ENGLISH TEXTS by Simon Crisford and his son Ed- a duo who enjoyed a magnificent day with this victory and three Group 1 placings, earning more than € 3 million, and providing great emotion for Simon Crisford, who was among those who created this meeting 30 years ago when he was Racing Manager for Godolphin. In the Godolphin colours, Ombudsman produced the expected display by dominating the Dubai Turf for John and Thady Gosden, ridden by William Buick, all key figures in Sheikh Mohammed’ s operation.“ Congratulations Dubai,” exclaimed Buick,“ we have wonderful racing here and it is a pleasure to be part of this team.” For his part, John Gosden recalled,“ I was present at the first World Cup, with Cigar and his entourage of Allen Paulsen, Bill Mott and Jerry Bailey. It has been a great journey, and I congratulate everyone who has worked to put this meeting together tonight.” Ombudsman’ s first major European target will be the Prince of Wales’ s Stakes at Royal Ascot. There was no runner in the famous blue silks in the Godolphin Mile, but the Group 2 lived up to its name. The dirt contest was won by a six-year-old bred by Godolphin, Banishing, trained in the United States by David Jacobson and ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, a former retained jockey for Godolphin in Great Britain. Local trainer Ahmad bin Harmash and his jockey
Connor Beasley were crowned kings of speed, scoring victories in the Al Quoz Sprint with Native Approach, who proved himself over the 1,200-metre distance, and in the Dubai Golden Shaheen with Dark Saffron, who successfully defended his title, beating Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato, whose co-owner Michael Lavarone is a prominent figure in the Netflix series Race for the Crown. In a very different way, Connor Beasley is making the most of an opportunity offered to him a few years ago to spend the winter in Dubai for the Carnival. This jockey from northern England suffered a serious accident in 2015 that kept him off the track for almost a year and would likely never have imagined racing for petrodollars in the Emirates. The Kahayla Classic traditionally opens the Dubai World Cup card, and this Group 1 reserved for Purebred Arabians saw a historic feat thanks to Falaah, who won by a short head after a tremendous late run, giving a first victory at this meeting to neighbouring Oman. Many Japanese runners withdrew from the trip to Dubai; in the end, the Land of the Rising Sun was represented by only six thoroughbreds. That was enough to win the UAE Derby for the fifth consecutive year. In 2026, the winner was Wonder Dean, ridden by Cristian Demuro. Previously fourth in the Saudi Derby, he secured his ticket to the Kentucky Derby, which has become a grail for the Japanese, on par with the Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe. Two years ago, the UAE Derby winner was Forever Young, and since then, the Yoshito Yahagi-trained runner has become an international superstar, notably a hero of two Saudi Cups and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Forever Young was the hot favourite for the Dubai World Cup but had to settle for second place behind the American runner Magnitude, who made all the running under José Ortiz. His trainer Steve Asmussen recorded his second victory in the Dubai World Cup, after the triumph of champion Curlin in 2008. The international racing caravan moves on, and Magnitude and Forever Young could meet again at Keeneland in October for the Breeders’ Cup!
MEE- TING
PIA AND JOAKIM BRANDT
BY EMMANUEL RIVRON
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If Sweden proudly displays the Dala horse as a national symbol, it can also rely on excellent standard-bearers in Pia and Joakim Brandt, undoubtedly carved from the same wood, that of a love for horses. While Pia appeared alone on race programs for
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