Odds & Contenders
2024 Dubai World Cup
Saturday, March 30, 2024
2024 Dubai World Cup Betting
By TVG Staff
Updated March 28, 2024
There is nothing like the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, hosted by the Dubai Racing Club. The 1 ¼ mile contest tops a huge day of racing with championship events in every division, and incredible purses under the lights as the races are run at night. The Dubai World Cup (G1) is one of the most highly rated races in the entire world, and spectacular is a must-see destination for racing fans.
The Dubai World Cup began at Nad al Sheba in 1996 and has grown into one of the featured events on the world racing calendar. From Cigar to Dubai Millennium, its winners have been among the best horses in the world. The 2024 edition of the race happens on Saturday, March 30, and drew a star-studded field of twelve horses from all over the world.
Dubai World Cup Odds
This is the field for the 2024 Dubai World Cup including betting numbers, post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds for each horse. Note that, unlike in American races, betting numbers and post positions are not the same.
| Post | Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | ML Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Clapton | Chad Summers | Dylan Davis | 59-1 |
| 2 | 1 | Crupi | Todd Pletcher | Luis Saez | 16-1 |
| 3 | 9 | Defunded | Abdulaziz Mishref | Adel Furaydi | 49-1 |
| 4 | 8 | Derma Sotogake | Hidetaka Otonashi | Christophe Lemaire | 4-1 |
| 5 | 3 | Dura Erede | Manabu Ikezoe | Bauyrzhan Murzabayev | 24-1 |
| 6 | 2 | Kabirkhan | Doug Watson | Patrick Dobbs | 7-2 |
| 7 | 12 | Laurel River | Satish Seemar | Tadhg O’Shea | 11-1 |
| 8 | 4 | Military Law | Musabbeh Al Mheiri | Oscar Chavez | 29-1 |
| 9 | 6 | Newgate | Bob Baffert | Frankie Dettori | 8-1 |
| 10 | 10 | Senor Buscador | Todd Fincher | Junior Alvarado | 7-1 |
| 11 | 5 | Ushba Tesoro | Noboru Takagi | Yuga Kawada | 5-2 |
| 12 | 11 | Wilson Tesoro | Hitoshi Kotegawa | Yusuke Hara | 16-1 |
Though there is no betting on track at Meydan due to local customs and regulations, a morning line has been released for the world pari-mutuel pool. Just as with any pari-mutuel betting, expect the odds to change as the race gets closer, since pari-mutuel pools pay out based on the actual money bet into a pool. Horses taking more money than expected may be more live than you expected, whereas it is often worth asking why a horse is surprisingly cold on the board. Keep in mind that these morning lines reflect expected odds in American pari-mutuel pools, as Dubai does not allow on-track wagering.
Meydan Racecourse
Meydan Racecourse was built to replace Nad al Sheba, a less modern venue. Meydan opened in 2010, and the sprawling venue includes a golf course, 5-star hotel, and a horse racing museum. There are 285 rooms at the hotel, which overlooks the racetrack. The Meydan meeting runs from November through March each year, with the Carnival portion of the meet running from January through March, and then trainers go off to places like the United Kingdom, Germany, and South Africa to pursue the rest of the season.
Dubai World Cup Prep Results
The Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse is the highest-profile final stop before the Dubai World Cup, and a third of the field prepared there. The top pair from the Saudi Cup, Senor Buscador and Ushba Tesoro, renew their rivalry. Derma Sotogake and Defunded, who finished fifth and seventh in that $20 million race, will try to bounce back.
Four others come out of other races earlier in the Dubai carnival at Meydan. Military Law won the Al Maktoum Classic (G2) on Super Saturday, March 2. Clapton was third in that same race. Laurel River also won on Super Saturday, but he contested the one-mile Burj Nahaar. Kabirkhan won the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) on January 26 and has gotten a two-month break leading into Dubai’s biggest night.
