Dubai World Cup 2025: Global superstar Forever Young looms large
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The Dubai World Cup is one of the richest races in the world. The 1 ¼-mile dirt race, open to older horses from the northern hemisphere or three-year-olds and up from the southern hemisphere, drew a field of 11 to race for a colossal $12 million purse. With such a big field of top horses from all over the world, it is one of the best betting horse races of the year!
Horses trained in the United States, United Arab Emirates, France, and Japan have won the Dubai World Cup over the years, and its winners have been some of the best dirt horses over the last three decades, dating back to its first ever winner in 1996: the great Cigar. Other superstars who have won the Dubai World Cup over the years include Silver Charm (1998), Curlin (2008), California Chrome (2016), Arrogate (2017), and Ushba Tesoro (2023).
Read on to find out more about the 2025 Dubai World Cup field, and to find out the best places to bet the Dubai World Cup online!
Betting the 2025 Dubai World Cup Online
Before you place your bets on the 2025 Dubai World Cup, you can maximize your profits by creating your account with a trusted online racebook. Though there are many options out there, our online racebook reviews are here to make that decision easy.
All of our recommended sites have the basics: real Vegas odds, trusted payouts, and a user-friendly interface. Each site also provides racebook bonuses better than what you’ll find at the track: sign-up and deposit bonuses, referral benefits, and even rebates that pay cash or betting credit for every wager you make.
Our reviews make an informed decision quick and easy, so take a few minutes now to pick the best site for your wagering style, and get ready to boost your bankroll by hundreds or even thousands of dollars!
The Best Online Racebooks
These are the best online racebooks for playing the 2025 Dubai World Cup:
| Rank | Racebook | Bonus | Review | Link to site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |  | $250 Free Bet on Props + Head-to-Heads | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #2 |  | 100% Sign Up Bonus - Up to $500 | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #3 |  | 50% up to $1,000 + $25 Risk Free Bet + 7% Rebates | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #4 |  | 50% sign-up bonus up to $1000 + 8% rebate | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #5 |  | Up to 13% Weekly Loyalty Rewards | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #6 |  | 50% sign-up bonus up to $250 | VISIT RACEBOOK! | |
| #7 |  | $100 Free Bet on Props + Head-to-Heads! | VISIT RACEBOOK! |
Dubai World Cup Handicapping
Now that you have your online betting account all set up, it is time to see the field for the 2025 Dubai World Cup and find out who to bet on!
Dubai World Cup 2025 Field
This is the official field for the 2025 Dubai World Cup in betting number order, along with trainers and jockeys. Post positions are also noted; at Meydan as with many tracks outside North America, betting numbers do not match post positions.
- Forever Young (Yoshito Yahagi/Ryusei Sakai) - post 5
- Hit Show (Brad Cox/Florent Geroux) - post 7
- Il Miracolo (Antonio Sano/John Velazquez) - post 6
- Imperial Emperor (Bhupat Seemar/Tadhg O’Shea) - post 10
- Katonah (Doug O’Neill/Slivestre de Sousa) - post 11
- Mixto (Doug O/Neill/Frankie Dettori) - post 8
- Ramjet (Shozo Sasaki/Kosei Miura) - post 9
- Rattle N Roll (Kenny McPeek/William Buick) – post 2
- Ushba Tesoro (Noboru Takagi/Akira Sugawara) - post 4
- Walk of Stars (Bhupat Seemar/Mickael Barzalona) - post 1
- Wilson Tesoro (Noboru Takagi/Yuga Kawada) - post 3
Keep in mind that if you bet through a racetrack or OTB, you will not know your odds until the moment the gates open. Thus, if there is late action on the horse you pick, your price will go down after you bet.
There is a better way: bet the Dubai World Cup at an online racebook. Online racebooks offer fixed-odds wagering on major races like the Dubai World Cup. This means you can lock in your odds just by placing a bet. Then, when you watch the race, you have full confidence on what your winning wager will pay, no matter what the late action is.
These are the odds on horses at the top of the Dubai World Cup market at recommended online racebooks:
Dubai World Cup Favorite
Forever Young is the favorite in the Dubai World Cup for good reason. His only defeats have come in America in two of the top races: he ran fine thirds in both the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He shows up everywhere, he stays nine furlongs easily, and he handled Meydan well when he won the 2024 UAE Derby.
He will be a heavy favorite, but with consistent form and tactical speed, that is well deserved.
Dubai World Cup Price Horses
Wilson Tesoro, the second-stringer from the Noboru Takagi barn, keeps showing up in major races. Though he has yet to win at the top level, he keeps showing up and coming very close: he was a nose behind Lemon Pop three back, and second by less than two lengths to Forever Young two starts ago. He is versatile enough to run well from any kind of trip, giving him some spoiler appeal.
There’s always some UAE local who runs well in the Dubai World Cup; they don’t always just run off the screen like Laurel River in 2024 but they will defend their home turf admirably. the locals in this race are Imperial Emperor and Walk of Stars, from the yard of Bhupat Seemar (who does also train the aforementioned Laurel River).
As the more tactical of the two, Imperial Emperor is preferred. Imperial Emperor stretched out nicely to win the Al Maktoum Classic (G2) on March 1 over the course and distance. though he was held at bay by Walk of Stars two back in the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1), more pace in the Dubai World Cup plays to Imperial Emperor’s advantage, comparatively speaking.
Dubai World Cup Exotics Horses
At age eight he is getting on in years and he hasn’t won since December 2023, but Ushba Tesoro keeps showing up and picking up checks in major international dirt races. That includes a third-place run last out in the Saudi Cup (G1) behind Forever Young. He won the Dubai World Cup in 2023 and should get some speed to close into, meaning another share is within reach.
Rattle N Roll has had a career renaissance in recent months, including wins in the Clark (G2) at Churchill Downs and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G3) in Riyadh. Kenny McPeek kept him in the middle east after the Saudi Cup to train toward this spot, and he should get enough pace in front of him to find the frame.
2025 Dubai World Cup Free Picks
You have chosen the online betting site that fits your betting style and you have gotten to know the best runners in the Dubai World Cup.. Now all that’s left to do is the best part of all: place your bet!
These are the best bets for Saturday’s 2025 Dubai World Cup:
- $20 to win - #1 Forever Young
- $10 each-way - #11 Wilson Tesoro
- $1 exacta key - #1 Forever Young with #4 Imperial Emperor, #11 Wilson Tesoro
- $0.50 trifecta key - #1 Forever Young with #4 Imperial Emperor, #9 Ushba Tesoro, #11 Wilson Tesoro
- $0.20 superfecta key - #1 Forever Young with #4 Imperial Emperor, #8 Rattle N Roll, #9 Ushba Tesoro, #11 Wilson Tesoro
Dubai World Cup Post Time
Post time for the 2025 Dubai World Cup is scheduled for 8:40 pm Arabian Standard Time, or 12:40 pm Eastern, on Saturday, February 24. It is scheduled as the ninth and final race on Meydan’s Saturday card.
