2014 Dubai World Cup Carnival

Meydan is preparing to host some of the biggest names in horse racing this season with the 2014 Dubai World Cup Carnival program, worth more than US$37 million in prize money.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival, which gets underway on January 9, 2014, features 11 high-class race meetings at Meydan Racecourse, including Super Saturday on March 8 and the season-ending $27.25m Dubai World Cup day on March 29.

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2014 Dubai World Cup Carnival Schedule on TwinSpires

* Form Guides courtesy of the Emirates Racing Authority

2014 Dubai Wold Cup Carnival Information

Dates: January 9 - March 29
Where: Meydan Racecourse, Dubai
Post Times: 9:30am ET/6:30am PT
TV Coverage: HRTV will broadcast live coverage the first Carnival meeting, beginning at 9:30 a.m. EST.

2014 Dubai Wold Cup Carnival Stakes Schedule

Thursday, 20 February 2014

$200,000 Balanchine (G2)
Fillies and mares – 1,800 metres – Turf

$200,000 Dubai Millennium Stakes (Listed)
2,000 metres – Turf
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Thursday, 27 February 2014

$250,000 UAE Oaks (G3)
Three-year-olds, Fillies – 1,900 metres – Tapeta

$250,000 Zabeel Mile (G2)
1,600 metres – Turf

$125,000 Meydan Classic (Listed)
Three-year-olds – 1,600 metres – Turf
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Saturday, 1 March 2014

$200,000 Nad Al Sheba Trophy (G3)
2,800 metres – Turf
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Saturday, 8 March 2014 (Super Saturday)

$400,000 Al Maktoum Challenge – R3 (G1)
2,000 metres – Tapeta

$300,000 Jebel Hatta (G1)
1,800 metres – Turf

$250,000 Dubai City of Gold (G2)
About 2,400 metres – Turf

$200,000 Mahab Al Shimaal (G3)
1,200 metres – Tapeta

$200,000 Burj Nahaar (G3)
1,600 metres – Tapeta

$250,000 Al Bastakiya (Listed)
Three-year-olds – 1,900 metres – Tapeta

$175,000 Meydan Sprint (G3)
1,000 metres – Turf
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Saturday, 29 March 2014 (Dubari World Cup Night)

$10,000,000 Dubai World Cup (G1)
2,000 metres – Tapeta

$5,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1)
2,400 metres – Turf

$5,000,000 Dubai Duty Free (G1)
1,800 metres – Turf

$2,000,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1)
1,200 metres – Tapeta

$2,000,000 UAE Derby (G2)
1,900 metres – Tapeta

$1,000,000 Godolphin Mile (G2)
1,600 metres – Tapeta

$1,000,000 Al Quoz Sprint (G1)
1,200 metres – Turf

$1,000,000 Dubai Gold Cup (G2)
3,200 metres – Turf

$250,000 Dubai Kahayla Classic for purebred Arabians (G1)
2,000 metres – Tapeta
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Changes for the 2014 Dubai Racing Carnival Schedule

The new season sees a number of changes to the program, designed to offer connections more options when planning Dubai race campaigns.

The about two-mile, $1 million Dubai Gold Cup, held on Dubai World Cup day, has been upgraded from a Group 3 to a Group 2 and the $175,000 Meydan Sprint, held at about five furlongs on the turf on Super Saturday has now moved up from a listed race to a Group 3.

Three conditions races have been upgraded to listed status and will serve as prep races for big-money Dubai World Cup Carnival contests.

The about nine-furlong Singspiel Stakes, held on turf on the opening day of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, carries increased prize money of $150,000. It will prep horses for the Group 2, $200,000 Al Rashidiya over the same distance on January 30. While still a conditions race, this race was won by Godolphin's Sharestan in 2013, the Mike de Kock-trained Mahbooba in 2012 and Roger Teal's Steele Tango in 2011.

The Dubawi Stakes at six furlongs on Tapeta on January 16 is now worth $150,000. It is the prep for the Group 3, $200,000 Al Shindagha Sprint, a contest in the same race preparation as the Group 1, $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen. Satish Seemar's Reynaldothewizard claimed this race in 2013 en route to his victory in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, while Captain Obvious won it for Singapore-based Steven Burridge in 2012 and de Kock's Our Giant took the race in 2011.

The Dubai Millennium now offers trainers a listed race, worth $200,000 and run at about 1 1/4 miles on turf on February 20. This allows horses to prep for a range of Dubai World Cup-day options, including the two $5 million turf races in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free or the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic or the big one, the $10 million, Group 1 Dubai World Cup.

Godolphin has dominated this race over the last two seasons with Quick Wit and Simon de Montfort winning in 2013 and 2012 respectively and Steele Tango once again in the money in 2011.

The Al Fahidi Fort turf race, formerly held over a metric mile during the seventh Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting, has been brought down in trip to about seven furlongs and moved to the third meeting, which this season falls on January 23. The $125,000 Meydan Classic, held on February 27, has also been brought down in trip from a metric mile to about seven furlongs.

Martin Talty, international manager at Dubai Racing Club, said the changes had been made to further refine and develop the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

"We wanted to develop our 1400-meter program and noted that there were not many races of the status of the Al Fahidi Fort over that distance around the world," Talty noted. "We wanted to open the race up a bit so that it ties in with the Zabeel Mile held five weeks later, which can be used to prep for Dubai World Cup day races."

Talty added that newly-upgraded Dubai Millennium would give trainers extra options when prepping for valuable Group 1 races on Dubai World Cup day.

"This 2000-meter race was named after the great Dubai Millennium and fits into our schedule on February 20, where it is four weeks out from Dubai World Cup night and horses can use it to prepare for any of the three final races on the Dubai World Cup-day card, the Dubai Duty Free, the Dubai Sheema Classic or the Dubai World Cup."

The Gold Cup, now upgraded to a Group 2 was also earmarked for future growth, said Talty.

"This race became a Group 3 in 2010 and moved to the Dubai World Cup program in 2012. It is a race that has become attractive to trainers with stayers from around the world and hopefully in years to come it will take another step up to a Group 1, adding further value to the Dubai World Cup card."

Meydan Racetrack Information

Location: Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, UAE

Main track (dirt): 3 chutes
Chute 1: 2,000 metres (1 1/4 miles)
Chute 2: 1,600 metres (1 mile)
Chute 3: 1,200 metres (3/4 mile)
Track width: 21 metres (66 feet)
Maximum starters: 16

Turf course: 11 furlongs
Camber on straights: 2%
Camber on turns: 4%
Composition: Bermuda hybrid in the summer, winter rye in the winter, top dressed with two inches of Irish peat moss
Maximum starters: varies by distance

Dubai World Cup Carnival wagering may include: Win, Place, Show, Quinella, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double, Pick 3, and Pick 4.

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