4
R3: 3-1-11-9
R4: 6-11-8-2
R5: 12-3-2-4
R6: 12-5-4-8
R7: 6-4-5-3
R8: 9-3-7-10
R9: 4-11-12-3
By Declan Schuster
Galaxy Patch could next take on the might of Golden Sixty or Romantic Warrior on FWD Champions Day (Sunday, 28 April) at Sha Tin.
After his slashing second in Sunday’s (24 March) HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) behind Massive Sovereign, Galaxy Patch will be set for the HK$22 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) or HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) – holding entries for both contests.
Mad Cool, second in the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes last October, won for the first time at the highest level in Sunday’s Grade 1 Takamatsonomiya Kinen at six furlongs on turf at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan, beating a field that included 2023 Japanese sprint champion Mama Cocha.
Mad Cool, who paid $23.80 in American pools, was always near the front, while racing on the inside, and took the lead in the stretch. Ridden by Ryusei Sakai, Mad Cool won by a head over 5-1 Namura Clair, who finished three lengths clear of 7-1 Victor the Winner, a shipper from Hong Kong.
Dennis Yip will consider a tilt at the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) next month after former Irish stayer Massive Sovereign completed an extraordinary rise to glory with a spectacular win in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) under Zac Purton at Sha Tin on Sunday (24 March).
Providing Yip with his first triumph in the Classic and Purton’s second after Luger in 2015, Massive Sovereign clocked the fastest time in Derby history – 1m 59.85s – since the race distance was changed to 2000m in 2000, bettering champion Golden Sixty’s time of 2m 00.15s, set in 2020.
Lady of Camelot emerged from between rivals to take the lead in the final sixteenth of Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, Australia, giving legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse a record eighth win in the world’s richest race for juveniles.
The Golden Slipper had a purse of $3.28 million.
Lady of Camelot (who paid $14.20 in American pools) edged 62-1 Coleman by a neck with Storm Boy, the even-money favorite, finishing third in the field of 16.