The Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes is a Listed race for 3-year-olds run at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, contested over 1 3/16 miles on dirt. Formerly known as the Al Bastakiya, it serves as an important stepping stone on the European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby, awarding qualifying points toward a Kentucky Derby invitation.
The 2026 Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes is scheduled for February 20. Positioned between the UAE 2000 Guineas and the UAE Derby, it is a key middle-distance test on dirt for Derby hopefuls based in Dubai.
As a race that tests both stamina and dirt ability, this event can spotlight the most serious Middle East-based contenders before they step up into the UAE Derby. Its history as the Al Bastakiya also ties it to Dubai’s established dirt pathway for emerging three-year-olds.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Galactic Star | Richard Mullen | Bhupat Seemar | 1:59.33 |
| 2024 | Killer Collect | Tadhg O'Shea | Bhupat Seemar | 1:59.10 |
| 2023 | Go Soldier Go | Adrie de Vries | Fawzi Abdulla Nass | 1:58.91 |
| 2022 | Quality Boone | Vagner Leal | Antonio Cintra | 2:00.91 |
| 2021 | Panadol | Mickael Barzalona | Salem bin Ghadayer | 1:58.13 |
| 2020 | Emblem Storm | Oisin Murphy | Satish Seemar | 1:58.60 |
As part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes awards points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale to the top five finishers, helping determine which international runners can earn invitations to Churchill Downs.
For online stakes betting, this is a particularly useful race because it is run on dirt at a longer trip than the early mile preps, offering a more meaningful read on stamina, pace resilience, and surface suitability.
