ENGLISH TEXTS
horses and jockeys globally, just weeks before the flat season opens for the major racing stables.
Several French media outlets made the trip to cover the event, among them Clélia Moncorgé( Karisma Consulting), who once again delivered an immersive, emotional live video experience, and Jean-Charles Briens, who has traveled the globe for more than 30 years capturing some of the world’ s most iconic racing moments. At Meydan, he has experienced the warm atmosphere of the old track and the inauguration of the new one, documenting the great victories of recent years— including those of the 2025 edition— in six powerful photographs. A glimpse into some of the highlights of this 2025 edition, as seen through the lens of two exceptional talents.
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PHOTO“ Crowned with a seventh Champion Jockey title in the Land of the Rising Sun in 2024, Christophe Lemaire now sets his sights on competing in the world’ s greatest races. By securing a hard-fought victory with Admire Daytona in the prestigious UAE Derby, he earns himself a coveted spot once again in the highly sought-after Kentucky Derby.”
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PHOTO“ Beating the unbeatable, even by the narrowest of margins, must be transcendent.” Cristian was euphoric upon returning to the winner’ s circle, fully grasping the magnitude of what his Japanese partner had just achieved. With Soul Rush, he had just toppled Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior after an epic duel. This racecourse is notoriously hard to capture emotionally— Christophe Soumillon once put it perfectly:“ The walk between the track and the winner’ s circle is so long that by the time they arrive, they’ ve already moved on.” Yet I had never seen Maxime Guyon as ecstatic as he was last year after his win with Facteur Cheval. That victory sparked something in him that words cannot describe. He was transcended.
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PHOTO In the United Arab Emirates, gambling is banned, but perhaps not for much longer … On Dubai World Cup day, it is exceptionally possible to play the“ Pick 7” for free and share in a generous prize of $ 100,000.
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PHOTO The“ mothership” that is Meydan hosted the 29 th Dubai World Cup. It replaced the muchloved Nad Al Sheba racecourse in 2010, which was demolished the day after its final running in 2009. I was there for the opening. Enormous in scale, its spectator capacity will likely never be reached, and it’ s incredibly difficult to photograph. Between the grandstand and the Meydan Hotel lies more than 1.6 kilometers, even a wide-angle lens can’ t capture it all!
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PHOTO A look that says more than words ever could. Moments after the Godolphin Mile, Marine Henry is radiant, seemingly transported after King Gold’ s brilliant second-place finish. A crowning moment after a winter spent in Dubai.
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PHOTO When receiving his trophy, Florent Géroux spent several minutes in conversation with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Second in 2017 with Gun Runner, he finally captured his first Dubai World Cup title aboard Hit Show, racing for Wathnan Racing.
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