The 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival has drawn more than 200 runners from around the world to battle for a slice of the US$12.6 million (Dh46m) on offer across 10 race meetings.
Teaming up with the horses from overseas are 71 trainers from 17 countries and they will challenge the local runners spearheaded by Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby.
The Carnival, now in its 16th year, consists of 61 races for thoroughbreds and four for Purebred Arabians, and takes place on nine consecutive Thursdays, from January 3 through February 28, before ending with Super Saturday on March 9, all at Meydan Racecourse.
Overall price money is up 12 per cent on last year while Super Saturday’s race card, the traditional dress rehearsal for the $35 million Dubai World Cup card on March 30, which has been boosted to a record $2.65 million in prize money,
The opening meeting of the Carnival is a six-race card that includes both the Group 3 Singspiel and Dubawi Stakes with prize funds of $200,000 each, as well as the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial.
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The three rounds of Al Maktoum Challenge, both for thoroughbreds and Arabians, are other Carnival highlights and offer early pointers for potential winners on Dubai World Cup night.
The Maktoum Challenge has produced eight of the previous 19 Dubai World Cup winners, including four of the last seven.
Meanwhile, Jebel Ali holds the only meeting of this weekend, a seven-race card for thoroughbreds highlighted by a handicap rated for horses 85-105 and rub over 1,800 metres.
The UAE champion trainer Doug Watson has four entered in the 12-runner field with the stable jockey Pat Dobbs electing to ride Dehbashi. The others are Bowditch, Mizbah and Mutamakkin.
“Dehbashi tends to run well at Jebel Ali, so Pat has chosen him,” Watson said.
"He has the advantage of a run this season, whereas Bowditch is having his first start for us and since March. We really like Bowditch and he has been working well. Hopefully he will handle the conditions and be a nice new horse for us."
Erwan Charpy’s Mudaarab heads the challenge along with Sandeep Jadhav’s Rio Tigre and Silchester for Emirati trainer Helal Al Alawi, who is seeking a milestone 100 winners.