This Saturday at Flemington, the stakes will be high as horses compete for a coveted ballot-free entry into the Melbourne Cup later in the year. However, the impact of this race may not be limited to the Roy Higgins Quality (2500m) alone, as another event halfway across the globe threatens to influence the prestigious Cup.
On Saturday night, Melbourne time, the Dubai World Cup meeting will unfold at Meydan. Alongside the five Group 1 races featured, there is one particular event that has historical ties to the Melbourne Cup 2024 and could potentially shape the field for this year’s edition.
Among the anticipated contenders for the Dubai Gold Cup is the four-year-old Sevenna’s Knight, trained by Andre Fabre in France but raced by OTI Racing. Terry Henderson of OTI Racing expressed optimism about Sevenna’s Knight’s performance in the $US1 million G2 race on turf over 3200 meters. A strong showing could pave the way for the horse to make a Melbourne appearance later this year to vie for the Cup.
Despite being a horse that excels on wet tracks, Sevenna’s Knight’s trainer is unfazed by the track conditions at Meydan, emphasizing the presence of ample give in the surface. Henderson highlighted the significance of the race in providing the pace that is often lacking in France’s races.
While Sevenna’s Knight may have the potential to compete in longer-distance races, such as the Ascot Gold Cup or even a 4000-meter event, Henderson ruled out such endeavors for this year.
The Dubai Gold Cup has historically produced horses with strong Melbourne Cup credentials, including the 2018 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter, who triumphed in the race in 2019.
Despite the formidable competition in the Dubai Gold Cup, it shares the spotlight with five other prestigious Group 1 races on the Meydan card: the Dubai World Cup (2000m), the Golden Shaheen (1200m), the Sheema Classic (2400m), the Dubai Turf (1800m), and the Al Quoz Sprint (1200m).