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 1+12 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.

Dubai Sheema Classic
Group 1 race
LocationMeydan Racecourse
Dubai
Inaugurated1998
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
SponsorLongines
Websiteemiratesracing.com
Race information
Distance2,410 metres (1+12 miles)
(2,400 metres prior to 2010)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFor Southern Hemisphere 3 year olds and Northern Hemisphere four year olds
Weight3YO 54.5kg, NH & SH 4YO+ 57kg
PurseUS$6,000,000

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

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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:

  • 7 – Godolphin (1998, 2003, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024)

Winners

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Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
1998 Stowaway 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 2:29.01
1999 Fruits of Love 4 Kieren Fallon Mark Johnston Michael Doyle 2:28.45
2000 Fantastic Light 4 Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute Maktoum Al Maktoum 2:27.70
2001 Stay Gold 7 Yutaka Take Yasuo Ikee Shadai Racehorse 2:28.23
2002 Nayef 4 Richard Hills Marcus Tregoning Hamdan Al Maktoum 2:29.64
2003 Sulamani 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 2:27.67
2004 Polish Summer 7 Gary Stevens André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 2:31.09
2005 Phoenix Reach 5 Martin Dwyer Andrew Balding Winterbeck Manor Stud 2:30.54
2006 Heart's Cry 5 Christophe Lemaire Kojiro Hashiguchi Shadai Racehorse 2:31.89
2007 Vengeance of Rain 6 Anthony Delpech David E. Ferraris R. G. Chow Hon Man 2:31.03
2008 Sun Classique 5 Kevin Shea Mike de Kock L. Cohen / W. V. Rippon 2:27.45
2009 Eastern Anthem 5 Ahmed Ajtebi Mubarak bin Shafya Hamdan Al Maktoum 2:31:84
2010 Dar Re Mi 5 William Buick John H. M. Gosden Lord Lloyd-Webber 2:31:84
2011 Rewilding 4 Frankie Dettori Mahmood Al Zarooni Godolphin Racing 2:29.01
2012 Cirrus des Aigles 6 Olivier Peslier Corine Barande-Barbe Dupouy/Niel 2:31.30
2013 St Nicholas Abbey 6 Joseph O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Smith / Magnier / Tabor 2:27.70
2014 Gentildonna 5 Ryan Moore Sei Ishizaka Sunday Racing 2:27.25
2015 Dolniya 4 Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 2:28.29
2016 Postponed 5 Andrea Atzeni Roger Varian Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum 2:26.97
2017 Jack Hobbs 5 William Buick John Gosden Godolphin Racing 2:32.39
2018 Hawkbill 5 William Buick Charlie Appleby Godolphin Racing 2:29.45
2019 Old Persian 4 William Buick Charlie Appleby Godolphin Racing 2:27.17
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 Mishriff 4 David Egan John Gosden Prince Abdul Rahman al Faisal 2:26.65
2022 Shahryar 4 Cristian Demuro Hideaki Fujiwara Sunday Racing 2:26.88
2023 Equinox 4 Christophe Lemaire Tetsuya Kimura Silk Racing 2:25.65
2024 Rebel's Romance 6 William Buick Charlie Appleby Godolphin Racing 2:26:72

See also

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References

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