Laurel River wins the Dubai World Cup

Laurel River won the $12 million (AED 44 million) grand prize at the Dubai World Cup 2024 on Saturday at the Meydan Racecourse.

Last year’s winner, Ushba Tesoro, finished second, taking home the $2.4 million (AED 8.81 million) prize, while Senor Buscador won third for a nifty check for US$1.2 million (AED 4.41 million).

Laurel River was led by jockey Tadhg O'Shea and trained by Bhupat Seemar, who said, “I’m still coming to terms with what’s happened. I think it’ll probably sink in in another day or two. It’s absolutely amazing. Tadhg said this morning, ‘We’re drawn 12. I’m not going to be two-minded about it; I’m going to go forward.’

“He’s got so much natural pace. He comes out of the gate, and this is why we ran him over six furlongs (in the Al Shindagha). 

“Tadhg was able to get some easy fractions, and then I saw Defunded coming on his outside, but he just kept on going further. I expected to see all the closers flying at him, but he kept going.

Tadhg O’Shea said, “I’ve been fortunate enough to have had Dubai World Cup night winners, but you don’t get many opportunities, and I’m going to be forever grateful to Juddmonte for keeping me on the horse. They could use anyone, and they’re a worldwide operation that’s really successful. 

“When he had his first run for the stable we thought he’d disappointed, but we never lost faith. He was explosive last time and I said the other morning to Bhupat, I pulled him aside and said I’d never ridden a horse with his ability ever. And he’d just done an easy work on his own.

"With the dirt you can’t be half-hearted, you have to go forward. If he didn’t stay, he didn’t stay. We were aware of that. The main thing that won the race, it’s easy to say when you win, but I was able to keep filling him up and filling him up.”

There were nine races in total at the Dubai World Cup, and the winners were as follows:

• Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic for the Purebred Arabians ($1 million): Tilal Al Khalediah
• Group 2 Godolphin Mile ($1 million): Two Rivers Over
• Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup ($1 million): Tower Of London
• Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint ($1.5 million): California Spangle
• Group 2 UAE Derby ($1 million): Forever Young
• Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen ($2 million): Tuz
• Group 1 Dubai Turf ($5 million): Facteur Cheval
• Dubai Sheema Classic ($6 million): Rebel’s Romance
• Dubai World Cup ($12 million): Laurel River

𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐋 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐔𝐁𝐀𝐈 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐔𝐏! 🏆#DWC24 | @emirates | @BhupatSeemar | @OsheaTadhg | @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/7leBFoluHX

— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 30, 2024