With 11 Confirmed Runners, the Dubai World Cup Heats Up

The final entries for next Saturday’s spectacular meeting at Meydan were announced this Monday

Tuz sigue en perfecta forma hacia la Dubai Golden Shaheen / DRC

By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates.- The journey to this distant part of the world is no easy feat—long hours on a plane, jet lag, and little sleep can be a punishing combination, especially as the years go by. But when the reward is witnessing the Dubai World Cup, one of the most prestigious racing events of the year, the effort is more than worth it.

With just a handful of days remaining until the 2025 edition of this unparalleled festival, Dubai is buzzing with excitement. This ever-more dazzling city will once again set the stage for a spectacle where elite racehorses, glamour, royalty, and everyday fans come together—because while racing is often called the "Sport of Kings," it has always been a passion of the people as well.

Meydan will host a star-studded lineup, featuring top-class contenders like Forever Young (Real Steel) from Japan and Romantic Warrior (Acclamation), the Hong Kong sensation. In total, over 30 Group 1 winners will enter the starting gates across the card, alongside a strong South American presence.

Mufasa (Practical Joke) from Chile and Oasis Boy (Asiatic Boy) from Argentina will take on the Godolphin Mile (G2), while Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga will send out Drew’s Gold (Violence) in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). Among the jockeys, Chilean Carlos López and Brazilian Silvestre de Sousa will also seize the opportunity to compete on racing’s grand stage.

With anticipation building, the final fields for Saturday’s nine-race card—including the Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1) for Purebred Arabians—were confirmed today. The Godolphin Mile will feature a full field of 16 runners, while the Dubai World Cup will have a short but select lineup of just 11 contenders.

Among them, Forever Young will headline a field that also includes Hit Show, a son of Argentine legend Candy Ride; Katonah (Klimt), to be ridden by de Sousa; Il Miracolo (Gun Runner), trained by Venezuelan Antonio Sano; and Frankie Dettori, making his return aboard Mixto (Good Magic).

As the hours tick by and anticipation reaches its peak, the stage is set for yet another spectacular edition of the Dubai World Cup—a celebration of racing at its finest.