2025 Dubai World Cup Betting
One of the world’s premier international horse racing events is set to take place on the first Saturday in April when the prestigious Dubai World Cup is run. The first major horse race of the year with its massive prize pool often attracts the top thoroughbreds, jockeys and trainers from around the globe to the United Arab Emirates. The 2025 Dubai World Cup is the marquee race of Dubai World Cup Night, which has eight thoroughbred races and one Purebred Arabian race. The Dubai World Cup has a prize purse of $12 million dollars with the winner taking home $7.2 million. The 2025 Dubai World Cup is a 2,000 meter (approximately 10 furlongs or 1 ¼ miles) race that will be held at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Following his win in February at the G1 Saudi Cup, Forever Young emerged as the betting favorite to win the Dubai World Cup. That would be quite an accomplishment since Thunder Snow is the only other horse to win both races. In fact, Thunder Snow is the only two-time World Cup winner turning the trick in 2018 and 2019. There is another contender to become a two-time winner with 2023 World Cup champ Ushba Tesoro in the field as the fourth favorite. Right behind him on the odds board is stablemate Wilson Tesoro. Both of second favorite Imperial Emperor’s wins have come on the host track, most recently the G2 Al Maktoum Classic in early March. Walk Of Stars is the third favorite.
Horse Racing Betting Lines
2025 Dubai World Cup At a Glance
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Location: Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai World Cup TV Coverage: TVG
Dubai World Cup Overview
Held annually since 1996, with the exception of 2020 when the race was cancelled due to COVID, the Dubai World Cup is the ninth and final race of the day for the celebration known as Dubai World Cup Night. With a prize purse of $12 million the World Cup is one of the richest horse races in the world. The World Cup takes place on a dirt track for 2,000 meters, which is roughly the equivalent of 1 ¼ miles, and is open to Northern Hemisphere thoroughbreds aged three and up and for Southern Hemisphere thoroughbreds aged four and older.
Meydan Racecourse
The Meydan Racecourse opened in 2010 and has a seating capacity of 60,000. The venue is part of the Meydan Marina. Also serving as a major attraction is the fabulous five-star hotel, The Meydan. Two race tracks and the grandstand are attached to The Meydan, making it one of the most unique resorts. The Meydan Racecourse holds some of the top racing events in the world each year and is one of the most popular destinations for fans and insiders of the sport. The racecourse has also attracted some of the top entertainers in the world hosting concerts by Elton John, Santana, Kylie Minogue and Janet Jackson.
Odds to Win 2025 Dubai World Cup
Forever Young -175
Imperial Emperor +450
Walk Of Stars +800
Ushba Tesoro +1000
Wilson Tesoro +1800
Ramjet +2000
Rattle N Roll +2500
Mixto +2800
Hit Show +2800
Katonah +6000
Il Miracolo +6000
Forever Young
The 4-year-old colt has already proven himself on the Meydan dirt track winning the UAE Derby last year, one of his eight career triumphs. He’s won his last two starts beating World Cup runners Wilson Tesoro and Ramjet at the Tokyo Daishoten last December and besting Ushba Tesoro in the Saudi Cup a little over a month ago.
Imperial Emperor
Trainer Bhupat Seemar won with Laurel River last year and hopes to do the same with Imperial Emperor. Recent form makes him a contender with a win most recently in the 1 ¼ mile Al Maktoum Classic that took place at Meydan.
Walk Of Stars
Was the 12th place finish at the Saudi Cup an outlier or a sign of things to come for the 6-year-old? Walk Of Stars was on a nice run with two wins and three seconds in his previous five starts. He has a history of success at Meydan that includes a win in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge in January.
Ushba Tesoro
There might not be much left in the tank for Ushba Tesoro, but the 8-year-old has a chance to make a bit of history with a second World Cup win. He captured the crown in 2023 and is comfortable with the distance. However, the results have declined recently with a third just over a month ago in the G1 Saudi Cup.
Dubai World Cup Winners
| YEAR |
WINNER |
JOCKEY |
TRAINER |
TIME |
| 2024 |
Laurel River |
Tadhg O’Shea |
Bhupat Seemar |
2:02.31 |
| 2023 |
Ushba Tesora |
Yuga Kawada |
Noboru Takagi |
2:03.25 |
| 2022 |
Country Grammer |
Frankie Dettori |
Bob Baffert |
2:04.97 |
| 2021 |
Mystic Guide |
Luis Saez |
Michael Stidham |
2:01.61 |
| 2020 |
Cancelled |
| 2019 |
Thunder Snow |
C. Soumillon |
Saeed bin Suroor |
2:03.87 |
| 2018 |
Thunder Snow |
C. Soumillon |
Saeed bin Suroor |
2:01.38 |
| 2017 |
Arrogate |
Mike E. Smith |
Bob Baffert |
2:02.53 |
| 2016 |
California Chrome |
Victor Espinoza |
Art Sherman |
2:01.83 |
| 2015 |
Prince Bishop |
William Buick |
Saeed bin Suroor |
2:03.24 |
| 2014 |
African Story |
Silvestre de Sousa |
Saeed bin Suroor |
2:01.61 |
| 2013 |
Animal Kingdom |
Joel Rosario |
Graham Motion |
2:03.21 |
| 2012 |
Monterosso |
Mickael Barzalona |
Mahmood al Zarooni |
2:02.67 |
| 2011 |
Victoire Pisa |
Mirco Demuro |
Katsuhiko Sumii |
2:05.94 |
| 2010 |
Glória de Campeão |
T. J. Pereira |
Pascal Bary |
2:03.83 |
| 2009 |
Well Armed |
Aaron Gryder |
Eoin G. Harty |
2:01.01 |
| 2008 |
Curlin |
Robby Albarado |
Steve Asmussen |
2:00.15 |
| 2007 |
Invasor |
Fernando Jara |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
1:59:97 |
| 2006 |
Electrocutionist |
Frankie Dettori |
Saeed bin Suroor |
2:01.32 |
| 2005 |
Roses in May |
John Velazquez |
Dale L. Romans |
2:02.17 |
| 2004 |
Pleasantly Perfect |
Alex Solis |
Richard Mandella |
2:00.24 |
| 2003 |
Moon Ballad |
Frankie Dettori |
Saeed bin Suroor |
2:00.48 |
| 2002 |
Street Cry |
Jerry Bailey |
Saeed bin Suroor |
2:01.18 |
| 2001 |
Captain Steve |
Jerry Bailey |
Bob Baffert |
2:00.47 |
| 2000 |
Dubai Millennium |
Frankie Dettori |
Saeed bin Suroor |
1:59.50 |
| 1999 |
Almutawakel |
Richard Hills |
Saeed bin Suroor |
2:00.65 |
| 1998 |
Silver Charm |
Gary Stevens |
Bob Baffert |
2:04.29 |
| 1997 |
Singspiel |
Jerry Bailey |
Michael Stoute |
2:01.91 |
| 1996 |
Cigar |
Jerry Bailey |
William I. Mott |
2:03.84 |
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