Group 3 race added to Dubai World Cup next year

Meydan Racecourse added a ninth race to the Dubai World card on Thursday, bringing the total prize money offered on March 31 to US$27.25 million (Dh100m). The new race will be a 3,200m cup contest, run as a Group 3 on the turf course and will carry a purse of $1m. It is understood that the race will be a reincarnation of the Dubai Racing Club Gold Cup, run on what used to be called Super Thursday, but will now form part of the self-styled "world's richest day in racing". With races such as the Nad Al Sheba Trophy, a Listed contest over 2,800m, and the Wheels Trophy, a handicap that was run last season in January, there is now a genuine programme for stayers from around the world to aim for. "As the popularity of the Dubai World Cup and racing at Meydan grows, we must keep in step to encourage and foster the development of the sport," Saeed Al Tayer, the chairman of the board and chief executive of Meydan, said. "Meydan has developed as a centrepiece of the international racing calendar and the further growth of the Dubai World Cup and Dubai World Cup Carnival will ensure that Dubai serves as a winter destination for some of the biggest names in racing. "We are pleased with our past accomplishments, but we also look to the future for even greater experiences in racing for Meydan, the Dubai World Cup and the UAE." Connections of Bergo, who finished second to Godolphin's Whispering Gallery in the DRC Gold Cup in March, and Mikhail Glinka, who was fourth, were delighted at the prize money levels and vowed to enter their horses in to the inaugural line-up. "You can count on us being there," said Gary Moore, Bergo's trainer. "Mikhail Glinka will be there too. "He's currently in my yard on behalf of Herman Brown as he's being prepared for a crack at the Canadian International [on October 16]. "As for Bergo, he suffered a knock last time out when fourth in the Doncaster Cup and will miss the Champions Day race next week. I hope he's ready for March." The new race is sure to attract a large contingent from Godolphin , whose Opinion Poll is entered in the stayers race on British Champions Day next weekend. One horse who is unlikely to make the journey to Dubai is Fame And Glory, the Ascot Gold Cup winner. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the five-year-old is owned by the Dubai-based Fitri Hay. "It's a great idea," said Alex Cole, Hay's racing manager. "Fame And Glory will not handle the ground in Dubai though. "They'd probably have to water from February onwards for us to come." Follow us

Group 3 race added to Dubai World Cup next year

'World's richest day in racing' will now be worth Dh100 million.