Group One Dubai World Cup Guide 2023

In-form six-year-old for Bob Baffert, not finishing outside the top three on his last seven runs, recording three wins in the process at Santa Anita and here at Meydan in this contest last year. Has since finished second three times and won at Santa Anita last time out after that 2022 Dubai World Cup success for Baffert and Frankie Dettori is again booked to ride.

Must be respected, as he has a big chance to win this race again and is in a rich vein of form.

Smart horse who won four races from seven starts last year and arrives here having won all three of last three starts. The hat-trick of wins have come at Hanshin, Ohi and most recently Kawasaki, where the six-year-old beat fellow runner T O Keynes by half a length to claim listed success over 1m 2f.

Must be respected as Ushba Tesoro is in good form for trainer Noboru Nakagi after those three wins and Nakagi will be hoping for a career best in the Dubai World Cup here.

High-class runner who beat a couple of rivals here so record career-best performance in the Saudi Cup last month, beating Country Grammer, Cafe Pharaoh and Geoglyph to claim group one success at Riyadh. Dead-heated with Lord North to win Group One Dubai Turf here last year and bids for Dubai World Cup success on the back of that Saudi Cup victory.

Could be somewhat of a dark horse at around 12/1 for Yoshito Yahagi and Yutaka Yoshida once again takes the reigns.

Smart runner who is ridden by Oisin Murphy for this year’s Dubai World Cup, following two wins from five runs last year. Most recently finished second of ten in listed Kawasaki Kinen at Kawasaki last month, finishing half a length behind Ushba Tesoro.

Ran in the Saudi Cup last year, finishing eighth and will need to be better here if being in with a chance of victory against some very good horses.

Six-year-old from Japan for Kunihiko Watanabe who won four races last year from eight starts. Last win came at Tokyo in November, winning the Grade One Japan Cup over 1m 4f, beating Shahryar to claim graded success. Slightly disappointing tenth to Equinox last time out at Nakayama so drops slightly down in trip here.

Should be in the mix if bouncing back to best form but comes up against more experienced runners at this track in this contest.

Smart six-year-old from Japan who boasts seven wins from 13 career starts for Noriyuki Hori. Arrives here in decent form, having won two of last four races at Tokyo and Morioka as well as finishing 17th of 18 in a grade one at Tokyo and third of 13 last time out at Riyadh in the Saudi Cup last month, behind Country Grammer and Panthalassa.

Well-placed to go will in this contest but will need to improve again.

Four-year-old colt for Tetsuya Kimura who has two wins from eight career runs, at Sapporo for former trainer Takaki Iwato and Nakayama last April in a grade one contest over 1m 2f. He beat Equinox that day, which was impressive and was a good fourth to Panthalassa in Saudi Cup last month on reappearance.

Looks able to go well here for Kimura and Christophe-Patrick Lemaire is booked to ride.

Smart runner who won three of four runs last year, at Niigata, Chukyo and the same course again in December, landing grade one Champions Cup over 1m 1f. Only run this year yielded seventh in Saudi Cup at Riyadh won by Panthalassa.

Was behind a number of fellow runners here on that occasion and may find it tougher again here.

Five-year-old horse who won the Saudi Cup last year, edging out Country Grammer but could only manage sixth behind a few of these in this year’s renewal. Runs for new stable today having previously been with Mitab Almulawah.

May struggle against some of these runners again, and is in worse form than some of these rivals.

Four-year-old colt who has previously won here, landing the Group Two UAE Derby in March last year over 1m 1f, beating Summer Is Tomorrow by just under three lengths. Fifth of 13 in the Saudi Cup last month that fellow runner Panthalassa won after finishing second on three straight occasions prior to that run.

Another more difficult test for the four-year-old here awaits against some top horses.

Five-year-old who won two races from five runs last year, including win at Gulfstream last time out in December, beating Clapton to in an allowance race over 1m. Arrives here off 107 days but has been in good form at Gulfstream having placed second and won once in two runs at Hipodromo Chile earlier last year.

Difficult to weigh up winning chances after the break and hasn’t raced in this type of company before.

Course winner who won here in December over 1m 2f in a listed stakes contest. Recently third in a group two behind Bendoog and winner Algiers last time out last month at 5/1 and was sixth in this contest last year when priced at 125/1.

Looks an unlikely winner after finishing ninth in the Saudi Cup last month, behind a few of these too.

Eight-year-old gelding who has won at this course numerous times, landing Group One Al Maktoum Challenge earlier this month, beating 11/10 favourite and fellow runner here Bendoog by two lengths. This is a much better race, however.

Boasts ten wins from 28 flat runs and several here, wouldn’t be surprising to see a good race run but looks a tough one to win on paper.

The outsider for this contest at around 66/1 is Bendoog,, who has won here before but not in the same quality of race as this. Most recently second to Salute The Soldier in group one over 1m 2f here earlier this month and this requires more.

Fourth of 16 in UAE Derby at this course last year but has generally struggled in this type of company despite second to Algiers in group two at this course last month and can be dismissed.