Global Racing News Roundup: Dubai World Cup Presses Ahead Despite Iran Conflict Withdrawals

Dubai World Cup to Go Ahead on 28 March

Dubai Racing Club confirmed on 10 March 2026 that the 30th Dubai World Cup will proceed as scheduled at Meydan Racecourse on 28 March, despite the ongoing conflict between Iran and the USA that has seen hundreds of Iranian drones and missiles fired at UAE territory since late February. The confirmation came in a formal statement to The National newspaper: “The 30th Dubai World Cup will take place as scheduled at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, 28 March 2026. Preparations continue as planned and we look forward to welcoming guests and the racing community for the event.”

The nine-race card carries a total prize fund of $30.5 million, with the Dubai World Cup feature race offering a $12 million purse to the winner, the highest single-race prize in world racing. The 2026 edition marks the event’s 30th anniversary. Entertainer Jason Derulo is confirmed to headline the post-racing concert, with the event expected to set new drone display records following last year’s Guinness World Record-breaking closing ceremony.

Despite the confirmation, significant names have withdrawn from the meeting. At least 11 Japanese horses that had been expected to compete have been pulled, including last year’s Dubai Sheema Classic winner Danon Decile, Masquerade Ball, Wilson Tesoro, Mikki Fight, Win Carnelian and Costa Nova. The Japan Racing Association confirmed it will not send officials to the meeting, and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs set a Level 3 travel advisory for the UAE.

Japan’s Reduced Dubai Squad

As of 17 March, Japan’s Dubai team had been reduced to six horses, according to Idol Horse’s World Racing Weekly. Those still committed to fly included: G1 star **Forever Young** (Yoshito Yahagi), already on the ground at Meydan since his Saudi Cup campaign; sprint champion **Lugal** (Duramente), preparing for the Al Quoz Sprint; **Gaia Force** (Kitasan Black), entered for the Dubai Turf; **American Stage** and **Shin Forever**, along with Keiai Agito.

On 17 March, three horses, Luxor Cafe, Shin Forever and Keiai Agito, landed at Kansai International Airport, having been withdrawn and flown home. Trainer Daisuke Takayanagi confirmed T O Elvis, originally a Dubai Golden Shaheen contender, had been re-routed to the Tokyo Sprint at Oi on 15 April.

Katsunori Arayama, trainer of **Diktaean**, one of the pre-race favourites for the Dubai World Cup, told Japanese media it would be “a huge pity” if the eight-year-old is unable to take his place in the main race, with a final decision to follow.

Key Remaining Contenders

The principal expected runners for the Dubai World Cup feature race (2,000m dirt, $12m) include:

– **Forever Young** (Japan, Yoshito Yahagi), G1 calibre dirt performer, Arima Kinen winner Museum Mile also entered for the Dubai Turf
– **Hit Show**, 2025 Dubai World Cup winner, trained by Brad Cox (USA); Cox confirmed: “We’re preparing as if it will right now. We’ll just kind of monitor things.”
– **Rebel’s Romance**, Godolphin’s well-travelled representative, won easily on Dubai Super Saturday
– **Ombudsman**, entered for the feature race
– **Calandagan**, undecided as of 19 March

US trainer Derek Ryan confirmed champion sprinter Book’em Danno would not travel for the Golden Shaheen: “We had planned on going to Dubai, but that’s out of the question now. Everything had been done. All the arrangements were being made and, all of a sudden, we had to pull the plug.”

Japan’s Hong Kong Pivot

With Dubai entries reduced and the risk elevated, Japanese connections have pivoted significantly toward Hong Kong’s Champions Day in late April. By 19 March, 45 Japanese horses had been entered for the three Group 1 races on Hong Kong Champions Day, a record expression of interest from Japan’s racing establishment in the meeting.

The reorientation has potential implications for the quality of fields at Sha Tin on Champions Day, including the Champions Mile, which has historically struggled to attract genuinely world-class overseas runners. G1 Japanese star **Jantar Mantar** (Palace Malice), winner of the Yasuda Kinen and Mile Championship, was cited as a potential Champions Mile contender who would be a significant draw for Hong Kong race fans.

Australian Racing: Dubai Honour Targets Sydney

British raider **Dubai Honour** (William Haggas) is expected to target the G1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill in late March, having previously won the G1 Ranvet Stakes and G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Australia in 2023. The stay-based traveller’s reappearance in Sydney marks a continuation of British yards’ growing engagement with the lucrative Australian autumn carnival, where prize money and competition conditions attract international participation.