Winchell Thoroughbreds' Gun Runner looked all the winner with 400 metres to travel in the 2017 Dubai World Cup, and it was only an other-worldly effort from Arrogate that stood between him and success on the world stage.
The operation's current flag-bearer, Magnitude, will look to atone for that defeat this coming weekend, but racing manager David Fiske understands well that it is a daunting task, with Forever Young the one they all have to fear.
Like Gun Runner, Magnitude's two most recent victories came in the G2 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs at the back end of November and in the G3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park in the American Midwest. Fiske is quietly confident—yet realistic—in his expectations.
"I'm pretty confident that he'll run well, he pretty much always does," Fiske said from Kentucky about the four-year-old, whose training is being closely watched by Scott Blasi, a long-time assistant to American Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. "Our horse is doing extremely well. He came out of the Razorback better than when he went into it. We thought it was worth taking a chance."
There is a bit of a sense of deja vu for Fiske this weekend.
"Gun Runner probably got beat by the horse that was also considered best in the world at the time," he said. "He had come off a win in the Razorback and had very similar past performances to Magnitude."
Despite the nature of that defeat, Fiske reflects fondly on the events of that March evening in the desert nine years ago.
"Gun Runner probably provided me in particular and (Team Winchell) in general with a lot of thrills," he said. "When he turned for home in the (Kentucky) Derby (finished third), that was a thrill. Same thing in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (second), and having the lead at the top of the stretch in the World Cup was certainly another one."
Gun Runner went on to win his next five races, all at Grade 1 level, at his next five starts, earning American Horse of the Year honours in 2017. Whether Magnitude can follow in his footsteps is just one of the stories emerging from this year's World Cup, both in the immediate future and also over the rest of 2026.
"It's exciting to be part of the race and we expect him to run his usual good race," Fiske said. "Whether it's enough to make him the best horse in the world, well, I guess we'll see."
Magnitude is one of three Dubai World Cup runners who shipped from the United States to the Middle East alongside defending champion Hit Show and G1 Saudi Cup third Tumbarumba.
Both Brad Cox-trained Hit Show and Tumbarumba, prepared by Hamad Al Jehani, will race in the colours of Wathnan Racing. The operation's racing manager Ali Al Kubaisi is confident that both horses are primed for Saturday's feature.
"Hit Show did something unbelievable for Wathnan last season," he said. "We are so pleased with him and hope that he can do what Thunder Snow did, winning two years in a row. He's in good form and he had a very good preparation before he came to Dubai. He looks to be OK physically, but this season is very different to last year—nobody knew who he was last year, while this year everyone is focused on him.
"Hamad is very happy with Tumbarumba, he's been happier day by day since he came here. Unfortunately, he didn't start very well here in Dubai (eighth in the G2 Al Maktoum Mile) but then he made a very big jump, finishing second in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge and then third in the Saudi Cup which was a great result for us and for Hamad also. If there is an outsider, I hope that it is Tumbarumba, it would be amazing for our colours with a trainer like Hamad too."
Added Al Jehani: "His run in the Saudi Cup gave us big confidence to challenge the best horses here in Dubai. He's in great shape and we couldn't be happier with him."
Dubai Sheema Classic
Charlie Appleby may not have his leading seed, the remarkable globetrotter Rebel's Romance, at Meydan on Saturday but he sends out two understudies in the hopes of causing an upset in this year's Dubai Sheema Classic.
Appleby sends out last-start Listed Abu Dhabi Championship winner Royal Power and G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy placegetter By The Book, both sons of the legendary Frankel, as the horseman seeks a fourth Sheema after previous wins by Hawkbill (2018), Old Persian (2019) and Rebel's Romance (2024).
Not that the Godolphin trainer is under any illusions about the difficulty of taking on 2025 World's Best Racehorse Calandagan, who won the G1 Japan Cup last out, as well as G1 Breeders' Cup Turf hero Ethical Diamond and G1 Hong Kong Vase victor Giavellotto.
"Royal Power hasn't done too much wrong in his career and has come on since winning on a return from a layoff at Abu Dhabi," Appleby said. "We know that we are running around for places behind Calandagan, and our horse is entitled to make the frame.
"By The Book was impressive over this distance on his first start of the winter before disappointing in the Dubai Millennium Stakes. We stretched him out in trip for the Nad Al Sheba Trophy, but Will [Buick] said afterwards that returning to a mile and a half will suit."
As for Calandagan himself, the world champion is now in "race mode" according to his rider Jeremy Lobel, after smooth solo circuit of the main dirt track.
While all the serious galloping was done in the week before flying out, with a racecourse gallop at Saint-Cloud and a final tune-up in
Chantilly, the Aga Khan Studs' homebred appears switched on and ready to race.
"He is really well this morning and cantered all alone, rather than using Rayevka as a lead horse," said Lobel.
"Two days out from the race it was a little more rhythmical and a little more focused. He's eating well and has put one or two kilos on, and he's ready to race."
