Thursday 23rd March, 2023 – World Pool returns to Meydan this Saturday for the Dubai World Cup meeting, which will be the fifth World Pool event of 2023.
Last year, turnover on Dubai World Cup night totalled HK$282m (approx. $35.9m) and once again there will be six bet types available – Win, Place, Quinella, Quinella Place (Swinger), Forecast (Exacta) and Tierce (Trifecta) – with more than 20 countries set to bet into global pools for all bar the first of the nine scheduled races.
Only three weeks ago World Pool was in operation at Meydan's Super Saturday meeting, which saw total turnover of HK$225m (approx. $28.6m), an increase of HK$18.9 on the same meeting last year.
It followed on from strong performances at The Saudi Cup and Lightning Stakes Day at Flemington, both meetings where World Pool was in operation for the first time.
Met Day from Kenilworth was the first World Pool event of 2023 and has posted the highest turnover so far this year with HK$279.3m (approx. $35.6m), while the single race that has seen the highest turnover is The Saudi Cup, with HK$48m (approx. $6.2m) bet on the world's most valuable race.
As usual World Pool will choose one winner as their Moment of the Day, rewarding the groom of the horse that provides the most memorable story on the night.
A prize of HK$40,000 is on offer along with the winner being nominated for World Pool Moment of the Year and the chance to win a VIP trip to Hong Kong in 2024.
The meeting has seen a truly international entry across eight races, with representatives from Japan, USA, UK, Ireland, France, Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
The 27th running of the Dubai World Cup will see last year's champion Country Grammer, under World Pool ambassador Frankie Dettori, bid for a repeat success, and the six-year-old is set to renew rivalry with his Saudi Cup conqueror, the Yoshito Yahagi-trained Panthalassa.
Hong Kong racing fans will have plenty of local runners to follow as Duke Wai and Sight Success head to the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, Russian Emperor and Senor Toba are among the 10-strong field in the G1 Sheema Classic, and Glorious Dragon is set to line up in the G1 Dubai Turf.
Dubai World Cup night will be the fifth and final World Pool event of Q1, before World Pool returns for 2000 Guineas Day from Newmarket on 6 May.
