Repeat winners are rarities on the Dubai World Cup (G1) program and Sibelius has a chance to join those ranks when he lines up for the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) March 30 at Meydan Racecourse.
Sibelius, a 6-year-old son of Not This Time owned by Jun Park and Delia Nash, won the race in 2023 as trainer Jerry O'Dwyer stepped onto the international stage with a splash. And O'Dwyer said he feels Sibelius has every chance to do it again.
If so, he will prevail against a well-matched crew from around the globe in a 1,200-meter (about six furlongs) dirt test that, while full of talent, lacks a clear favorite. Early support in the international markets has Sibelius well-backed, along with at least half of his 13 rivals.
American Contenders
Other American invaders drawing support are Bold Journey, a Bill Mott trainee who finished third in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) in Saudi Arabia in February; Hopkins, fourth in last year's Golden Shaheen and sent over by Bob Baffert after finishing second in the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park in his last start Feb. 10; and 2023 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) show finisher Nakatomi, who makes his first overseas trip for trainer Wesley Ward since finishing eighth in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) on turf at the 2021 Royal Ascot meeting.
Nakatomi exits a third-place finish in the Pelican Stakes Feb. 10 at Tampa Bay Downs, won by Sibelius both this year and last.
Sibelius went 1-for-4 in 2023 after the Dubai win, but O'Dwyer said he was "maybe visually, I think, more impressive in his prep race this year. A couple of horses who finished behind him in that have come back and won stakes or allowance races."
He also said that the horse's performance last year and Ryan Moore's agreement to ride him back instill confidence.
"He overcame so much," O'Dwyer said of last year's slow start. "But he just gave us renewed confidence that he's not one-dimensional, that he has to be on the lead.
"Last year was just an unreal experience," the trainer added. "Just to come over and take on the best sprinters in the world and to pull it out of the bag like that."
Run Classic, trained by Venezuela-born Jose Francisco D'Angelo, is a longshot among the American entries. His trainer is noting the differences in racing between Dubai and Gulfstream Park, where the Runhappy horse won the Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes Feb. 24. Those include gate protocols.
"As a sprinter, it's really important to have a good start," D'Angelo said after a midweek gate schooling session. "He has only had one start for us, but we really liked what he did that day.
"We're confident he belongs in this group 1 company and that he will run a big race. He's really doing well here."
He will need to be, as some of the best sprinters from other parts of the world will line up again in the Golden Shaheen.
International Contenders
Igniter, a fan favorite and two-time Horse of the Year on the National Association of Racing dirt circuit in Japan, might be counting on a speed-favoring Meydan surface to make his case.
"The dirt track here is very fast, which suits Igniter," said jockey Tsubasa Sasagawa after a mid-week work. "He was the champion horse of Japan's country racing circuit last year, so I would like to get a good result with him.
"He has adapted to the environment in Dubai very quickly, which is a strength of his. Mentally, he stands out as one of the best I have ever ridden, so tough, and I would like to maximize his strength."
Remake arrives off his victory in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint. He was a solid favorite in that and won from off the pace by 1 1/2 lengths over the swift Steve Asmussen-trained American Skelly.
Other notable entrants include the graded stakes-winning Mouheeb and a duo trained by Bhupat Seemar, Freedom Fighter and Leading Spirit.
