2025 Dubai World Cup: Top selections and price plays
Even in races with such lopsided favorites as Forever Young and Romantic Warrior, there’s no shortage of quality rivals who can outperform market expectations.
International
Kellie Reilly
Kellie Reilly is a journalist and turf writer specializing in international horse racing.
Top storylines for 2025 Dubai World Cup: Forever Young bids for historic double
Storylines for the big night at Meydan - Forever Young, Romantic Warrior, Rebel's Romance, Straight No Chaser, Kentucky Derby implications and more!
Dubai World Cup
2025 Takamatsunomiya Kinen: One-line assessments
Turf sprinters scramble about six furlongs in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) at Chukyo late Saturday night stateside (2:40 a.m. ET), the first top-level turf race of the year in Japan.
International
The 10 best Kentucky Derby winners of all time
The greatest Kentucky Derby winners didn’t just run the race of their lives as three-year-olds on the first Saturday in May. They built resumes, often as older horses, that stand the test of time.
Kentucky Derby
2025 Dubai World Cup prospectus: Forever Young, Romantic Warrior part ways
Globetrotters extraordinaire Forever Young and Romantic Warrior, who served up a Saudi Cup (G1) thriller last time out, will return to action on Dubai World Cup (G1) night April 5.
International
Dubai Super Saturday: Japanese add interest to auditions for World Cup night
Meydan’s “Super Saturday” might not have the fanfare of last week’s Saudi Cup (G1), but the traditional dress rehearsal for the April 5 Dubai World Cup (G1) extravaganza remains informative.
Dubai World Cup
Japan Road to Kentucky Derby: Contenders in 2025 Hyacinth Stakes
If Forever Young has a successor in 2025, he’s probably in the Hyacinth.
International
2025 Saudi Cup Day: Horses of interest
Saudi Cup Day features six lucrative Group stakes for Thoroughbreds (seven if you include the Arabian prize), three apiece on turf and dirt at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
Saudi Cup
2025 Saudi Cup: Top storylines
The world’s richest race, Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), is attracting the world’s all-time richest racehorse, Romantic Warrior, and a robust Japanese team led by Forever Young.
International
Pedigree notebook: Nutella Fella’s genetic confection
Nutella Fella is by champion sprinter Runhappy, but his female line also features high-profile speedsters, suggesting a confluence of factors on top and bottom.
Horse
Dubai: Horses of interest on spectacular Fashion Friday card
The Thoroughbred equivalent of haute couture will line up on “Fashion Friday” at Meydan, with an all-stakes program featuring several superstars.
International
Pedigree notebook: Still more to come from Arrogate’s last crop
This Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup (G1) brings back memories of champion Arrogate, who blasted to a new track record in the 2017 edition at Gulfstream Park.
Horse
Horses to follow in 2025: Just a Touch
Just a Touch hasn’t been seen since last summer, but the runner-up to Sierra Leone in the 2024 Blue Grass (G1) brings plenty of upside into his four-year-old season.
Horse
Horses to follow in 2025: Raqiya
While Todd Pletcher has the likes of Fierceness, Locked, and Mindframe in his arsenal for 2025, the Hall of Fame trainer picked up a fascinating new turf recruit in Raqiya.
Horse
2024 in review: Travers Stakes left the biggest what-if
Imagine that the Travers (G1) post positions for Fierceness and Thorpedo Anna were reversed.
Analysis
Dubai: Three-year-olds to watch in UAE 2000 Guineas Trial
Potential UAE Derby (G2) prospects step out at Meydan on Friday in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, a connection emphasized by the Kentucky Derby (G1) appearing as the race’s sponsor.
International
2024 in review: 10 favorite horses
While the Eclipse Award champions of 2024 will get plenty of fanfare, I’d like to take a more subjective approach and highlight my own personal favorites over the past year.
International
Forever Young, two-time champ Ushba Tesoro clash in Tokyo Daishoten
Most recently third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Forever Young aims to remain unbeaten in his native Japan in Sunday’s Tokyo Daishoten (G1) at Oi. The about 1 1/4-mile feature is slated for 1:40 a.m. ET late Saturday into early Sunday morning.
International
Horses to follow in 2025: Senza Parole
Remember Senza Parole, the sensational debut winner at Saratoga who was sure to be the red-hot favorite in the Frizette (G1)?
Horse
First-crop sires: Kale’s Angel heralds promise for Complexity
Complexity has furnished several additional stakes performers since our last installment, chief among them Kale’s Angel, who starred in the Advent S. on opening day at Oaklawn Park.
Pedigree
May Day Ready meets Forever Young’s half-sister in Hanshin Juvenile Fillies
Best of the rest behind European star Lake Victoria in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), May Day Ready takes on Japan’s most promising prospects in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) late Saturday night at 1:40 a.m. ET.
International
Top picks, price plays for 2024 Hong Kong International Races
If it might not pay to get too creative with top picks for the Hong Kong International Races late Saturday night, there’s ample scope for the imagination in potential price plays and exotics longshots at Sha Tin.
International
2024 Hong Kong Vase: Trends and storylines
Unlike the other three Hong Kong International Races, the about 1 1/2-mile Hong Kong Vase (G1) remains a happy hunting ground for invaders. The trend is expected to continue in Sunday’s renewal at Sha Tin.
Hong Kong
2024 Hong Kong Sprint: Trends and storylines
Breeders’ Cup winner Starlust will attract the notice of North American racing fans, but the center of gravity in Sunday’s Hong Kong Sprint (G1) lies with the locals led by Ka Ying Rising.
International
2024 Hong Kong Mile: Trends and storylines
The retirement of Golden Sixty has created a golden opportunity for a new star to emerge in the Dec. 8 Hong Kong Mile (G1), but it’s less obvious to predict his successor at Sha Tin.
Hong Kong
2024 Hong Kong Cup: Trends and storylines
Two-time defending champion Romantic Warrior furnishes the leading storyline going into the Hong Kong Cup (G1) while illustrating recent trends in the Sha Tin feature.
Hong Kong
2024 Champions Cup: One-line assessments
Japan’s reigning champion dirt horse, Lemon Pop, will try to conclude his career on a high note as he defends his title in Saturday night’s Champions Cup (G1) at Chukyo.
International
2024 Hong Kong International Races: Early look at the main players
A perennial highlight on the racing calendar, the Hong Kong International Races now offer an even greater incentive to bettors: the four Group 1s will be World Pool events at Sha Tin Dec. 8.
International
2024 Japan Cup: One-line assessments
Saturday night’s 44th running of the Japan Cup (G1) has attracted a terrific international cast of 14, including European celebrities Auguste Rodin and Goliath.
International
Horse Profile: Whistlejacket
As the only Group 1 winner in the field, with high speed that hasn’t quite lasted over stiffer tracks, Whistlejacket makes a lot of sense on the cutback at Del Mar.
Horse