Dubai Turf
Trainer Hamad Al Jehani has five runners across Dubai World Cup night but he freely admits that Make Me King is among his stable favourites.
Make Me King is coming off a victory in Qatar last start in the Listed Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup over 1600m. That was the fourth country in which he had won a stakes race, having won at Group 3 level in France and Listed level in the UK and the UAE.
That local stakes win did not come at Meydan; instead, it was at Abu Dhabi in late 2024 when he landed the Listed HH The President Cup over 1400m. Now, he returns to 1800m for the first time since finishing fourth in the G2 Singspiel Stakes at Meydan earlier that year.
"He's not just a favourite of Hamad's but of all of us at Wathnan, he is the best," said racing manager Ali Al Kubaisi. "Logically, from our perspective, it's a tough race—especially when Ombudsman landed here. I think Ombudsman will be very hard to beat and so we just hope that Make Me King can run well. We have been happy since he returned here."
Nicolas Caullery rarely leaves the Dubai Racing Carnival without securing a decent prize and victory for Piana in the Jumeirah 1,000 Guineas last month ensured that 2026 will be no different.
While Piana is now back in Chantilly, the stable rolls on to Dubai World Cup night with hopes of springing another surprise, courtesy of Tumbler, who Caullery believes has valid excuses for two underwhelming efforts since running third in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort in January.
Caullery said: "Abu Dhabi is right-handed and he's better going the other way round, as he tends to lean slightly left-handed and is easier to get balanced on that track configuration.
"As for the race on Super Saturday, they went no pace at all and it turned into a sprint. He was last turning in and he had no chance of making up the ground."
Caullery is under no illusion as to the task the seven-year-old faces against Ombudsman and company, but is hopeful that the race will set up better for Tumbler.
"He is drawn much better in stall three as he is a horse that needs to latch onto the back of something to take him into the race.
"If they go faster, from that draw he could be competitive for the places, though I think winning will be hard. He has a real turn of foot and if there is pace on, he should be able to show his true self."
Dubai Golden Shaheen
Will it be a case of third time lucky for Nakatomi?
The Wesley Ward-trained sprinter finished third in the Dubai Golden Shaheen in 2024, well behind the electric Tuz, but came up just a long neck short last year behind Dark Saffron.
Ward has not made the trip out to Dubai, instead entrusting his care to Pam Little who works with his horses at Turfway Park in Kentucky over the winter. However, the handler said he has been enthused by everything he has seen from afar.
"He's kind of an easy keeper, he's very easy to train now," Ward said. "He's been down this road a couple of times before. He knows the drill, it's nothing new to him and he's settled in nicely just like he has the last couple of years. Everything is good.
"It's always a tough race. The first year he went over there, he got away slow and kind of came through the pack and ran a good third. Last year, we got away good and just got beat. He's been training well down at Payson Park (in Florida) this winter and hasn't missed a beat."
An inside post of four means that Ward will be holding his breath as the gates open, hoping that Florent Geroux manages to get the seven-year-old into stride quickly.
"I wish we could have drawn outside a little bit," he admitted. "Sometimes he gets away a little slow, so it's all dependent on the break."
Making his Group 1 debut is Musabbeh Al Mheiri-trained El Nasseeb, the form sprinter of the Dubai season with wins in the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint, the G3 Dubawi Stakes and the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal—all over the same course and distance as the Shaheen.
His only defeat came in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint when he was pestered on the speed and Al Mheiri fears a similar scenario after the five-year-old emerged from Wednesday's post position draw with stall one.
"It's an OK draw but only because you can't change it!" Al Mheiri said. "If he liked to be in front, number one would be good but he didn't like it and so he will be behind. He did win last time from the inside (gate two) and he was able to still come at the end, but I would have preferred five, six or seven. But he is well and so we will try."
Al Mheiri also saddles up outsider Khanjar, who has raced exclusively at 1400m this season.
"If only I could swap their draws!" Al Mheiri mused. "Khanjar has a good chance, better than it looks. He likes this track."
Al Quoz Sprint
The Al Quoz Sprint has one of the more global honour rolls of any race on Dubai World Cup night with winners from the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Hong Kong, Australia, Ireland, France, the United States and Great Britain in the 16 years since it was added to the meeting.
Could Denmark be next?
Copenhagen trainer Bent Olsen saddles up Great Wish in the Al Quoz Sprint, just the second Scandinavian runner in the race after Norway's Beat Baby finished 12th for Niels Petersen in 2014.
Great Wish, who arrived with limited form across Denmark and Sweden, stunned fresh by taking the Listed Dubai Sprint over the same track and trip as the Al Quoz. He showed that was no fluke by leading home the near-side group when finishing fourth in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint last time out.
Former jockey Andreas Tapia Dalbark has been Great Wish's regular rider during his time at Meydan and reports the Danish sprinter to be in terrific order ahead of the biggest test of his career.
