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The clash of those middle distance types on the turf is the Dubai Turf run at Meydan on Saturday.
Lord North was in the main stall three years in a row. Will the 2024 Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan on Saturday be another highlight?
2024 DUBAI TURF - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Dubai Turf is a Group 1 middle distance race for four year olds and up conducted by the Dubai Racing Club at Meydan.
The Dubai Turf was first run in 1996 won by Key Of Luck. It was previously known as the Dubai Duty Free until 2014.
The Dubai Turf was initially run on dirt at 2000m but when it moved to turf in 2000, it was 1777m.
The race became a Group 1 in 2002 and when moved to Meydan it went to 1800m.
It is run on Dubai World Cup night as the feature turf middle distance race on the program.
Lord North became the first horse to win the race twice with his dead heat in 2022 and Frankie Dettori has most jockey wins at two plus that dead heat. Lord North won again a year later.
Leading trainer is Saeed bin Suroor with six victories.
The 2001 edition was a famous clash of three of the best on turf around this trip to be racing each other. Jim And Tonic prevailed over Fairy King Prawn and Sunline.
The latter two had fought out a gigantic clash at Sha Tin in December.
In 2005 Australian stallion Elvstroem headed to Nad Al Sheba after defeat in the Australian Cup. Nash Rawiller took him to the front and he controlled the race.
Right there to be challenged at the 400m, he sprinted too fast and won with such ease.
Benbatl won his first international G1 winning the Dubai Turf with ease. He'd then win a G1 in Germany before heading to Australia and winning the Caulfield Stakes. He'd then run bravely to Winx in her fourth Cox Plate victory.
Japanese great mare Almond Eye returned from a spell to easily win in 2019. She was developing a great record and kept going until the end of her career with a superb Japan Cup victory.
There was a dead heat in 2004 and again in 2022 when Lord North and Panthalassa hit the line together. Lord North also won 2021 and 2023 runnings either side.
The Dubai Turf was worth US$5million in 2024.
It was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
The winners include Lord North (2021/2022/2023), Almond Eye (2019), Benbatl (2018), Real Steel (2016), Solow (2015), Cityscape (2012), Presvis (2011), Jay Peg (2008), Admire Moon (2007), Elvstroem (2005), Jim And Tonic (2001), Annus Mirabilis (1998) and Tamayaz (1997).
The 2023 Dubai Turf was won by Lord North from Danon Beluga and Nations Pride.
