Reigning Longines World's Best Racehorse Calandagan is scheduled to open his 2026 campaign in the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) March 28 at Meydan Racecourse, where he'll try to add to a streak that saw him close out 2025 with four group/grade 1 victories in three different countries.
The Dubai Sheema Classic, a 2,410-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) test for older horses, is one of four group 1 or group 2 stakes scheduled as part of Saturday's Dubai World Cup day undercard.
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An Irish-bred 5-year-old Gleneagles gelding, Calandagan also will be looking to take care of some unfinished business Saturday as a year ago in his first trip to Dubai he finished second to Japan's Danon Decile in this race. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, Calandagan will be making his first start since a narrow Japan Cup (G1T) victory Nov. 30 at Tokyo Racecourse. Mickael Barzalona will ride.
Also making his seasonal debut after closing out 2025 with a grade 1 win is Ethical Diamond, who won a jumps race last season in Ireland for trainer Willie Mullins before pulling off an upset victory in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T)—setting a Del Mar course record in the process when completing 1 1/2 miles in 2:25.45 on firm turf. That effort is his most recent start, but Mullins doesn't mind racing Ethical Diamond off a layoff.
"I see he's had the longest break of any of the horses in the field without a run, but I had always wanted to give him a break after America," he said. "It's the start of a long year for him, but we've tried to get him as fit as we can at home."
The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event, granting the winner an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland.
Al Riffa Looks Formidable in Dubai Gold Cup
Ten of the world's top distance horses are expected to contest the $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2T) at 3,200 meters (about 2 miles) with last year's Irish St. Leger Stakes (G1) winner Al Riffa expected to go off as favorite in his 6-year-old season debut.
Trained by Joseph O'Brien for owner Australian Bloodstock Syndicate, Al Riffa is a three-time group 1 winner in Ireland and Germany.
Last year's winner, Dubai Future, is back for owner/breeder Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
Veteran Khaadem Aims for Al Quoz Sprint Upset
At the other end of the distance spectrum, 13 3-year-olds and older are entered for the $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1T) over a straight 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs).
The elder statesman of the group is 10-year-old Khaadem for owner Mrs. Fitri Hay and trainer Charles Hills. Last year Khaadem landed three graded stakes placings in the United States in as many starts there, including a win in the Woodford Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland and a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).
While Khaadem figures to be popular with fans, the race's likely favorite will be two-time group 1 winner Lazzat, who enters off a runner-up finish to reopposing Reef Runner in the 1351 Turf Sprint (G2T) Feb. 14 in Saudi Arabia for trainer Jerome Reynier.
Ombudsman Opens in Dubai Turf
After capturing a pair of group 1 victories last year and finishing that season in October with a runner-up finish to Calandagan in the Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot, Godolphin's Ombudsman is scheduled to begin his 5-year-old season in the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1T).
Co-trainer John Gosden said after talking with Sheikh Mohammed last year, this race has been the target. He expects an improved Ombudsman this season.
"He's bigger and stronger now," Gosden said of the Irish-bred son of Night of Thunder. "He's gotten bigger and better with age, as I suppose most of them do if given the opportunity. We're certainly pleased with the way he's developed.
"He's more professional now even though he does like to look about and see everything. He's a very inquisitive horse."
One of the expected 10 rivals for Ombudsman will be Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Facteur Cheval, who won this race in 2024 for Reynier. The Irish-bred Ribchester gelding enters off a runner-up finish in the Neom Turf Cup (G1T) Feb. 14 in Saudi Arabia.