A pair last raced in America: Newgate won the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), while Crupi has freshened up since running third in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream. The other two runners both come out of the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo: Wilson Tesoro and Dura Erede will try to improve off of eighth- and twelfth-place finishes behind Peptide Nile in that one-mile race.
Dubai World Cup Contenders
These are the top contenders in the twelve-horse field for the 2024 Dubai World Cup.
Defunded: He began his career with Bob Baffert, becoming an American Grade 1 winner, but is now based in Saudi Arabia. Though he needs to improve sharply off of his Saudi Cup try, his top-level win came at 1 ¼ miles and he has a lot of early speed. If a speed bias emerges in early races, which can happen on major race days at Meydan, he has long shot appeal.
Derma Sotogake: Though he finished only fifth in the Saudi Cup, he is a world-class horse over this longer distance. He also showed out better at Meydan than he did at King Abdulaziz, suggesting that the return to this footing can move him forward. If horses from off the speed are getting any kind of a fair run, he will be in the frame come the finish.
Dura Erede: He was a well-beaten twelfth last out, but the race was only a mile, and he has been showing better form going longer. He was beaten less than a length by Ushba Tesoro two back over this distance, and if he can rebound into that form, he stands a chance. Given his money finish in the UAE Derby last year, there are many reasons to think he can find the exotics at a price.
Kabirkhan: He started his career in Kazakhstan, losing only once in nine starts there, and proved his mettle in Dubai with a pair of wins during the Carnival meet. This son of Dubai World Cup winner California Chrome has proven his stamina for 1 ¼ miles and even beyond, though this is the deepest field of his career, and his tendency to break slowly could prove problematic. Demand a price.
Newgate: Bob Baffert has won four editions of the Dubai World Cup already, so he knows how to get a horse ready for this. He won the Santa Anita Handicap at 1 ¼ miles last out. Though this is a deeper field, this was more than likely the ultimate goal, meaning there is reason to think he will hold or even improve his form. And, with several other horses with more world-stage experience he should be the right price.
Senor Buscador: A plucky type who had nabbed plenty of top-level placings before this year, he is in career best form after a fast-finishing second in the Pegasus World Cup and a win in the Saudi Cup. Watch how the track is playing—if it is fair to closers than he should make good account, though if a speed bias emerges then his late-running style may be thwarted. He also has yet to prove he is as good at 1 ¼ miles as at 1 ⅛, the Saudi distance.
Ushba Tesoro: He clearly likes the course and distance, and the extra furlong can help him turn the tables on Senor Buscador from their clash last month in Riyadh. He is in strong form and he drew a nice middle gate, meaning he shapes as one of the top contenders.
Dubai World Cup Past Winners Past Performances
The Dubai World Cup has produced some of the best horses in recent memory. Starting with Cigar’s heart-pounding win in the inaugural Dubai World Cup, the best horses in the world have traveled to the United Arab Emirates to compete.
Silver Charm popularly battled to defeat Swain by a head in the 1998 Dubai World Cup. He had already won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Dubai Millennium, named solely with the intention of winning the big race in the new millennium, did just that by open lengths in 2000. Street Cry (Ire), who won in 2002, became the sire of the great mare Zenyatta. Breeders’ Cup Classic winners Invasor, Curlin, and Pleasantly Perfect all took the Dubai World Cup, as did Kentucky Derby winners Animal Kingdom and California Chrome. In a thriller, Arrogate stumbled at the start, picked himself up, and won the Dubai World Cup in 2017.
More recently, Thunder Snow became the only two-time winner of the race. The Dubai World Cup was not run in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was canceled just days before the race, with all the horses already on the grounds.
The Dubai World Cup is now the second-richest dirt race in the world, with a $12 million purse. It trails only the $20 million Saudi Cup.
Post Time for the Dubai World Cup
The 2023 Dubai World Cup goes off at 8:35 pm local time in Meydan City, which is 12:35 pm Eastern and 9:35 am Pacific. The card gets underway at 3:30 pm local time, which is 7:30 am Eastern time and 4:30 am Pacific.
