Series stars ready to shine on Dubai World Cup night

Big Orange returns to action in the Dubai Gold Cup. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Four horses who have won at least one QIPCO British Champions Series race will be in action on Dubai World Cup night on Saturday night.

Several others who have been placed or run well in the Series will also be chasing a slice of the big money on offer at Meydan.

The Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (off at 5.10pm) carries a first prize of £2.6 million and features Poet’s Word, who chased home Cracksman in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, and Hawkbill, winner of the Coral-Eclipse in 2016.

Cloth Of Stars, Idaho, Desert Encounter, Khalidi and Best Solution are other significant European-trained runners in the ten-furlong contest and each could make their mark on this year’s Champions Series.

Thunder Snow, trained by Saeed bin Suroor and third in the Str James’s Palace Stakes last summer, lines up in the feature of the whole night – the Group 1 Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (5.50) – while triple Series winner Big Orange, who won the Gold Cup last summer and has two Goodwood Cup wins on his CV, will make his return in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors (12.45).

Michael Bell’s popular seven-year-old has finished second and fourth in previous runnings of the 2m race behind French ace Vazirabad, who again stands in his way.

Alain De Royer-Dupre trains Vazirabad and has indicated the grey will be aimed at the Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup this summer.

Sheikhzayedroad, a dual Series winner, will also contest the Dubai Gold Cup, where first prize is £444,000. Dal Harraild, Frontiersman, Rare Rhythm and Torcedor are other notable British and Irish runners.

Librisa Breeze shone for Dean Ivory and Robert Winston when winning on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot in October and will have his first race since in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored By Azizi Developments.

Blue Point, Washington DC, Jungle Cat and Magical Memory feature among the opposition in the 6f dash.
Lancaster Bomber, runner-up in the St James’s Palace Stakes last year, is among a field of 15 in the Group 1 Dubai Turf Sponsored By DP World (4.35).