The Al Maktoum Classic, is a horse race run over a distance of 1,900 metres (approximately 1 mile, furlongs) on dirt in February at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The event was previously known as Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 2 and it was the second of three races in the Al Maktoum Challenge series which serve as trial races for the Dubai World Cup.
It was first run in 1994 on dirt at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. It was transferred to Meydan in 2010 where it was run on the synthetic Tapeta Footings surface. In 2015 the synthetic surface at Meydan was replaced by a dirt track.
The race was originally run over 2,000 metres and was run over 2,400 metres in 1996 before the distance was reduced to 1,800 metres in 1997. The current distance was established when the race moved to Meydan in 2010.
The race began as an ungraded stakes race before attaining Listed status in 1996. The race was elevated to Group 3 level in 2002 and became a Group 2 event in 2012. In 2024 the event moved from Al Maktoum Challenge series and scheduled in March.
Records Record time: 1:46.92 - Altibr (1999) (1800 metres) 1:55.67 - Prince Bishop (2014) (1900 metres)
Most successful horse (2 wins): Best of the Bests – 2001, 2002 Jack Sullivan – 2005, 2006
Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Frankie Dettori (1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009)
Most wins by a trainer: 12 - Saeed bin Suroor (1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2020)
Most wins by an owner: 10 - Godolphin Racing (1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1994 Cezanne 5 Gary Hind Hilal Ibrahim Sheikh Mohammed 2:05.87 1995 Halling 4 John Carroll Hilal Ibrahim Godolphin 2:04.29 1996 Larrocha 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 2:30.75 1997 Tropicool 4 Brett Doyle Dhruba Selvaratnam Ahmed Al Maktoum 1:50.34 1998 Wathik 8 Paul Eddery Paddy Rudkin Saeed Al Ghandi 1:52.11 1999 Altibr 4 Richard Hills Saeed bin Suroor Hamdan Al Maktoum 1:46.92 2000 Get Away With It 7 Peter Brette Michael Stoute Maktoum Al Maktoum 1:48.20 2001 Best of the Bests 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:47.85 2002 Best of the Bests 5 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:48.63 2003 Moon Ballad 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:47.98 2004 Victory Moon 4 Weichong Marwing Mike de Kock Mad Syndicate 1:49.51 2005 Jack Sullivan 5 Darryll Holland Gerard Butler International Carnival Partnership 1:50.55 2006 Jack Sullivan 6 Eddie Ahern Gerard Butler International Carnival Partnership 1:52.55 2007 Kandidate 5 Ryan Moore Clive Brittain A J Richards 1:49.402008Lucky Find4Kevin SheaMike de KockAhmed bin Moh'd bin Khalifa Al Maktoum1:49:062009My Indy4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:50.532010Allybar4Ahmed AtjebiSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:57.052011Bold Silvano4Christophe SoumillonMike de KockMohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum1:57.712012Mendip5Kieren FallonSaeed bin SuroorHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum1:56.422013Hunter's Light5Silvestre de SousaSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:58.192014Prince Bishop7Kieren FallonSaeed bin SuroorHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum1:55.672015Frankyfourfingers5Mickael BarzalonaSalem bin GhadayerHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum1:58.242016Frosted4William BuickKiaran McLaughlinGodolphin1:56.672017Furia Cruzada5Antonio FresuErwan CharpyFernando Fantini1:58.852018Thunder Snow4Christophe SoumillonSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:57.892019North America7Richard MullenSatish SeemarRamzan Kadyrov1:58.652020Benbatl6Christophe SoumillonSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin1:56.802021Salute The Soldier6Adrie de VriesFawzi Abdulla Nass Victorious1:57.372022Hot Rod Charlie4William BuickDoug O'NeillRoadrunner Racing, Boat Racing & William Strauss1:57.412023Algiers6James DoyleSimon & Ed CrisfordHamdan Sultan Ali Al Sabousi1:56.082024Military Law9Oscar ChavezMusabbeh Al MheiriNaser Askar1:58.072025Imperial Emperor5Tadhg O'SheaBhupat SeemarNaser Askar2:03.762026Meydaan5William BuickSimon & Ed CrisfordSheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum1:53.17 Worldly Manner finished first in 2000 but was disqualified after failing a post-race drug test.
See also List of United Arab Emirates horse races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,