In the days leading up to the $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on March 27, usracing.com will profile the contenders in the 2,000-meter (about 1 1.4-miles) race. The profiles will be updated with odds, post positions and jockeys following the post-position draw scheduled for Wednesday (March 24).
By Lynne Snierson
Military law credit by Dubai Racing Club
Military Law is back at Meydan Racecourse, where the British-bred 6-year-old is right at home, after making the short trip to Riyadh for the $20 million Saudi Cup last month and having an uneventful trip in the 1 ¼ miles contest to finish sixth.
He had earned his place in the Saudi starting gate with a 1 ¼-length win in Round 1 of the Grade 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Series on Jan. 21 at Meydan. What made that gutsy, come-from-behind performance even more impressive was the fact the son of Dubawi was making his first start since March 2020.
Regular rider Antonio Fresu, who retains the mount for the Dubai World Cup, said that Military Law is a stronger and improved horse this year as compared to last year. Nevertheless, the competition won’t be any lighter this time around and he’ll be lining up in the gate against many familiar and Grade 1-caliber foes from both the Saudi Cup and the winter’s Al Maktoum three-part Challenge Series.
On the plus side, Military Law has won at the DWC distance of 1 ¼ miles over this track. That score came in a listed stake on Dec. 5, 2019.
Military Law is another in the line of former British-trained turf horses who have found a home on dirt tracks since switching surfaces from the grass and all-weather tracks. Previously owned by breeder Qatar Racing, he ran his first six races in England for trainer John Gosden, who won the Saudi Cup with Mishriff and is running in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) on turf on the DWC undercard.
Post position: TBD
Odds: TBD
Trainer: Musabbeh Al Mheiri
Jockey: Antonio Fresu
Owner: Nasir Askar
Age: 6
Career record: 12-5-3-0
Career earnings: $904,721
Top Equibase speed figure: N/A
Pedigree: Dubawi-Marine Bleue, by Desert Prince
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker
Notes: Breezed 5 furlongs on March 20 at Meydan following a similar move one week before. As is the trainer’s pattern, he will be given a minor blowout two or three days before the DWC to keep him on his toes … Original owner Qatar Bloodstock entered Military Law in Book 1 of the Tattersalls October 2016 sale but retained him to race when he did not meet his reserve price of $1,213,475 … After his June 2019 win over the all-weather track at Newcastle, his second victory in six efforts in England, he was sold for $114,641 to his current owner, who dispatched him to Dubai. Subsequently, he was won three times in five tries at Meydan.
Lynne Snierson, a former director of communications at Arlington Park and Rockingham Park, currently is a freelance writer and racing publicist. She covered thoroughbred racing as an award-winning sportswriter for newspapers In Boston, Miami, and St. Louis. She lives in New Hampshire. Secretariat remains her all-time favorite horse.