2025 Dubai World Cup: Horses, Trainers, Jockeys

Meet the likely field for the 2025 Dubai World Cup, including horses, trainers and jockeys.

Forever Young (JPN)

Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi

Jockey: Ryusei Sakai

Last three starts: 1st, Saudi Cup (Gr. 1), King Abdulaziz Racecourse; 1st, Tokyo Daishoten (Gr. 1), Oi; 3rd, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Del Mar.

Need to know: Reigning Saudi Cup (Gr. 1) champion Forever Young eyes his second major score on Middle Eastern soil as the presumptive favourite. Overall, the Japanese superstar is 8-2-0 across 10 career starts with four Group-tier victories.  

Hit Show

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Last three starts: 3rd, Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Santa Anita; 1st, Louisiana Stakes (G3), Fair Grounds; 5th, Clark Stakes (G2), Churchill Downs.

Need to know: Hit Show will be making his international debut following a 17-start stretch on the United States circuit that resulted in an 8-1-1 record with five graded tallies and over $1.4 million in earnings.

Il Miracolo

Trainer: Antonio Sano

Jockey: Mike Smith

Last three starts: 8th, Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), Del Mar; 2nd, Philip H. Iselin (G3), Monmouth Park; 3rd, Alysheba Stakes (G2), Churchill Downs.

Need to know: The DWC will be Il Miracolo’s first taste of action since an eighth in the Pacific Classic (G1) on Aug. 31. A strong competitor at home, the 5-year-old colt stares down his stiffest challenge to date.

Imperial Emperor (IRE)

Trainer: Bhupat Seemar

Jockey: Tadhg O’Shea

Last three starts: 1st, Al Maktoum Classic (Gr. 2), Meydan Racecourse; 2nd, Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr.1), Meydan Racecourse; 1st, Handicap, Meydan Racecourse.

Need to know: With plenty of experience at Meydan (five of six starts), Imperial Emperor captured his first career Group-tier tilt last time out in the Al Maktoum (Gr. 2) on Mar. 1. The lightly raced 5-year-old brings some intrigue to the DWC.

Katonah

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

Jockey: Tiago Josue Pereira

Last three starts: 6th, Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Santa Anita; 1st, San Pasqual Stakes (G2), Santa Anita; 6th, Laffit Pincay, Jr. Stakes (G2), Santa Anita.

Need to know: Katonah needed five tries before clinching his first graded trophy in the San Pasqual (G2) on Jan. 25. The 6-year-old will need to find another significant spark after finishing sixth in the Santa Anita Handicap on Mar. 1.

Mixto

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Last three starts: 4th, Pegasus World Cup (G1), Gulfstream Park; 3rd, Native Diver Stakes (G3), Del Mar; 11th, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Del Mar.

Need to know: A streaky slate of 17 starts has led to inconsistency within Mixto’s track record. For example, the 5-year-old dropped three straight contests, including an 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), following a win in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 31.

Ramjet (JPN)

Trainer: Shozo Sasaki

Jockey: Kosei Miura

Last three starts: 6th, Saudi Cup (Gr. 1), King Abdulaziz Racecourse; 3rd, Tokyo Daishoten (Gr. 1), Oi; 4th, Japan Dirt Classic, Oi.

Need to know: In the midst of a three-race scoreless stretch after a four-race win streak, headlined by the Group 3 Unicorn, Ramjet has shown the ability to hang around against top competition. However, the 4-year-old colt will need to do more than just hang around to have a shot in the DWC.

Rattle N Roll

Trainer: Kenneth McPeek

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Last three starts: 5th, Saudi Cup (Gr. 1), King Abdulaziz Racecourse; 1st, Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques Cup (Gr. 3), King Abdulaziz Racecourse; 1st, Clark Stakes (G2), Churchill Downs.

Need to know: Rattle N Roll has fared well in two starts since joining the Middle Eastern circuit in January. In particular, a strong fifth in the Saudi Cup offers hope that the 6-year-old can hold his own against the best of the best.

Ushba Tesoro (JPN)

Trainer: Noboru Takagi

Jockey: Akira Sugawara

Last three starts: 3rd, Saudi Cup (Gr. 1), King Abdulaziz Racecourse; 4th, Tokyo Daishoten (Gr. 1), Oi; 10th, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Del Mar.

Need to know: A 38-race veteran with an excellent history in the DWC (2023 champion and 2024 runner-up), Ushba Tesoro showed very well against elite company with a third in the Saudi Cup last time out. The well-travelled 8-year-old has reeled in more than $18.5 million in prize money.

Walk of Stars (GB)

Trainer: Bhupat Seemar

Jockey: TBD

Last three starts: 12th, Saudi Cup (Gr.1), King Abdulaziz Racecourse; 1st, Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr. 1), Meydan Racecourse; 1st, The Entisar, Meydan Racecourse.

Need to know: A veteran international competitor, Walk of Stars is looking to rebound following a tough 12th last time out in the Saudi Cup on Feb. 22. The 6-year-old is the second Bhupat Seemar-trained hopeful in the DWC (Imperial Emperor).

Wilson Tesoro (JPN)

Trainer: Noburo Takagi

Jockey: Yuga Kawada

Last three starts: 4th, Saudi Cup (Gr. 1), King Abdulaziz Racecourse; 2nd, Tokyo Daishoten (Gr. 1), Oi; 2nd, Champions Cup (Gr. 1), Chukyo.

Need to know: Wilson Tesoro returns to Meydan for the first time since finishing fourth in last year’s edition of the DWC. The 6-year-old represented himself well with a hard-fought fourth last time out in February’s Saudi Cup.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Woodbine Entertainment Group.