D'Angelo Arrives in Meydan, Aims for First Dubai Win

Few people want a Dubai World Cup (G1) night winner more than trainer Jose D'Angelo, and few have a better chance of getting one in just a few days' time. The U.S.-based Venezuelan trainer, who sends out 2025 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Bentornato in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) March 28 at Meydan, is on his third trip to Dubai. He sent out Jesus' Team to finish sixth in the Dubai World Cup in 2021, before Caramel Chip and Run Classic finished off the board in the 2024 Godolphin Mile (G2) and Dubai Golden Shaheen, respectively. D'Angelo enjoyed an Annus Mirabilis in 2025, capped when Bentornato and Shisospicy plled off the the Breeders' Cup Sprint and Turf Sprint (G1T) double about an hour apart at Del Mar in November. "2025 was an amazing year," D'Angelo said. "We planned it all year for Bentornato and Shisospicy to go to the Breeders' Cup, and we won it—it was an amazing feeling. It probably looks easy, but Bentornato went to three tracks, and Shisospicy went to more than six tracks, so they traveled a lot last year." Despite success at arguably the biggest American meeting of all, D'Angelo is thirsty for more and is especially keen for wins outside of the U.S. "I feel like you have to keep winning and improving," he said. "I'm very competitive with myself. I'm just looking for more and trying to be at the best races around the world." He has a great ally in Bentornato, who seems to have inherited his trainer's love of travel. In 2024, the son of Valiant Minister was third, beaten six lengths, in a vintage Saudi Derby (G3) behind Forever Young (JPN) and Book'em Danno. Since then, he's transformed, winning the Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx Racing as a 3-year-old and finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, before going one better in that race last year. "Bentornato is very talented," D'Angelo said. "He's strong, but when he goes to the track, he's all business and very focused on his job. When you look at his career, he was undefeated in his first four starts at 2, but then he lost in Saudi to the best horse in the world, Forever Young. He ran huge, but we realized a mile isn't what he needs. "At the Breeders' Cup and Churchill Downs, he was training better and better each day, and I'm seeing the same here, so I'm very confident he's going to be tough. He's a very good traveler, and I think he likes it here." Bentornato, along with Forever Young and Ethical Diamond (IRE), are beneficiaries of a new reciprocal deal between Dubai Racing Club and Breeders' Cup. "Dubai always was the plan because it is 'Win and You're In' for the Breeders' Cup, which he will go for again this year," D'Angelo explained. "I would like to win here, but no race looks easy. I think the most important is to see the post position that we get and go from there. Ideally, we would like to be drawn towards the outside." Taking nothing to chance, D'Angelo arrived in Dubai early enough to watch Bentornato breeze Saturday morning—a week out from the race. "It's my third time here, and I'm very happy to be here," he said. "The owners are coming too, and we're looking forward to Saturday."