As part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the Dubai Turf will award the winner an automatic, fees-paid spot in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Keeneland.
| 8:55 a.m. ET Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors (G2T) (4yo+) | ||||
| Number | Draw | Horse Name | Trainer Name | Jockey Name |
| 1 | 9 | Al Riffa | Joseph Patrick O'Brien | Dylan Browne McMonagle |
| 2 | 10 | Al Nayyir | Tom Clover | Rossa Ryan |
| 3 | 1 | Dubai Future | Saeed bin Suroor | Kieran Shoemark |
| 4 | 8 | Caballo De Mar | George Scott | William Buick |
| 5 | 2 | Sons And Lovers | Joseph Patrick O'Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 6 | 6 | Sunway | David Menuisier | Silvestre De Sousa |
| 7 | 4 | Epic Poet | David O'Meara | Daniel Tudhope |
| 8 | 7 | Burdett Road | James Owen | Luke Morris |
| 9 | 3 | Ruling Dynasty | Ismail Mohammed | Hamed Al Busaidi |
| 10 | 5 | Fairy Glen | Simon & Ed Crisford | Mickael Barzalona |
| 10:20 a.m. ET Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored By Azizi Developments (G1T) (3yo+) | ||||
| Number | Draw | Horse Name | Trainer Name | Jockey Name |
| 1 | 7 | Lazzat | Jerome Reynier | James Doyle |
| 2 | 5 | Reef Runner | David Fawkes | William Buick |
| 3 | 9 | Lugal | Haruki Sugiyama | Katsuma Sameshima |
| 4 | 13 | Khaadem | Charles Hills | Richard Mullen |
| 5 | 3 | Cover Up | Simon & Ed Crisford | Ryan Moore |
| 6 | 10 | Great Wish | Bent Olsen | Silvestre De Sousa |
| 7 | 12 | Native Approach | Ahmad bin Harmash | Connor Beasley |
| 8 | 4 | Marbaan | Michael Costa | Ray Dawson |
| 9 | 11 | Run Boy Run | Richard Spencer | George Wood |
| 10 | 1 | Arabie | Antonio Cintra & Julio Olascoaga | Rossa Ryan |
| 11 | 6 | Monteille | Mario Baratti | Cristian Demuro |
| 12 | 2 | Rayevka | Francis-Henri Graffard | Mickael Barzalona |
| 13 | 8 | Northern Champion | Ed Walker | Kieran Shoemark |
| 11:35 a.m. ET Dubai Turf Sponsored By DP World (G1T) (3yo+) | ||||
| Number | Draw | Horse Name | Trainer Name | Jockey Name |
| 1 | 7 | Ombudsman | John & Thady Gosden | William Buick |
| 2 | 11 | Gaia Force | Haruki Sugiyama | Ryusei Sakai |
| 3 | 1 | Quddwah | Simon & Ed Crisford | Ryan Moore |
| 4 | 10 | Elnajmm | Michael Costa | Ray Dawson |
| 5 | 6 | Facteur Cheval | Jerome Reynier | Mickael Barzalona |
| 6 | 9 | Fort George | Ed Walker | Kieran Shoemark |
| 7 | 4 | Make Me King | Hamad Al Jehani | James Doyle |
| 8 | 2 | Dividend | Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole | Rossa Ryan |
| 9 | 8 | Andreas Vesalius | Ahmad bin Harmash | Connor Beasley |
| 10 | 5 | Folk Festival | Salem bin Ghadayer | Bernardo Pinheiro |
| 11 | 3 | Tumbler | Nicolas Caullery | Stephane Pasquier |
| 12:10 p.m. ET Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) (3yo+) | ||||
| Number | Draw | Horse Name | Trainer Name | Jockey Name |
| 1 | 2 | Calandagan | Francis-Henri Graffard | Mickael Barzalona |
| 2 | 6 | Ethical Diamond | William Mullins | Dylan Browne McMonagle |
| 3 | 3 | Giavellotto | Marco Botti | James Doyle |
| 4 | 4 | Royal Power | Charlie Appleby | William Buick |
| 5 | 5 | By The Book | Charlie Appleby | Ryan Moore |
| 6 | 1 | West Wind Blows | Simon & Ed Crisford | Rossa Ryan |
