On March 30, at the prestigious Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, Laurel River achieved an incredible victory in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1). The horse, owned and bred by Juddmonte Farm, took control of the race from the very beginning, running from the 12th position and never relinquishing its lead.
Jockey Tadhg O’Shea and trainer Bhupat Seemar were ecstatic as they celebrated their second victory of the day after winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) earlier with Tuz. The 6-year-old horse, a son of Into Mischief previously trained by Bob Baffert, completed the grueling 2,000 meters (approximately 1 1/4 miles) race in an impressive time of 2:02.31.
Prior to this exceptional performance at the Dubai World Cup, Laurel River had won the Burj Nahaar (G3) at Meydan on March 2. The race was filled with excitement and unexpected turns, making Laurel River’s victory all the more remarkable. Last year’s Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro finished second, just ahead of Senor Buscador, who had won the Saudi Cup (G1). Overall, it was a major upset in one of the richest races in the world.