Dubai is one of the richest places in the world and no wonder it is also the home of one of the richest horse races in the world.
The Dubai World Cup is a thoroughbred horse race held annually on the last Saturday of March at the Meydan Race course since 1996. It boasts of the second highest payout in all of horse racing with a mammoth $12M payout for its race winner.
The race has a distance of 2,000 meters or approximately 10 furlongs. As with the races held in the West, the Dubai World Cup, the races are held in left-handed position. It is the final race of the Dubai World Cup Night organized by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who also runs Darley Stud and Godolphin Racing.
This year’s Dubai World Cup is staled for March 30, 2019. Although that race is still two weeks away, the odds are already up and so are we. Check out which horses will make a good bet for you:
Thunder Snow is the current betting favorite to win the 2019 Dubai World Cup. The Godolphin-owned five year old is a proven winner, having won seven times, placing six times, showing thrice plus one fourth-place finish in 21 career starts. In 2016, he was named as the best two-year old horse trained in Britain after winning his final start of the year at the Criterium International.
Thunder Snow campaigned in Dubai in 2017 and won the UAE 2000 Guineas and the UAE Derby. After refusing to race in the Kentucky Derby, he returned to Europe and won the Prix Jean Prat. In 2018, Thunder Snow won the 2018 Dubai World Cup in record time. The last time he raced at Meydan was just last March 9th when he finished second to Capezzano at the Al Maktoum Challenge, R3.
Seven year old North America figured in several duels with Thunder Snow last year. Finished behind Thunder Snow in two races but beat him in the 1 ¼ m race which is the same length as the Dubai World Cup. Age is a factor here though but no question North America can run this track well.
Seeking The Soul is one of the oldest horses in the field at six years old. After a winless first season, he won three races in 2017 and would show improvement the following year. He won the Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2018. Overall, Seeking the Soul has won four times, placed three times and showed six in a total of 19 career races.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Mckinzie started his career a perfect 3/3, winning his maiden race, the Los Alamitos Futurity Stakes at the Los Alamitos Race Course and the Sham Stakes at the Santa Anita Park. Overall, he’s won five times with placed once in a total of seven career races.
Yoshida beat Gunnevera at the Woodward Stakes last September and then closed out the year with a 4th year finish at the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Chestnut colt Gunnevera has four “major” wins but none after 2017. He did however, have a Top 10 finish at last year’s Dubai World Cup.
Here are the complete list of favorites to win the 2019 Dubai World Cup. Odds taken from Bovada as of 3/12/19:
| Horses | Odds |
|---|---|
| Thunder Snow | +350 |
| North America | +400 |
| Seeking The Soul | +800 |
| Mckinzie | +1000 |
| Yoshida | +1000 |
| Gunnevera | +1400 |
| Tenfold | +1600 |
| Gronkowski | +2000 |
| Mubtaahij | +3300 |
| Yulong Warrior | +4000 |
| Gold Town | +5000 |
I like two horses here. First is top favorite Thunder Snow who has won for races at Meydan race course and who is trained by Saeed bin Suroor. Because of Bob Baffert’s winning tradition alone, McKinzie becomes an instant favorite. But for me, having won five races out of seven is an impressive feat.
Aside from the Dubai World Cup, there are several races in the Dubai World Cup night. Here are the favorites to win the other races at the 2019 Dubai World Cup. Odds taken from Bovada as of 3/13/19:
| Horses | Odds |
|---|---|
| Cross Counter | +200 |
| Ispolini | +200 |
| Call the Wind | +400 |
| Flag of Honour | +1000 |
| Weekender | +1000 |
| Prince of Arran | +1400 |
| Al Sahem | +2000 |
| Red Galileo | +3300 |
| Appeared | +5000 |
Pick: Cross Counter has won three out of his last four starts heading to this race. In his last race, he won the Melbourne Cup- G1. Cross Counter was previously considered for the Dubai Sheema Classic but trainer Charlie Appleby believes he is more suited for the extra distance at the Dubai Gold Cup. He is likely correct.
| Horses | Odds |
|---|---|
| Rey De Oro | +300 |
| Magical | +500 |
| Cross Counter | +600 |
| Magic Wand | +600 |
| Best Solution | +800 |
| Suave Richard | +800 |
| Wissahickon | +800 |
| Cheval Grand | +1000 |
| Kiseki | +1200 |
| Desert Encounter | +1600 |
| Capri | +2000 |
| Hunting Horn | +2500 |
| Mootasadir | +2500 |
| Defoe | +5000 |
Pick: Best Solution finished 8th to Cross Counter in the 2 mile Melbourne Cup- G1 last November. Prior to that though, he won four races in a row all at a distance of 1 ½ miles, the same distance as the Sheema Classic. He also has experience in this particular race, finishing 5th in last year’s edition of the Dubai Sheema Classic
| Horses | Odds |
|---|---|
| Divine Image | +225 |
| Walking Thunder | +450 |
| Art Du Val | +600 |
| Jahbath | +600 |
| Art Song | +700 |
| Derma Louvre | +800 |
| Estihdaaf | +800 |
| Manguzi | +800 |
| Royal Marine | +800 |
| Moshaher | +1400 |
| Bila Shak | +2000 |
| Superior | +2000 |
| Tone Broke | +2000 |
| Grecko | +3300 |
Pick: Walking Thunder has good early speed which should be an advantage in a shorter race like this. He finished second in the recently concluded UAE 2000 Guineas-G3. This 3-year old colt has raced exclusively at Meydan and has three wins and a second place finish in the track.
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