The strength and depth of the G1 Dubai World Cup 2026 nominations have underlined the enduring global stature of the sport’s most international meeting, with champions from three continents set to converge on Meydan for the 30th running of the race on Saturday, 28 March 2026.
Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Forever Young headlines a glittering entry list that also features recent Dubai World Cup winners Laurel River, successful in 2024, and Hit Show, who captured the prize in 2025. In total, 151 horses have been entered for the $12 million, 2000-metre showpiece, a figure that reflects both the race’s prestige and its continuing ability to attract elite performers from around the world.
The entries reveal a notably strong Japanese challenge, led by Narukami, Diktaen and Dura Erede, each already proven at the highest level. They are joined by leading American representatives Gosger and White Abarrio, ensuring that the race once again brings together contrasting styles, form lines and racing cultures in a single, compelling contest.
G1 Dubai World Cup 2026 nominations highlight depth beyond the headline act
While the world’s attention naturally gravitates towards the main event, the broader Dubai World Cup Day programme is equally rich in quality. The nine-race card is anchored by the $6 million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, which has drawn 95 nominations and promises to be a race of exceptional depth.
Among those entered is Calandagan, crowned the 2025 Longines World’s Best Racehorse, alongside 2024 Sheema Classic winner Rebel’s Romance. They are joined by Breeders’ Cup Turf victor Ethical Diamond and reigning champion Danon Decile. Japan’s formidable middle-distance team is again well represented, with Croix Du Nord, Durezza and Masquerade Ball adding further intrigue to the race.
The G1 Dubai Turf has attracted 143 nominations, a testament to its growing international appeal. Defending winner Facteur Cheval features among the entries, alongside Ombudsman, winner of the G1 Coral-Eclipse, and Japanese star Jantar Mantar, a multiple top-level winner whose presence adds further depth to an already competitive field.
Sprint divisions set to deliver speed and spectacle
The sprint races on the card also promise high-class competition. Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato is among the entries for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, while Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint heroine Shisospicy appears on the nominations list for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint. Both races are traditionally among the most fiercely contested events of the day and look set to continue that trend in 2026.
Beyond the Group 1 features, Dubai World Cup Day is further strengthened by the presence of the G2 UAE Derby, the G2 Godolphin Mile and the G2 Dubai Gold Cup. The meeting customarily opens with the G1 Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians, adding a distinctive and culturally significant dimension to the programme.
Erwan Charpy, Head of Racing Operations and International Relations at Dubai Racing Club, welcomed the response from connections worldwide, noting the significance of the occasion. He said the presence of former and defending champions across multiple races underlined both the prestige of the event and its unique global pull, adding confidence that the 2026 edition would be a fitting celebration of international racing at its very best.
With the G1 Dubai World Cup 2026 nominations now confirmed, anticipation will build steadily towards March, as trainers and racing fans alike begin to map the paths that could lead their stars to one of the sport’s most coveted stages.
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