The deadline for free nominations to the historic 25th Dubai World Cup has been extended until Jan.20, 2021.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Dubai Racing Club has announced that the Dubai World Cup Purse has been retained at $12 million and that the deadline for free nominations to the historic 25th Dubai World Cup has been extended until Jan.20, 2021.

Held on the final Saturday of March each year, the single day of racing boasts an impressive six G1 and three G2 races, reflective of the elite standard of competition, hosted at the iconic Meydan Racecourse. Last year a total of 1,774 nominations were accepted from 902 horses trained in 21 countries.

Scheduled on March 27, 2021 prize money for the flagship G1 Dubai World Cup race sponsored by Emirates Airline has been retained at $12 million. Contested over 2000m on dirt since 1996, it has been won by horses trained in France, Japan, UAE, UK and USA.

Purses for the remaining eight races are slightly reduced from the previous running, but given the challenging events over the past few months on account of COVID-19, Dubai Racing Club has made every effort to ensure the return of racing in safe and secure conditions.

A positive addition is the decision to modify the purse structure, allowing for payment all the way down an 8th-place finish in all races on the night.

The first supplementary stage for all races on Dubai World Cup day will close on Wednesday, Feb.10, when connections can nominate their horse for 0.1% of the prize money of their chosen race.

The second supplementary stage is on Monday, March 8, when horses can be supplemented for 1% of the prize money. The third and final supplementary stage takes place on Sunday, March 21, when horses can be supplemented into the race for 10% of the prize money. Entry/declaration takes place Monday, March 22.

Earlier, Dubai Racing Club released the list of horses accepted for the 7-meeting 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival, which runs for six consecutive Thursdays (Jan 21 - Feb. 25) before culminating with Super Saturday (Mar. 6), the official dress rehearsal for the historic 25th running of the Dubai World Cup card (Mar. 27). (Dubai World Cup 2020 was postponed this year as a result of COVID-19).

The list features 158 accepted horses, conditioned by a total of 63 trainers from 12 countries. In 2020, the DWC Carnival saw horses from Great Britain, Ireland, Oman, Sweden, UAE, USA, South Africa, Bahrain, Denmark, Korea, Japan, Spain, France and Norway either win or finish placed. In 2021, too there is a great variety of international participation expected based on the horses that have been approved to run.

A total of 42 Thoroughbred races and 3 Group Purebred Arabian affairs are on the programme, with a host of international stars likely to travel to Dubai to compete. Among the top names are G1 winners -the Roger Teal-trained Oxted (G1 Darley July Cup Stakes winner, 2020) and David O’Meara’s trainee -Lord Glitters (G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot winner, 2019, 3rd in G1 Dubai Turf behind Almond Eye at Meydan, 2019).

Fawzi-Nass’s Simsir (Bahrain International Trophy winner, 2020) leads the list of returning DWCC stars, alongside Prince Of Arran (Placed thrice in the Melbourne Cup, 2018-19-20), Certain Lad (G3 Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes winner, York, 2020, 6th in Bahrain International Trophy), Equilateral (Group 1 placed in King’s Stand Stakes at Ascot, 2020), Doug Watson’s –Midnight Sands (2 wins in DWCC 2020, back under Watson’s tutelage after a stint in America) and Suzanne Berneklint’s Plata O Plomo.

Others to watch out for include Australian G3 winner Halvorsen, and Berkshire Rocco who was placed 2nd in the G1 Pertemps St Leger Stakes earlier this year.

Dubai World Cup –Revised Prize Money:

G1(Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic Sponsored by Mubadala - $750,000.

G2 1600 m(Dirt) Godolphin Mile — $750,000.

G2 3200m (Turf) Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors — $750,000

G1 1200m (Turf) Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments — $1,000,000

G2 1900m(Dirt) UAE Derby Sponsored by Emirates NBD — $750,000

G1 1200m (Dirt) Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News — $1,500,000

G1 1800m (Turf) Dubai Turf Sponsored DP World — $4,000,000

G1 2410m (Turf) Longines Dubai Sheema Classic - $5,000,000

G1 2000m (Dirt) Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline — $12,000,000