Horse Racing November 18, 2025

Del Mar Delivers First Dubai World Cup Qualifiers

Breeders’ Cup Returns to Del Mar for 42nd Edition

The 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships took place from 31 October to 1 November at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in California. Now in its 42nd year—and returning to Del Mar for the fourth time—the event featured 14 Grade 1 races across two days, with more than $34 million in purses and awards. Widely regarded as one of the sport’s top showpieces, the Breeders’ Cup drew a truly international field of first-class thoroughbreds.

Dubai Racing–Breeders’ Cup Challenge Alliance Reshapes International Racing

This year’s edition carried added significance for horse racing in Dubai, following a landmark partnership announced on 16 February 2025 between Dubai Racing Club and the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. For the first time, four winners from the 2025 Dubai World Cup meeting earned guaranteed places in corresponding Breeders’ Cup races via the “Win and You’re In” pathway.

Global Calendar Gains New Depth Through Reciprocal Entry

Under the agreement, the winners of the Dubai World Cup, Dubai Golden Shaheen, Dubai Sheema Classic, and Dubai Turf secured assured slots into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, and FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile respectively. In return, Breeders’ Cup champions would be invited to compete at the 2026 Dubai World Cup meeting next March, further strengthening the global racing calendar.

First Cohort of Dubai World Cup Qualifiers to Participate in the Breeders’ Cup

Hit Show, triumphant in the G1 Dubai World Cup, claimed a guaranteed start in the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)—the marquee event of the Championships.

Dark Saffron, the first 3-year-old to conquer the $2 million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, earned his passage into the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

Danon Decile, Japanese Derby hero and winner of the $6 million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, booked his ticket to the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).

Soul Rush, trained in Japan, surged late to snatch the $5 million G1 Dubai Turf by a stride, securing his place in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

Through the Challenge Series incentives, the quartet enjoyed waived entry costs and international support packages to compete at Del Mar, underscoring the commitment to global participation at the highest level.

How Dubai World Cup Qualifiers Fared at Del Mar

The drama of Del Mar unfolded with high stakes and some heartbreak:

Hit Show, the Dubai World Cup hero, battled bravely in the Classic but was swept aside in the final strides as Japan’s Forever Young surged past Sierra Leone to claim a historic first Classic triumph for his nation.

Dark Saffron, the youthful Golden Shaheen star, broke sharply in the Sprint but was outgunned by Bentornato, who delivered a blistering wire-to-wire performance under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Danon Decile, carrying Japan’s hopes in the Turf, loomed large turning for home but was denied by Ireland’s Ethical Diamond, who stormed wide at 25-1 to shock the field and deny Rebel’s Romance.

Soul Rush, the Dubai Turf victor, produced his trademark late kick in the Mile but could not reel in Godolphin’s Notable Speech, who powered clear under William Buick for a decisive win.

Each Dubai qualifier showed courage and class, even as Del Mar crowned new champions from across the globe.

Inter-Continental Rewards: Del Mar Winners Bound for Meydan in 2026

At the heart of the partnership between Breeders’ Cup Limited and Dubai Racing Club is a commitment to reciprocal opportunity and global prestige. The 2025 Breeders’ Cup champions now hold assured berths for the 2026 Dubai World Cup meeting:

Breeders’ Cup Race	2025 Winner	Automatic Dubai World Cup Qualifier
Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic	Forever Young (JPN)	Dubai World Cup
Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint	Bentornato (USA)	Dubai Golden Shaheen
Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf	Ethical Diamond (IRE)	Dubai Sheema Classic
FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile	Notable Speech (GBR)	Dubai Turf

Each of the Del Mar winners booked their Meydan passage in unforgettable style. Japan’s Forever Young stormed past Sierra Leone in the Classic, delivering a historic first triumph for his nation. In the Sprint, America’s Bentornato blazed forth from the gates and never looked back, the track appeared wired under Irad Ortiz Jr. Ireland’s Ethical Diamond produced a breathtaking late swoop in the Turf, shocking rivals at 251. And Britain’s Notable Speech sealed the Mile with authority, Buick driving him clear for Godolphin’s latest diamond finisher.

Finishes that not only crowned champions but ensured Meydan will welcome horses arriving with momentum and dramatic storylines already written. Together those victories set the stage for a truly international renewal at Meydan in March 2026, with Japan, Ireland, Britain, and the United States all represented among the first wave of qualifiers.

Senior Leadership & Trainer Reflections

The human voices behind the triumphs and near-misses brought the partnership’s significance into sharp relief. Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien reflected on the collaborative spirit: “The Breeders’ Cup is where the best meet, and partnerships across continents make these victories possible. It’s about teamwork at every level.”

In the Classic, Chad Brown praised Sierra Leone’s courage in defeat, noting that “the winner ran a terrific race… I’m so proud of my horse’s effort. So courageous to run against the bias and nearly get there.”

Meanwhile, Willie Mullins hailed Ethical Diamond’s Turf upset as proof of international unity: “To come here and win against the superpowers of American racing is extraordinary. It shows what can be achieved when owners, breeders, and trainers work together across borders.”

French trainer Francis Graffard described Gezora’s Filly & Mare Turf victory as “magical… not just about individual triumphs—it’s about the partnerships that bring horses to this stage. Every success is shared.”

And Jose D’Angelo, who achieved a rare sprint double, captured the spirit of the Challenge: “To win on both dirt and turf in one day is a dream. The Breeders’ Cup Challenge makes these opportunities possible, and the partnerships behind the scenes are what carry us forward.

Elevating International Horse Racing: Unity in a New Era of Reciprocal Competition

This reciprocal arrangement between the Dubai World Cup and Breeders’ Cup meetings not only elevates the global prestige of both events but also ensures that the world’s elite horses, trainers, and jockeys are showcased on multiple continents. It reflects a new era of fluid global competition and strategic exposure for top stables.

Join ES Sport and follow the global racing journey from Del Mar to Dubai. Track the build-up from Breeders’ Cup qualifiers through the key Dubai Racing Carnival meetings—Opening Night (7 Nov), Festive Friday, Fashion Friday, and Emirates Super Saturday (28 Feb). It all leads to the grand finale: the 30th edition of the Dubai World Cup on 28 March 2026, the world’s most spectacular race day, with US$30.5 million in prize money and the sport’s finest on show.

About Dubai Racing Club

Dubai Racing Club (DRC) organises and hosts horseracing at Meydan Racecourse, from November through to April, including the Dubai Racing Carnival and the Dubai World Cup – known as the world’s most spectacular race day. The Dubai Racing Carnival runs from 7, November 2025 until 13, March 2026.

Today, the Dubai World Cup is the highlight of Dubai’s sporting and social calendar and attracts the best horses and riders from all over the world, with a total prize money of US$ 30.5 million for the showcase of nine races, including US$ 12 million at stake in the title contest. In 2026, the 30^th edition of the Dubai World Cup will take place on Saturday, 28 March.

About Breeders’ Cup

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races through partnerships with host countries around the globe, and the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. The Breeders’ Cup operates under the national, uniform rules and regulations of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and its Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU).