Racing Preview: Royal Ascot 2013

Royal Ascot 2013 begins with Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby and the 2013 Dubai World Cup, aiming for victory in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.

Graham Motion’s 5-year-old is as short as even money for the contest, largely as a result of the lack of perceived serious competition amongst his rivals. Paddy Power is offering to pay money back on all losers if Animal Kingdom wins, so one way to play it would be to look for an each-way selection at bigger prices such as Elusive Kate (John Gosden) or Trade Storm (David Simcock). Under Paddy Power’s offer, if Animal Kingdom does win then the win part of the each-way bet will be refunded, whilst you would pick up the place bet winnings if the selection makes second or third place.

Shea Shea, trained by South African Mike De Kock, has travelled over for the King’s Stand Stakes after a successful spell at Meydan, Dubai earlier in the year. Kingsgate Native, Swiss Spirit, Reckless Abandon and Sole Power all contested the Temple Stakes at Haydock last month but the places could be reversed here.

Jim Bolger’s Dawn Approach is 6/4 favourite for the St James’s Palace Stakes as the colt goes back to a mile after his antics in the Epsom Derby last time. He had several of his rivals well behind him in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket – including Glory Awaits and Toronado – and his nearest rival in the betting, Magician, reportedly had a minor setback last week.

Betting Offers

Betfair: Cash back specials on selection finishing second to Shea Shea in the King’s Stand Stakes

Paddy Power: Money back on all losers if Animal Kingdom wins the Queen Anne Stakes

Skybet: Paying four places on the King’s Stand Stakes and Windsor Castle Stakes

*terms and conditions apply to all offers

Kingdom Claims Dubai World Cup

Animal Kingdom (11/2) was a comfortable two-length winner of the 2013 Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday evening.

The American-trained horse tracked the front running Royal Delta before moving into the lead as they entered the home straight. Jockey Joel Rosario quickly established a several length lead and found few challengers in final furlongs.

Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby, is trained in the US by Englishman Graham Motion and there was a strong UK link to the placed horses too. Red Cadeaux, trained by Ed Dunlop, belied his 25/1 price to finish second, while Marco Botti's Planteur (10/1) and Andrew Balding's Side Glance (33/1) filled third and fourth spots.

UK racegoers could have the chance to see Animal Kingdom race at the Royal Ascot meeting in June 2013.

Dubai World Cup Carnival 2013

The Dubai World Cup Carnival reaches its climax this weekend (30 March) at Meydan racecourse with the running of the Dubai World Cup itself.

The Dubai World Cup was initiated by the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1996, himself the owner of the Godolphin Racing stable and Darley Stud breeding operations. The race was run at Nad al Sheba until 2009 and was moved to its current home at Meydan in 2010.



Dubai World Cup, Meydan

Fittingly, given that he inaugurated the race, Sheikh Mohammed has won the race five times with his Godolphin operation and once under his own name with Singspiel in 1997, trained by Sir Michael Stoute in the UK.

Godolphin’s most recent victory was last year’s running of the race when Monterosso was victorious and he lines up again to defend his title in this year’s renewal.

The Dubai World Cup is billed as the world’s richest horse race and in 2013 the total prize purse is US$ 10 million. With US$ 6 million going to the winner and the race taking about 2 minutes to run, it works out at US$ 50,000 earned per second by the winner. A nice return.

There is no entry fee for the race but participation is by invitation only. The whole Dubai World Cup Carnival, which runs from January to March, is truly international and brings together horses from racing centres in both the northern and southern hemispheres: UK, USA, Japan, South Africa, Australia, UAE et al.

The Dubai World Cup race night is the culmination of the carnival and the eight races on the card have combined prize money of US$ 27 million. The US-trained Royal Delta is currently the favourite for the race in what is a very open betting heat.



Meydan Fireworks