2020 DWCC programme to see richer purses and status upgrades
- Last updated: July 25, 2019 | 22:35
The Dubai Racing Club announced on Thursday the 2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival programme -- to be hosted at Meydan Racecourse over 10 weeks, including nine consecutive Thursday evenings from Jan.2-Feb.27, before culminating with the Super Saturday card on Mar.7.
A dress rehearsal for the $35 million Dubai World Cup meeting — the world’s richest race day — Super Saturday will feature seven course and distance preps. The total prize money for the 10 nights of the 2020 DWC Carnival is $12,740,000 following a 2019 renewal that saw horses ship in to win or place from Australia, Denmark, France, Ireland, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey, UK and the U.S.
The 25th edition of Dubai World Cup day will be staged three weeks after the DWC Carnival on March 28 and is topped by the world’s richest race, the Group 1, $12 million Dubai World Cup.
The $350,000 Dubai City of Gold (G2) over 2410m on turf, which has produced Dubai World Cup night winners the past two seasons, will receive a $50,000 increase in purse, which raises Super Saturday to $2.7 million in total prize money. The 2019 Super Saturday card produced three of the nine Dubai World Cup night winners, including Thunder Snow, who contested the $600,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (G1).
The $250,000 Singspiel Stakes (G2), won the last two seasons by subsequent Group 1 winners, receives an increase in purse and upgrade in status, while six $175,000 turf handicaps have been upgraded to Listed status (base rating of 95) and each complement a natural flow of divisional races within the DWC Carnival.
The Dubai Racing Club Classic will be contested over 2410m on opening night, Jan.2, and will naturally lead into the aforementioned Dubai City of Gold. On the same evening, the 1400m Meydan Challenge naturally leads to the $250,000 Al Fahidi Fort (G2) — a race that has produced multiple Dubai World Cup night winners — three weeks later.
The 2000m Zabeel Turf on Jan.16 will feed naturally into the $200,000 Dubai Millennium (G3) on Feb.20, while the 1000m Dubai Dash is a prep for the $250,000 Meydan Sprint (Group 2) on Feb.20 — a race the world’s current co-top-rated sprinter, Blue Point, contested the last two seasons.
Turf sprinters looking for an extra furlong have an option two weeks later on Feb.6, the Dubai Sprint over 1200m, which preps for Super Saturday’s $350,000 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3). Lastly, the Meydan Cup on Jan.30 over the marathon 2810m distance will be a launching point for stayers looking to contest the $300,000 Nad Al Sheba Trophy (G3) on Feb.27.
2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival Programme -- 10 Racenights (Jan.2-Mar.7, 2020)
Thursday (Jan.2): $175,000 Dubai Racing Club Classic-2410m, 95 & Up (Listed); $175,000 1900m, 90 & Up; $100,000 UAE 1000 Guineas Trial-1400m, 3YO’s fillies; $175,000 Meydan Challenge-1400m, 95 & Up (Listed); $200,000 Dubawi Stakes-1200m, (Group 3); $135,000 90-105
Thursday (Jan.9): $250,000 Singspiel Stakes-1800m, (Group 2); $135,000-1600m, 90-105; $350,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1-1600m, (Group 2); $100,000 UAE 2000 Guineas Trial-1600m, 3YO’s; $100,000 Dubai Trophy-1200m, 3YO’s; $175,000-1200m, 90 & Up; $65,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1-1600m dirt, (Group 1)
Thursday (Jan.16): $175,000 Zabeel Turf-2000m, 95 & Up (Listed); $135,000-1600m, 90-105; $250,000 Cape Verdi Fillies & Mares-1600m, (Group 2); $175,000-1600m, 90 & Up; $135,000-1200m, 90-108; $135,000-1200m, 90 - 105
Thursday (Jan.23): $135,000-2410m, 90-108; $135,000-2000m, 90-108; $100,000 Al Bastakiya Trial-1900m, 3YO’s; $250,000 UAE 1000 Guineas-1600m, 3YO’s Fillies (Listed); $250,000 Al Fahidi Fort-1400m, (Group 2); $175,000 Dubai Dash-1000m, 95 & Up (Listed)
Thursday (Jan.30): $175,000 Meydan Cup-2810m, 95 & Up (Listed); $135,000-2000m, 90-105; $250,000 Al Rashidiya-1800m, (Group 2); $175,000-1600m, 90 & Up; $135,000-1600m, 90-105; $200,000 Al Shindagha Sprint-1200m, (Group 3); $75,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2-1900m dirt, (Group 1)
Thursday Feb.6: $450,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2-1900m, (Group 2); $135,000-1800m, 90-105; $250,000 UAE 2000 Guineas-1600m, 3YO’s (Group 3); $100,000 Meydan Classic Trial-1400m, 3YO’s; $135,000-1400m, 90-108; $175,000 Dubai Sprint-1200m, 95 & Up (Listed)
Thursday (Feb.13): $175,000-2410m, 90 & Up; $100,000 Meydan Trophy-1900m, 3YO’s; $250,000 Balanchine Fillies & Mares-1800m, (Group 2); Firebreak Stakes-1600m, (Group 3); $135,000-1200m, 90-108; $135,000-1000m, 90-105; $55,000 Mazrat Al Ruwayah-1600m dirt, (Group 2)
Thursday (Feb.20): $200,000 Dubai Millennium Stakes-2000m, (Group 3); $250,000 UAE Oaks-1900m, 3YO’s Fillies, (Group 3); $250,000 Zabeel Mile-1600m, (Group 2); $135,000-1600m, 90-105; $135,000-1400m, 90-105; $250,000 Meydan Sprint-1000m, (Group 2)
Thursday (Feb.27): $300,000 Nad Al Sheba Trophy-2810m, (Group 3); $175,000 Curlin Stakes-2000m, 95 & Up (Listed); $135,000-2000m, 90-108; $175,000 Meydan Classic-1600m, 3YO’s (Listed); $135,000-1600m, 90-105; $175,000-1400m, 90 & Up; $100,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3-2000m dirt, (Group 1)
Saturday (Mar.7 -- Super Saturday): $350,000 Dubai City Of Gold-2410m, (Group 2); $600,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3-2000m, (Group 1); $300,000 Al Bastakiya-1900m, 3YO’s (Listed); $400,000 Jebel Hatta-1800m, (Group 1); $350,000 Burj Nahaar-1600m, (Group 3); $350,000 Mahab Al Shimaal-1200m, (Group 3); $350,000 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint-1200m, (Group 3)