Dubai Sheema Classic Explained

Surface:Turf
Class:Group 1
Horse Race:Dubai Sheema Classic
Location:Meydan Racecourse
Dubai
Inaugurated:1998
Sponsor:Longines
Race Type:Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website:emiratesracing.com
Distance:2,410 metres (miles)
Track:Left-handed
Qualification:For Southern Hemisphere 3 year olds and Northern Hemisphere four year olds
Weight:3YO 54.5kg, NH & SH 4YO+ 57kg
Purse:US$6,000,000

The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (approximately miles; 2410 metres since 2010) on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in March.

The race was first run in 1998, and it was initially titled the Dubai Turf Classic. The present name was introduced two years later. The event attained Group 1 status in 2002. Prior to 2010 it was run at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.

The Dubai Sheema Classic currently offers a purse of US$6 million making it and the Dubai Turf race the two of the most valuable turf races in the world.

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 2,410 metres and Meydan Racecourse)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
1998Stowaway4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing2:29.01
1999Fruits of Love4Kieren FallonMark JohnstonMichael Doyle2:28.45
2000Fantastic Light4Kieren FallonSir Michael StouteMaktoum Al Maktoum2:27.70
2001Stay Gold7Yutaka TakeYasuo IkeeShadai Racehorse2:28.23
2002Nayef4Richard HillsMarcus TregoningHamdan Al Maktoum2:29.64
2003Sulamani4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing2:27.67
2004Polish Summer7Gary StevensAndré FabreKhalid Abdullah2:31.09
2005Phoenix Reach5Martin DwyerAndrew BaldingWinterbeck Manor Stud2:30.54
2006Heart's Cry5Christophe LemaireKojiro HashiguchiShadai Racehorse2:31.89
2007Vengeance of Rain6Anthony DelpechDavid E. FerrarisR. G. Chow Hon Man2:31.03
2008Sun Classique5Kevin SheaMike de KockL. Cohen / W. V. Rippon2:27.45
2009Eastern Anthem5Ahmed AjtebiMubarak bin ShafyaHamdan Al Maktoum2:31:84
2010Dar Re Mi5William BuickJohn H. M. GosdenLord Lloyd-Webber2:31:84
2011Rewilding4Frankie DettoriMahmood Al ZarooniGodolphin Racing2:29.01
2012Cirrus des Aigles6Olivier PeslierCorine Barande-BarbeDupouy/Niel2:31.30
2013St Nicholas Abbey6Joseph O'BrienAidan O'BrienSmith / Magnier / Tabor2:27.70
2014Gentildonna5Ryan MooreSei IshizakaSunday Racing2:27.25
2015Dolniya4Christophe SoumillonAlain de Royer-DupréAga Khan IV2:28.29
2016Postponed5Andrea AtzeniRoger VarianMohammed Obaid Al Maktoum2:26.97
2017Jack Hobbs5William BuickJohn GosdenGodolphin Racing2:32.39
2018Hawkbill5William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin Racing2:29.45
2019Old Persian4William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin Racing2:27.17
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021Mishriff4David EganJohn GosdenPrince Abdul Rahman al Faisal 2:26.65
2022Shahryar4Cristian DemuroHideaki FujiwaraSunday Racing2:26.88
2023Equinox4Christophe LemaireTetsuya KimuraSilk Racing2:25.65
2024Rebel's Romance6William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin Racing2:26:72

See also

References