Magnitude wins $12million Dubai World Cup

American challenger 'Magnitude' won the Dubai World Cup on Saturday, taking the $12 million feature race at Meydan Racecourse.

The Group 1 contest, sponsored by Emirates Airline, and run over 2,000 metres on dirt, brought together a field of leading international thoroughbreds, including defending champion 'Hit Show' and pre-race favourite 'Forever Young'.

'Magnitude', ridden by Jose Ortiz and trained by Steven Asmussen, produced a winning performance in the headline race of the night, denying 'Forever Young' to secure one of the richest prizes in global horse racing. 'Meydaan' finished third.

The Dubai World Cup is the centrepiece of a nine-race card worth more than $30 million in total prize money, attracting top horses, trainers and jockeys from around the world.

The meeting opened with the Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians, a Group 1 over 2,000 metres on dirt, with 15 runners competing for $1 million, and won by 'Falaah', ridden by A Moatasem Al Balushi and trained by A Balushi, owned by H.H. Sayyid Shihab Bin Harib Bin Thuwaini Al Said.

Race 2 was the Group 2 Godolphin Mile over 1,600 metres on dirt, with 12 runners contesting a $1 million purse. Entries included 'Commissioner King', 'Panching', 'Mendelssohn' and 'David of Athens'. Silvestre De Sousa rode 'Banishing' to victory, trained by David Jacobson and owned by Sharaf Mohammed Alhariri, David Jacobson and Lawrence Roman.

The Dubai Gold Cup followed, a Group 2 over 3,200 metres on turf, with 10 runners chasing $1 million. Among the leading names were 'Al Riffa', 'Al Nayyir', 'Siskany', 'Sons and Lovers' and 'Very Elegant', but 'Fairy Glen', ridden by Mickael Barzalona, trained by Simon & Ed Crisford and owned by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, took the honours.

The UAE Derby, Race 4, a Group 2 over 1,900 metres on dirt, featured 12 runners, including 'Pyromancer', 'Wonder Dean', 'Six Speed' and 'Brotherly Love'. 'Wonder Dean' took this race, ridden by C Demuro, trained by Daisuke Takayanagi and owned by Yoshinari Yamamoto.

Race 5 was the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint over 1,200 metres on turf, with 13 runners competing for $1.5 million. The field included 'Lazzat', 'Riff Runner', 'Cover Up' and 'Marbaan', but 'Native Approach' triumphed, ridden by Connor Beasley, trained by Ahmad Bin Harmash, owned by Hamdan Harmash.

The Dubai Golden Shaheen, race 6, also a Group 1, was run over 1,200 metres on dirt, with 12 runners chasing $2 million. Contenders included 'Bentornato', 'Al Naseeb', “Midland Money' and 'Mufasa', but 'Dark Saffron' was ridden home first by Connor Beasley, trained by Ahmad Bin Harmash, owned by Sultan Ali. 

Race 7, The Group 1 Dubai Turf over 1,800 metres featured 11 runners competing for $5 million, led by 'Facteur Cheval', alongside 'Embodiment', 'Qudwah' and 'Al Najm'. THe favourite, Godollphin-owned 'Ombudsman' won it, trained by J&T Godsen and ridden by Wolliam Buick.

The penultimate race was the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, a Group 1 over 2,410 metres on turf, with six runners contesting $6 million, including 'Calandagan', 'Eziqal Diamond', 'Gaiyyath Loto' and 'Royal Power'. Calandagan won it, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and owned by Aga Khan Studs SCEA.

Results confirmed by WAM, racingtv.com, and @dubairacingclub.