Dubai: A cracking Super Saturday card will be staged at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday with the Dubai World Cup sponsor, Emirates airline supporting all eight races on a day worth $1.8 million (Dh6.61 million) in prize money.
Super Saturday, traditionally viewed as the dress rehearsal for the $27.25 million Dubai World Cup day held three weeks later, features three Group 1 races (the top race classification in racing), making it a globally significant race day in its own right.
And with the concluding rounds of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenges for Purebred Arabians and for Thoroughbreds taking pride of place as the official Dubai Kahayla Classic and official Dubai World Cup prep races respectively, race fans will glean valuable clues as to the form horses ahead of the world’s richest day of racing on March 29 (Saturday).
Each race on Super Saturday corresponds to a race on Dubai World Cup day and a good performance can see a horse earn a coveted place in one of the final fields on the big day. Super Saturday is held three weeks before Dubai World Cup day to allow horses to compete on both occasions with enough time to rest in between.
“The countdown is well and truly underway to the Dubai World Cup, one of the region’s favourite social and sporting occasions,” said Shaikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Centre.
“Super Saturday provides a glimpse of what’s in store in terms of equestrian prowess and fashion for the Dubai World Cup itself. We are very much looking forward to a great day of action, where once again Emirates will be central to connecting people and passions,” Shaikh Majid added.
Malih Al Basti, Meydan Group Board Member and Chairman of the Meydan Racing Committee said: “Emirates is a long-term supporter of horse racing, not only in Dubai but all over the world and it is a point of pride for us to have such a long-standing and close relationship with this valued Pillar Partner.
“The airline, which has also been associated with the $10 million Dubai World Cup since the race was first run in 1996, is a key factor in the continued development of our racing season on the international stage and the global renown that is afforded to Super Saturday as a stand-alone day of high-class racing as well as the Dubai World Cup Carnival and the Dubai World Cup itself.”
