Dubai World Cup Day: 2024 dirt undercard for Race 2, 5, and 6

As always, the Dubai World Cup undercard brings as strong a day of racing as just about anywhere in the world. In addition to the big race, there are four other major dirt races worth a total of $5 million.

I’ll leave the $1 million Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians to the experts in that field and focus on the three Thoroughbred races on dirt on the undercard.

Race 5, 8:50 a.m. ET: UAE Derby (G2), Dirt, 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles), 3yos

Can #5 Forever Young stay unbeaten and continue his path toward the Kentucky Derby? That’s the big question here, and he has an international field to overcome.

Forever Young had to work hard to beat Book’em Danno in the one-mile Saudi Derby (G3). But he may have been a race short, and most likely was getting ready for longer distances. He should enjoy the move up to 1 3/16 miles.

The Japanese challenge is a little weaker in numbers this time, but #6 George Tesoro is a useful second-string. He has done most of his racing at seven furlongs, so his ability at this trip is unknown, though his breeding gives him hope.

Three-time winner Aidan O’Brien brings two horses: #8 Henry Adams, twice fourth at Group 1 level in Europe on turf, and #11 Navy Seal, third of three in the Patton at Dundalk March 1. Henry Adams is probably the better chance, but he would need to be taken on trust for his dirt debut.

U.S.-trained #12 Pandagate is an interesting puzzle; his wins have both been against New York-breds, but Christophe Clement isn’t likely to bring a horse this far without a chance. The best local hope is probably UAE 2,000 Guineas (G2) winner #10 Mendelssohn Bay.

It’s an interesting field but with a lot of unknowns, and facing that I’m supporting the proven ability of Forever Young.

• $20 win: #5 Forever Young
• $1 trifecta: 5 with 6, 8 with 6, 8, 10, 11, 12

Race 6, 9:25 a.m. ET: Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), Dirt, 1,200 meters (about six furlongs), 3yos up

Though there are some handy local sprinters here, this looks largely like a Japan-U.S. clash. It includes a few of the key horses in last year’s race: #13 Sibelius (first), #5 Hopkins (fourth), and #11 Remake (fifth).

Japanese star Remake has improved further since his effort in this last year, most notably when winning the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) Feb. 24. Whether it’s enough to win here is another question. Hopkins is also a solid performer, though he frequently seems to end up just short in this class.

Sibelius had a mixed record after winning this last year, being well beaten at Churchill Downs, Del Mar, and Keeneland later in the year. But he came back in style on his return to Florida, winning the same two races (the Mr. Prospector and the Pelican) as he did prior to his win here. He is also reunited for the first time since his win 12 months ago with Ryan Moore, and they have a compelling case.

Others worthy of consideration are the U.S. pair of #1 Bold Journey and #10 Nakatomi, along with Japan’s #6 Igniter, who failed at a mile last start but is accomplished on dirt at this trip.

• $10 win/$30 show: #13 Sibelius
• $1 trifecta: 11, 13 with 5, 11, 13 with 1, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13

Race 6, 9:25 a.m. ET: Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), Dirt, 1,200 meters (about six furlongs), 3yos up

Though there are some handy local sprinters here, this looks largely like a Japan-U.S. clash. It includes a few of the key horses in last year’s race: #13 Sibelius (first), #5 Hopkins (fourth), and #11 Remake (fifth).

Japanese star Remake has improved further since his effort in this last year, most notably when winning the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) Feb. 24. Whether it’s enough to win here is another question. Hopkins is also a solid performer, though he frequently seems to end up just short in this class.

Sibelius had a mixed record after winning this last year, being well beaten at Churchill Downs, Del Mar, and Keeneland later in the year. But he came back in style on his return to Florida, winning the same two races (the Mr. Prospector and the Pelican) as he did prior to his win here. He is also reunited for the first time since his win 12 months ago with Ryan Moore, and they have a compelling case.

Others worthy of consideration are the U.S. pair of #1 Bold Journey and #10 Nakatomi, along with Japan’s #6 Igniter, who failed at a mile last start but is accomplished on dirt at this trip.

• $10 win/$30 show: #13 Sibelius
• $1 trifecta: 11, 13 with 5, 11, 13 with 1, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13