Over 70 Horses Set To Compete In Dubai Racing Carnival's Opening Card At Meydan

The Dubai World Cup horse racing carnival begins tomorrow at Meydan Racecourse. Seventy-three horses will compete in seven races, with a total prize of AED1.33 million. This event is part of the 2025/2026 season, which features 17 distinguished races. The season runs until March 28, 2026, culminating in the thirtieth edition of the Dubai World Cup.

Dark Saffron, a notable performer from April's Dubai World Cup day, returns to action on Friday. Trained by Ahmad Bin Harmash, this three-year-old colt previously triumphed over older competitors like Tuz and Nakatomi in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. He now competes against his peers in the Emirates Airline Conditions race over 1200 metres.

The fifth race is a highlight, featuring a 1600-metre handicap sponsored by Emirates. Thirteen horses will compete, including Smart System, who has won twice at Meydan. Smart System represents trainer Ali Al Badwawi as his current leading horse.

The final race of the evening is another 1600-metre handicap sponsored by Emirates Skywards. Dark Stream, trained by Veronika Jandova from Denmark, leads the weights as a four-time winner. Among his nine opponents is Norato from Brazil, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, the reigning UAE Champion Jockey.

Race three features the Emirates Courier Express two-year-old maiden race. Benghazi Star and Six Speed are two promising horses to watch. Benghazi Star is trained by bin Harmash while Six Speed comes from Seemar’s stable.

This opening night promises thrilling competition with both local and international talent on display. As the season progresses towards its grand finale in March 2026, fans can expect more exciting races at Meydan Racecourse.

With inputs from WAM