Dubai World Cup Carnival begins on Jan.3
DUBAI: Meydan Group has released the list of horses accepted for the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival (DWCC), whichcommencesonjan.3,2019,atthe Meydan Racecourse. The list features 202 accepted horses conditioned by a total of 71 trainers from 17 countries. Several international stars are set to travel to Dubai this winter to compete for a share of the $12,670,000 prize money—an increase of 12% from 2018—across 10 race cards, including 61 Thoroughbred races and 4 Group Purebred Arabian races.
In its 16th year, Dubai World Cup Carnivalwilltakeplaceonnineconsecutive Thursdays, from Jan. 3 through Feb. 28, before ending with Super Saturday, March 9. Super Saturday’s race card,whichhasbeenboostedtoarecord $2.65 million in prize money, will once againbeadressrehearsalfortheworldrecord $35 million Dubai World Cup card on March 30, 2019.
Meanwhile, the three rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge have received purse increases; Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (Group 2, 1600m, Jan. 10) is now worth $350,000, an increase of $100,000. Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (Group 2, 1900m, Feb. 7) is now worth $450,000, an increase of $200,000. Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (Group 1, 2000m, Super Saturday) is now worth $600,000, an increaseof$200,000.eightoftheprevious 19 Dubai World Cup winners have competed in the series, including four of the last seven.
Super Saturday’s Jebel Hatta (Group 1, 1800m turf) will increase $100,000 to $400,000. Other increases for Super Saturday: Dubai City of Gold (Group 2, 2410m turf) will be worth $300,000 and the Al Bastakiya (Listed, 1900m) goes up to $300,000 as the prep for the richest dirt derby in the world, the $2.5 million UAE Derby sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (Group 2, 1900m). Three individual races on the same evening increase by $150,000 to boast purses of $350,000, the Mahab Al Shimaal (Group 3, 1200m), Burj Nahaar (Group 3, 1600m) and newly upgraded Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (Group 3, 1200m turf).