UAE Derby

UAE Derby
Group 2 race
LocationMeydan Racecourse
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Inaugurated2000
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
Website[1]
Race information
Distance1,900 metres (1 3/16 miles)
Surfacedirt, left-handed
Qualification3-year-olds from the Northern & 4-year-olds from the Southern Hemisphere
WeightNH: 54.5kg. – SH: 59.5kg Allowance fillies 2kg.
PurseUS$2,500,000

The UAE Derby is a Group 2 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for three-year-old thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,900 metres (approximately 9.5 furlongs) on dirt at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.[1] It takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night on the last Saturday in March.

It was first run in 2000 and attained Group 2 status two years later. The distance of the race was increased to 2,000 metres (10 furlongs) in 2002, before reverting to 1,800 metres in 2004, and increased again to 1,900 meters in 2010. The race is open to both Northern and Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds.

The UAE Derby currently offers a purse of US$2.5 million. Considered a major race leading up to the Kentucky Derby in the United States, the top UAE Derby finishers received Kentucky Derby points from 2013 until 2024. Starting in 2025, the UAE Derby will be part of a separate series of Kentucky Derby prep races covering Europe and the Middle East.[2]

Records

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Speed record:

  • 1:47.04 – Express Tour (At former distance of 1,800 metres)
  • 1:55.18 – Mendelssohn (over current distance of 1,900 metres)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

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Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time
2000 China Visit Richard Hills Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:49.50
2001 Express Tour David R. Flores Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:47.04
2002 Essence of Dubai Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 2:02.90
2003 Victory Moon Wayne Smith Mike de Kock Mad Syndicate 2:02.45
2004 Lundy's Liability Weichong Marwing Mike de Kock Stud TNT & Mary Slack 1:50.83
2005 Blues and Royals Kerrin McEvoy Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:50.05
2006 Discreet Cat Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:48.59
2007 Asiatic Boy Weichong Marwing Mike de Kock Sheikh M. bin Khalifa 1:48.82
2008 Honour Devil Johnny Murtagh Mike de Kock Sheikh M. bin Khalifa 1:48.60
2009 Regal Ransom Alan Garcia Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:50.00
2010 Musir Christophe Soumillon Mike de Kock Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum 1:57.44
2011 Khawlah Mickael Barzalona Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:58.83
2012 Daddy Long Legs Colm O'Donoghue Aidan O'Brien Michael Tabor, John Magnier & Derrick Smith 1:58.35
2013 Lines of Battle* Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Michael Tabor, John Magnier & Derrick Smith 2:02.05
2014 Toast of New York Jamie Spencer Jamie Osborne Michael Buckley 1:57.92
2015 Mubtaahij Christophe Soumillon Mike de Kock Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum 1:58.35
2016 Lani Yutaka Take Mikio Matsunaga Yoko Maeda 1:58.41
2017 Thunder Snow Christophe Soumillon Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:57.76
2018 Mendelssohn Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor 1:55.19
2019 Plus Que Parfait José Ortiz Brendan Walsh Imperial Racing 1:58.41
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 Rebel's Romance William Buick Charlie Appleby Godolphin Racing 1:56.28
2022 Crown Pride Damian Lane Koichi Shintani Teruya Yoshida 1:59.76
2023 Derma Sotogake Christophe Lemaire Hidetaka Otonashi Hiroyuki Asanuma 1:55.81
2024 Forever Young Ryusei Sakai Yoshito Yahagi Susumu Fujita 1:57.89
  • Lines of Battle was later renamed Helene Super Star

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "UAE Derby (GII)". Kentucky Derby. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  2. ^ "Churchill Modifies Road to the Kentucky Derby for 2025". bloodhorse.com. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.