The Dubai World Cup Carnival rolled into 2026 at Meydan Racecourse Jan. 2 with sprinters and milers making a case for a spot on the big night itself March 28.
El Nasseeb confirmed his status in the top ranks of the United Arab Emirates sprint community with a decisive, off-the-hot-pace victory in the Dubawi Stakes (G3) at 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) on the dirt.
The 5-year-old Profitable entire lurked well back of the early leader, 2025 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) winner Dark Saffron, who for the second straight race was done before 1,000 meters was completed. Dark Saffron gave way to Mufasa, a 6-year-old by Practical Joke , who appeared to have the race wrapped up until El Nasseeb and jockey Silvestre De Sousa blew by and went on to win by 3 lengths.
Mufasa was 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Colour Up at the finish with Dark Saffron fading to finish fifth, beaten 10 lengths in his second straight disappointment.
El Nasseeb was a minor player in the UAE in the 2024-25 season but has started the current campaign with a bang. He won his first go, the Al Garhoud Sprint, Dec. 5 in similar fashion to the Dubawi effort, lingering back as Dark Saffron led a suicidal battle on the lead. In that, Colour Up finished second with Mufasa fourth.
American fans will remember Mufasa as the winner of the 2024 Vosburgh Stakes (G3) and Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, in which he defeated White Abarrio, when trained by Ignacio Correas IV.
De Sousa, leading riding in the 2024-25 UAE season, said he "was delighted when I took (El Nasseeb) back. At the 1,000-meters mark, he switched leads and took off. He's a lovely horse moving forward."
Asked if El Nasseeb might handle the Golden Shaheen this year, De Sousa said, "I think so. He's a big player."
Quddwah Takes Zabeel Mile
Quddwah, with James Doyle up for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, chased down Audience in deep stretch in the Zabeel Mile (G2T) and ran on to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Aomori City edged Audience for second.
Quddwah, a 6-year-old son of Kingman racing for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, was last seen finishing well up the course in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse in October. Earlier, he was second in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2) at Longchamp.
His dam, Sajjhaa, won the 2013 Dubai Duty Free (G1T), now the Dubai Turf, in a campaign for Godolphin that took her as far afield as Italy and Hong Kong. Doyle and Ed Crisford agreed Quddwah might have the potential to follow in her footsteps, at least as far as the Dubai Turf.
"He's won a group 2 before," Crisford noted. "He's got bigger and better things ahead of him, hopefully. There are races (before the Dubai Turf). There's a race in Abu Dhabi. We'll see how far we go and whether we go on to World Cup night."
Doyle cautioned the group 1 in March will be a tougher assignment.
"It would be tough for him. In a race like that, we'll have Japanese horses and horses from around the world."
Not This Time Colt Lands UAE Guineas Trial
Six Speed, a Not This Time colt, raced prominently in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Trial, took the lead with a move up the rail in the stretch, and drew off to win by 3 lengths over Legalaized. William Buick rode for trainer Bhupat Seemar as Six Speed, bred in Kentucky by KatieRich Farms, won for the second time in three starts.
"For a horse stepping up from 6 furlongs to 7, he was very strong at the finish," Buick said. "He's a worthy candidate for the (UAE) Two Thousand Guineas."
The Trial was sponsored by Churchill Downs and 12 of the 16 runners were American-bred.
Northern Champion led in deep stretch in the Jumeirah Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1,400 meters on the turf, surrendered the advantage narrowly to the favorite, Catullus, but found a final burst to get back in front by a short head at the finish. The Wootton Bassett colt, trained by Ed Walker, was having his season debut.
"My lad was gutsy and showed a lot of determination today," said winning rider Kieran Shoemark. "He's an intriguing horse."
The final race of the evening went to Meydaan, a 5-year-old Frankel gelding whose last start produced a 10th-place finish in the Melbourne Cup (G1), also for Sheikh Ahmed and the Simon and Ed Crisford team.