"He has continued training really well after his last race and he looks really good," the rider said. "I hope and think he will run a good race. Silvestre [De Sousa, jockey] rode him last Saturday and was happy with him."
Japan has made merry on Dubai World Cup night down the years, but the $2m Al Quoz Sprint has remained elusive.
One of three previous Group 1 winners in the lineup, Lugal bids to change that narrative on Saturday for trainer Haruki Sugiyama.
"The track conditions seemed to suit him well. He didn't get too keen and remained relaxed throughout," said jockey Katsuma Sameshima, following their five-furlong gallop with stable companion Gaia Force yesterday morning.
While several sets of connections will be nervously monitoring the weather forecast, trainer Mario Baratti and owner Gerard Augustin-Normand will be grateful for every drop of rain that might fall on Meydan, as Monteille continues to please traveling head groom Anthony Lecordier.
"This morning I cantered her and she is so well," said Lecordier. "She is supple and when I pulled her up she didn't blow at all, she's in great shape.
"They are forecasting a lot of rain Thursday into Friday and the more we get, the better she will like it.
"On top of that she is drawn perfectly between Lazzat and Reef Runner, the two horses to beat. I hope she can have a dream run in behind them and that everything goes well."
UAE Derby
Runaway G3 UAE Oaks winner Labwah will look to join Khawlah (2011) in completing the Oaks-Derby double and her jockey Bernardo Pinheiro believes she is ready for her biggest test yet.
"She's super, she's in great form and she improved from her last run," said Pinheiro, who has ridden the Charlatan filly at all four starts for three wins. "The draw in the middle (eight of 12) is a bit tough, the ideal would be inside for her, but it will be amazing to see her up against the boys."
Labwah, meaning lioness in Arabic, was a third UAE Oaks winner for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer and owner HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.
While the Crown Prince of Dubai seeks his first UAE Derby success, his father HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is seeking a remarkable 10th victory under his Godolphin Racing banner.
Japanese colt Pyromancer leads the Godolphin charge for trainer Keiji Yoshimura and James Doyle, but also sporting the famous royal blue silks in the Derby will be William Buick on Charlie Appleby-trained Devon Island.
"Devon Island's preparation has gone well and I feel that the step up in trip will suit," Appleby said about the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas runner-up. "He has been competitive on all his starts at Meydan to date and won't look out of place in the field, especially over this distance."
His UAE 2000 Guineas conqueror Six Speed is one of four runners for Bhupat Seemar, with his team also including Guineas fourth Lino Padrino and runaway debut victor Salloom. It has been a frustrating campaign for Salloom, who was withdrawn from the Listed Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby after acting up in the gates and breaking loose.
"Salloom is just so quirky, you know?" said Seemar. "He's got a world of talent, but he should have had three runs by now instead of just one. He has his gate antics but we've done plenty of gate schooling with him, he goes there every day now. If he behaves himself, he's got a world of talent.
"Six Speed is brilliant, he's got tons of speed. I hope he stays but you can only find that out once you're in the race. If he does stay, he's a very serious horse. He's small but mighty, while Lino Padrino is a big, tall horse. I hope he stays as well, he's got plenty of speed, he's just kept on improving and he's doing so well."
His fourth runner Rammaas is a son of Rayya, who was herself a UAE Oaks winner who attempted to complete the Oaks-Derby double. She finished second to Mendelssohn in 2018.
Dubai Gold Cup
Not since the great French stayer Vazirabad won the Dubai Gold Cup for the third consecutive year in 2018 has there been a back-to-back winner of the long-distance feature.
Prepared by Saeed bin Suroor, the most successful trainer in Dubai World Cup night history with 39 wins to his name, Dubai Future was a somewhat surprising winner of the 3200m staying test last year. Now 10, he makes his return to the races for the first time since the G2 Lonsdale Cup at York in August.
"Dubai Future had a little setback, so this will be his first run of the year," said bin Suroor. "We took him to Meydan to work last week and I was pleased with how he went. He looks in good form, although this looks a much tougher race compared to last year, and there is rain coming. We are hoping for a good run, providing the ground is not too soft."
Godolphin Mile
Wathnan Racing holds a strong hand going into the Godolphin Mile with three runners: last-start G3 Jebel Ali Mile joint winner David Of Athens, American Grade 1 placegetter Generous Tipper and Hypnus, third at all three starts this preparation between Meydan and Jebel Ali.
Add in the fact that Bhupat Seemar's Zabeel Stables has half of the 12-runner field and it is a race that, in the words of Wathnan's racing manager Ali Al Kubaisi, is "complicated" to dissect.
"I think this is the most complicated race of the night because every horse in this race can win," he admitted. "For our three horses, I have to be honest, I don't know who is the one most likely to step forward. The good result for us is that our three horses are on the same level. All are in good shape and have good performances behind them, they are on the rise.
"I think if I had to choose one myself among the Wathnan horses, it would be Generous Tipper, but it is very complicated. All we can do is send them out at their best and we think we will do that."
