The Dubai World Cup 2026, set for Saturday, March 28 (local time) at Meydan Racecourse, is the 30th edition of the world's richest horse-racing day, with a $30.5 million (AU$43,503,065) prize pool.
The Dubai World Cup night features nine elite Group 1 races, starting around 15:30 (22:30 AEDT) local time and culminating in the main event at 20:35 (03:35 AEDT).
Quick Picks
- Our pick: Each-Way on Forever Young to win the Dubai World Cup
- Value bet: Each-Way on Calandagan in G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic
- Long shot: Each-Way on Magnitude in the Dubai World Cup
Betting Preview
The G1 Dubai World Cup is the flagship race of the night. It is run over a distance of 2,000m, on the dirt, and features a $12M prize (AU$17,085,132). Forever Young, fresh off Saudi Cup and BC Classic wins, leads Hit Show (defending champ), Magnitude, and Laurel River in a dirt showdown.
Turf stars shine in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, which is run over a distance of 2,410m. It has a prize of $6M (AU$8,543,053.44), where Japan Cup hero Calandagan battles Rebel's Romance.
In another meet, the G1 Dubai Turf is also one of the top races of the Dubai World Cup. It is contested over a distance of 1,800m, and has a $5M prize (AU$7,117,640.35). It pits Ombudsman, Docklands, and Facteur Cheval against each other in a star-studded race.
Betting Markets to Watch
Forever Young is a Japanese superstar, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, who boasts wins in the Saudi Cup (2025-26), Breeders' Cup Classic (2025), Saudi Derby, and UAE Derby, making him the first Japan-bred BC Classic victor and consecutive Saudi Cup winner. He'll be the expected favourite to win the Dubai World Cup.
In this race, Magnitude offers prime value with his odds in the Dubai World Cup, as he is coming off recent wins in the Razorback Handicap and Clark Stakes, where he beat Hit Show. His tactical speed keeps him clear of trouble, and at 2,000m, recent form trumps his lone Travers fade.
Additionally, Calandagan will likely be the clear favourite for the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. He is rated as the world's top Flat horse at 130 after a stellar 2025 with four G1 wins, which included the Japan Cup, King George, and Champion Stakes.
He arrives in peak form post-racecourse gallop, just ahead of rivals like Rebel's Romance (recent Dubai City of Gold winner) and a smaller European/Japanese field amid Gulf tensions. The Dubai World Cup is one of the richest horse races in the world, attracting elite international competition.
Our Prediction
Check the latest Dubai World Cup betting odds at Sportsbet.
We think Forever Young will be the likely winner of the Dubai World Cup, with Calandagan being worth value in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic.
In the long shot, we think there's value in an each-way bet with Magnitude in the Dubai World Cup. As noted, he's been impressive recently and could bolt up on the day. For more insights, check out our horse racing tips.
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