Dubai World Cup Undercard
The Dubai World Cup card is the biggest night of the racing calendar, and is the ninth and final race on an all-group-stakes card at Meydan on Saturday, March 25.
The card also features the $6 million Sheema Classic (G1) for turf routers, the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1) for middle-distance turf runners, the $2 million Golden Shaheen (G1) sprinting on dirt, the $1 million UAE Derby for three-year-old Kentucky Derby hopefuls, the $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) at six furlongs on grass, the $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2) for stayers, the $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2) for dirt milers, and the $1 million Kahayla Classic (G1) for Arabian horses.
Dubai World Cup FAQ
Q: When is the Dubai World Cup?
A: The race will be run on Saturday, March 30, 2024.
Q: Where is the Dubai World Cup?
A: It takes place at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
Q: Which trainer has the most wins in the Dubai World Cup?
A: Saeed bin Suroor has won this race nine times between 1996 and 2019. However, he does not have an entrant in 2024. The trainer in this year’s edition with the most wins is Bob Baffert, who has won the race four times so far. He goes for his fifth with Newgate.
Q: Who is the favorite for the Dubai World Cup?
A: Ushba Tesoro, the defending champion, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite and should be the public’s choice on his repeat attempt. However, take note of betting action on other in-form contenders like Senor Buscador (7-1), Derma Sotogake (4-1), or Kabirkhan (7-2).
Q: Who is the best Dubai World Cup jockey?
A: Jerry Bailey and Frankie Dettori are tied with four wins each, best among any jockeys. Dettori can take the record alone if he wins with Newgate.
Q: Who won the Dubai World Cup in 2023?
A: Ushba Tesoro from Japan took home the win in 2023, with trainer Noboru Takagi and jockey Yuga Kawada. They return with him in 2024.
Get up to $200 Back
Get your first win wager on a single horse in any race at any track up to $200 back if you lose!Horse Betting Promotions
Get up to $200 Back
Get your first win wager on a single horse in any race at any track up to $200 back if you lose!2024 Dubai World Cup Betting
By TVG Staff
Updated March 28, 2024
There is nothing like the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, hosted by the Dubai Racing Club. The 1 ¼ mile contest tops a huge day of racing with championship events in every division, and incredible purses under the lights as the races are run at night. The Dubai World Cup (G1) is one of the most highly rated races in the entire world, and spectacular is a must-see destination for racing fans.
The Dubai World Cup began at Nad al Sheba in 1996 and has grown into one of the featured events on the world racing calendar. From Cigar to Dubai Millennium, its winners have been among the best horses in the world. The 2024 edition of the race happens on Saturday, March 30, and drew a star-studded field of twelve horses from all over the world.
Dubai World Cup Odds
This is the field for the 2024 Dubai World Cup including betting numbers, post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds for each horse. Note that, unlike in American races, betting numbers and post positions are not the same.
| Post | Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | ML Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Clapton | Chad Summers | Dylan Davis | 59-1 |
| 2 | 1 | Crupi | Todd Pletcher | Luis Saez | 16-1 |
| 3 | 9 | Defunded | Abdulaziz Mishref | Adel Furaydi | 49-1 |
| 4 | 8 | Derma Sotogake | Hidetaka Otonashi | Christophe Lemaire | 4-1 |
| 5 | 3 | Dura Erede | Manabu Ikezoe | Bauyrzhan Murzabayev | 24-1 |
| 6 | 2 | Kabirkhan | Doug Watson | Patrick Dobbs | 7-2 |
| 7 | 12 | Laurel River | Satish Seemar | Tadhg O’Shea | 11-1 |
| 8 | 4 | Military Law | Musabbeh Al Mheiri | Oscar Chavez | 29-1 |
| 9 | 6 | Newgate | Bob Baffert | Frankie Dettori | 8-1 |
| 10 | 10 | Senor Buscador | Todd Fincher | Junior Alvarado | 7-1 |
| 11 | 5 | Ushba Tesoro | Noboru Takagi | Yuga Kawada | 5-2 |
| 12 | 11 | Wilson Tesoro | Hitoshi Kotegawa | Yusuke Hara | 16-1 |
Though there is no betting on track at Meydan due to local customs and regulations, a morning line has been released for the world pari-mutuel pool. Just as with any pari-mutuel betting, expect the odds to change as the race gets closer, since pari-mutuel pools pay out based on the actual money bet into a pool. Horses taking more money than expected may be more live than you expected, whereas it is often worth asking why a horse is surprisingly cold on the board. Keep in mind that these morning lines reflect expected odds in American pari-mutuel pools, as Dubai does not allow on-track wagering.
