The UAE Derby is a Group 2 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for three-year-old thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,900 metres (approximately 9.5 furlongs) on dirt at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. It takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night on the last Saturday in March.
It was first run in 2000 and attained Group 2 status two years later. The distance of the race was increased to 2,000 metres (10 furlongs) in 2002, before reverting to 1,800 metres in 2004, and increased again to 1,900 meters in 2010. The race is open to both Northern and Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds.
The UAE Derby currently offers a purse of US$2.5 million. Considered a major race leading up to the Kentucky Derby in the United States, the top UAE Derby finishers received Kentucky Derby points from 2013 until 2024. Starting in 2025, the UAE Derby will be part of a separate series of Kentucky Derby prep races covering Europe and the Middle East.
Records Speed record: 1:47.04 – Express Tour (At former distance of 1,800 metres) 1:55.18 – Mendelssohn (over current distance of 1,900 metres)
Most wins by an owner: 9 – Godolphin Racing (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2021)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Christophe Soumillon (2010, 2015, 2017)
Most wins by a trainer: 8 – Saeed bin Suroor (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2017)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 2000 China Visit Richard Hills Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:49.50 2001 Express Tour David R. Flores Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:47.04 2002 Essence of Dubai Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 2:02.90 2003 Victory Moon Wayne Smith Mike de Kock Mad Syndicate 2:02.45 2004 Lundy's Liability Weichong Marwing Mike de Kock Stud TNT & Mary Slack 1:50.83 2005 Blues and Royals Kerrin McEvoy Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:50.05 2006 Discreet Cat Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:48.59 2007 Asiatic Boy Weichong Marwing Mike de Kock Sheikh M. bin Khalifa 1:48.82 2008 Honour Devil Johnny Murtagh Mike de Kock Sheikh M. bin Khalifa 1:48.60 2009 Regal Ransom Alan Garcia Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:50.00 2010 Musir Christophe Soumillon Mike de Kock Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum 1:57.44 2011 Khawlah Mickael Barzalona Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1:58.832012Daddy Long LegsColm O'DonoghueAidan O'BrienMichael Tabor, John Magnier & Derrick Smith1:58.352013Lines of Battle*Ryan MooreAidan O'BrienMichael Tabor, John Magnier & Derrick Smith2:02.052014Toast of New YorkJamie SpencerJamie OsborneMichael Buckley1:57.922015MubtaahijChristophe SoumillonMike de Kock Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum1:58.35 2016 Lani Yutaka Take Mikio Matsunaga Yoko Maeda 1:58.41 2017 Thunder SnowChristophe SoumillonSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing1:57.762018Mendelssohn Ryan MooreAidan O'BrienDerrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor1:55.19 2019 Plus Que Parfait José Ortiz Brendan Walsh Imperial Racing 1:58.41 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021Rebel's RomanceWilliam BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin Racing1:56.28 2022Crown PrideDamian LaneKoichi ShintaniTeruya Yoshida1:59.762023Derma SotogakeChristophe LemaireHidetaka OtonashiHiroyuki Asanuma1:55.812024Forever YoungRyusei SakaiYoshito YahagiSusumu Fujita1:57.892025Admire DaytonaChristophe LemaireYukihiro KatoJunko Kondo1:59.13 2026Wonder DeanCristian DemuroDaisuke TakayanagiYoshinari Yamamoto1:59.19
Lines of Battle was later renamed Helene Super Star
See also Road to the Kentucky Derby List of United Arab Emirates horse races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,