See our 2026 Dubai Gold Cup runners guide as some of the best stayers from Europe clash over two miles at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night.
10 Dubai Gold Cup Runners Set For Battle
The Dubai Gold Cup has only been on this card since 2012 and whilst it hasn’t always been a race where the very best stayers head, it’s still competitive.
This year it looks as if 10 runners will line up to see who can stay the furthest, and despite Al Riffa being the short-priced favourite, you can make a case for a few of them.
For the first two runnings, this race was only a Group 3, but in 2014 it got upgraded to a Group 2 and has been the same ever since.
Connections who are lucky enough to win will recieve £429,630, but that’s not even a fraction of the Dubai World Cup prize money, where the winner gets £5,568,000.
Who Won The 2025 Dubai Gold Cup?
The 2025 Dubai Gold Cup winner was Godolphin legend Dubai Future who really came alive at this track last year, looking like his younger self again.
And the 10-year-old will be back for more this time around as he looks to become the second horse to win the race more than once.
The only other horse to achieve this feat was Vazirabad who won it in 2016, 2017 and 2018 for Christophe Soumillon and Alain de Royer Dupre.
WATCH: Dubai Future Dazzles In 2025 Renewal
🔵 The old firm Saeed bin Suroor & @SilvDSousa roll back the years with Dubai Future landing the Dubai Gold Cup @RacingDubai pic.twitter.com/RtOgea4P16
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 5, 2025
2026 Dubai Gold Cup Runners Guide
10 go to post in the 2026 Dubai Gold Cup with Al Riffa heading the market.
Al Riffa (Joseph O’Brien)
Last season’s Irish St Leger hero AL RIFFA arrives at Meydan for his first run in the Middle East and whilst he’s all class, he’s not bombproof.
Joseph O’Brien’s horse was last seen storming home from way back in the Hong Kong Vase and did look like going back up in trip would be favourable.
Yet to win over two miles though but he does stay 1m6f, should get the extra couple of furlongs here and will be on the premises late on. Was outstayed in Melbourne Cup on only other attempt at two miles, but this is more suitable.
WATCH: Al Riffa Wins Irish St Leger
Al Nayyir (Tom Clover)
AL NAYYIR is a consistent sort who picked up his first win since 2023 when landing the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy at Meydan last month but has never ‘0fficially’ won over two miles after being DQ’d at Newmarket over this trip back in 2024.
He does stay but he never fired in the race last year and has never won at this level, although he should be primed and ready for this after a better prep run this season.
Sons And Lovers (Joseph O’Brien)
SONS AND LOVERS got his biggest payday yet when winning the Red Sea Turf Handicap at Riyadh last month and is entitled to respect on that evidence.
He is his yard’s second string with stablemate Al Riffa the favourite, but he does have the assistance of Ryan Moore in the saddle.
Doesn’t look like he’s in here purely for pacemaking duties and if things come together it could be a 1-2 for the yard. He’ll likely take up the lead and could be swamped late by Al Riffa.
Sunway (David Menuisier)
A horse who always gives his best, SUNWAY was pipped late here by Al Nayyir last month.
He’s ran well in plenty of top-level races over longer distances and seems in good form since getting gelded in October. Looks like this has been the plan for a while but he might just get outstayed again.
Not without a chance, but he’ll need to show he can knuckle down if he gets into a battle late on. Won at Meydan in January before going down a neck last time out.
Caballo De Mar (George Scott)
George Scott’s CABALLO DE MAR improved drastically in his four-year-old campaign last year going from a Class 2 handicapper to a Group 1 winner – notably landing the 2m4f Prix du Cadran at Longchamp.
Seems to go pretty well fresh and definitely stays. He’s a key player if he handles the track on his first visit to Meydan and connections often get things right out in the Middle East.
William Buick is an intriuging jockey booking too, rides for the first time and knows the course better than most.
WATCH: Caballo De Mar Wins Prix Du Cadran
Dubai Future (Saeed bin Suroor)
Last year’s winner DUBAI FUTURE has been way out of form since that win but there’s a sneaky feeling that he could come alive but at the same time he looks vulnerable to younger rivals.
He’s the only course and distance winner in the field and although he is 10, it would be naive to rule him out.
Epic Poet (David O’Meara)
Third in the race last year, EPIC POET clearly enjoys Meydan and has never been out of the first three when racing at the track.
Steady chance of placing but he’s been beaten by four of his opponents before and could get found out by the younger horses.
Fairy Glen (Simon & Ed Crisford)
Steps up to two miles for the first time and whilst Simon & Ed Crisford have had a brilliant winter campaign in the UAE, it’s hard to see FAIRY GLEN winning this.
Looks likely to be outclassed, but did win over 1m1f at the track in February.
Burdett Road (James Owen)
BURDETT ROAD is James Owen’s first ever runner on Dubai World Cup night and last year’s Champion Hurdle runner-up has ran well on both visits to Meydan.
He’s won at this distance over hurdles but never on the level. Should run his race.
Ruling Dynasty (Ismail Mohammed)
Another previous Meydan winner lining up, RULING DYNASTY steps way up in trip. Has plenty to prove as this is the toughest race he’s ever ran in.
Beaten a combined 43 lengths over 1m6f so there’s zero chance he has what it takes to feature over two miles.
Betting For Dubai Gold Cup Runners
- Al Riffa @ 6/4
- Sons And Lovers @ 6/1
- Al Nayyir @ 8/1
- Sunway @ 9/1
- Caballo De Mar @ 12/1
- Epic Poet @ 12/1
- Dubai Future @ 16/1
- Burdett Road @ 25/1
- Fairy Glen @ 25/1
- Ruling Dynasty @ 25/1
Last 10 Dubai Gold Cup Winners
- 2025 – Dubai Future 17/2 (Saeed Bin Surror)
- 2024 – Tower Of London 9/4 (Aiden O’Brien)
- 2023 – Broome 8/1 (Aiden O’Brien)
- 2022 – Stay Foolish 4/1 (Yoshito Yahagi)
- 2021 – Subjectivist 13/2 (Mark Johnston)
- 2019 – Cross Counter 7/4 (Charlie Appleby)
- 2018 – Vazirabad 6/4 (Alain de Royer Dupre)
- 2017 – Vazirabad 9/4 (Alain de Royer Dupre)
- 2016 – Vazirabad 5/4 (Alain de Royer Dupre)
- 2015 – Brown Panther 4/1 (Tom Dascombe)