Meydan Racecourse
Meydan Racecourse was built to replace Nad al Sheba, a less modern venue. Meydan opened in 2010, and the sprawling venue includes a golf course, 5-star hotel, and a horse racing museum. There are 285 rooms at the hotel, which overlooks the racetrack. The Meydan meeting runs from November through March each year, with the Carnival portion of the meet running from January through March, and then trainers go off to places like the United Kingdom, Germany, and South Africa to pursue the rest of the season.
Dubai World Cup Prep Results
The Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse is the highest-profile final stop before the Dubai World Cup, and a third of the field prepared there. The top pair from the Saudi Cup, Senor Buscador and Ushba Tesoro, renew their rivalry. Derma Sotogake and Defunded, who finished fifth and seventh in that $20 million race, will try to bounce back.
Four others come out of other races earlier in the Dubai carnival at Meydan. Military Law won the Al Maktoum Classic (G2) on Super Saturday, March 2. Clapton was third in that same race. Laurel River also won on Super Saturday, but he contested the one-mile Burj Nahaar. Kabirkhan won the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) on January 26 and has gotten a two-month break leading into Dubai’s biggest night.
A pair last raced in America: Newgate won the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), while Crupi has freshened up since running third in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream. The other two runners both come out of the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo: Wilson Tesoro and Dura Erede will try to improve off of eighth- and twelfth-place finishes behind Peptide Nile in that one-mile race.
Dubai World Cup Contenders
These are the top contenders in the twelve-horse field for the 2024 Dubai World Cup.
Defunded: He began his career with Bob Baffert, becoming an American Grade 1 winner, but is now based in Saudi Arabia. Though he needs to improve sharply off of his Saudi Cup try, his top-level win came at 1 ¼ miles and he has a lot of early speed. If a speed bias emerges in early races, which can happen on major race days at Meydan, he has long shot appeal.
Derma Sotogake: Though he finished only fifth in the Saudi Cup, he is a world-class horse over this longer distance. He also showed out better at Meydan than he did at King Abdulaziz, suggesting that the return to this footing can move him forward. If horses from off the speed are getting any kind of a fair run, he will be in the frame come the finish.
Dura Erede: He was a well-beaten twelfth last out, but the race was only a mile, and he has been showing better form going longer. He was beaten less than a length by Ushba Tesoro two back over this distance, and if he can rebound into that form, he stands a chance. Given his money finish in the UAE Derby last year, there are many reasons to think he can find the exotics at a price.
Kabirkhan: He started his career in Kazakhstan, losing only once in nine starts there, and proved his mettle in Dubai with a pair of wins during the Carnival meet. This son of Dubai World Cup winner California Chrome has proven his stamina for 1 ¼ miles and even beyond, though this is the deepest field of his career, and his tendency to break slowly could prove problematic. Demand a price.
Newgate: Bob Baffert has won four editions of the Dubai World Cup already, so he knows how to get a horse ready for this. He won the Santa Anita Handicap at 1 ¼ miles last out. Though this is a deeper field, this was more than likely the ultimate goal, meaning there is reason to think he will hold or even improve his form. And, with several other horses with more world-stage experience he should be the right price.
Senor Buscador: A plucky type who had nabbed plenty of top-level placings before this year, he is in career best form after a fast-finishing second in the Pegasus World Cup and a win in the Saudi Cup. Watch how the track is playing—if it is fair to closers than he should make good account, though if a speed bias emerges then his late-running style may be thwarted. He also has yet to prove he is as good at 1 ¼ miles as at 1 ⅛, the Saudi distance.
Ushba Tesoro: He clearly likes the course and distance, and the extra furlong can help him turn the tables on Senor Buscador from their clash last month in Riyadh. He is in strong form and he drew a nice middle gate, meaning he shapes as one of the top contenders.
Dubai World Cup Past Winners Past Performances
The Dubai World Cup has produced some of the best horses in recent memory. Starting with Cigar’s heart-pounding win in the inaugural Dubai World Cup, the best horses in the world have traveled to the United Arab Emirates to compete.
Silver Charm popularly battled to defeat Swain by a head in the 1998 Dubai World Cup. He had already won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Dubai Millennium, named solely with the intention of winning the big race in the new millennium, did just that by open lengths in 2000. Street Cry (Ire), who won in 2002, became the sire of the great mare Zenyatta. Breeders’ Cup Classic winners Invasor, Curlin, and Pleasantly Perfect all took the Dubai World Cup, as did Kentucky Derby winners Animal Kingdom and California Chrome. In a thriller, Arrogate stumbled at the start, picked himself up, and won the Dubai World Cup in 2017.
More recently, Thunder Snow became the only two-time winner of the race. The Dubai World Cup was not run in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was canceled just days before the race, with all the horses already on the grounds.
The Dubai World Cup is now the second-richest dirt race in the world, with a $12 million purse. It trails only the $20 million Saudi Cup.
Post Time for the Dubai World Cup
The 2023 Dubai World Cup goes off at 8:35 pm local time in Meydan City, which is 12:35 pm Eastern and 9:35 am Pacific. The card gets underway at 3:30 pm local time, which is 7:30 am Eastern time and 4:30 am Pacific.
Dubai World Cup Undercard
The Dubai World Cup card is the biggest night of the racing calendar, and is the ninth and final race on an all-group-stakes card at Meydan on Saturday, March 25.
The card also features the $6 million Sheema Classic (G1) for turf routers, the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1) for middle-distance turf runners, the $2 million Golden Shaheen (G1) sprinting on dirt, the $1 million UAE Derby for three-year-old Kentucky Derby hopefuls, the $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) at six furlongs on grass, the $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2) for stayers, the $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2) for dirt milers, and the $1 million Kahayla Classic (G1) for Arabian horses.
Dubai World Cup FAQ
Q: When is the Dubai World Cup?
A: The race will be run on Saturday, March 30, 2024.
Q: Where is the Dubai World Cup?
A: It takes place at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
Q: Which trainer has the most wins in the Dubai World Cup?
A: Saeed bin Suroor has won this race nine times between 1996 and 2019. However, he does not have an entrant in 2024. The trainer in this year’s edition with the most wins is Bob Baffert, who has won the race four times so far. He goes for his fifth with Newgate.
Q: Who is the favorite for the Dubai World Cup?
A: Ushba Tesoro, the defending champion, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite and should be the public’s choice on his repeat attempt. However, take note of betting action on other in-form contenders like Senor Buscador (7-1), Derma Sotogake (4-1), or Kabirkhan (7-2).
Q: Who is the best Dubai World Cup jockey?
A: Jerry Bailey and Frankie Dettori are tied with four wins each, best among any jockeys. Dettori can take the record alone if he wins with Newgate.
Q: Who won the Dubai World Cup in 2023?
A: Ushba Tesoro from Japan took home the win in 2023, with trainer Noboru Takagi and jockey Yuga Kawada. They return with him in 2024.