Dubai Sheema Classic:

Location: Meydan Racecourse

Total Prize: US$5,000,000

Official Website: http://www.dubairacingclub.com

First run: 1998

Qualification: 4yr olds and up by invitation only.

Distance: 2410 metres

Race Record: 2:27.45 Sun Classique 2008

Track: Turf, left handed.

Track Bias: No marked bias to report as long straights and banked corners make it fair for all runners.

History: The race was originally run in 1998 as the Dubai Turf Classic and later changed to Dubai Sheema Classic in 2000. It was run over 2400m (the metric equivalent of 1 ½ miles) at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse before the move to Meydan in 2010. The Turf (outside) track has a distance round the oval of 2400m and the start for this race is just before the finish line (about 10m) hence the 2410 distance at Meydan. It now forms an important part of the Dubai World Cup Meeting  

Past Winners: 2010 Dar Re Mi, also winner of several UK and European Group1s around this distance and the musical connection comes from being the daughter of Singspiel and owned by Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber. 2007 Vengeance of Rain also won the Hong Kong Gold Cup, The Hong Kong Derby, and was named Hong Kong Horse of The Year 2006/2007. 2000 Fantastic Light also won the Hong Kong Cup and went on to be one of the most popular and prolific sires of recent times.

Lead Up Form: Any Group 1 success at the distance with qualifiers coming from  Europe, Japan, Hong Kong and UAE

Related Races: The Sheema Classic is a featured race on Dubai World Cup night which also includes the US$5 million Dubai Duty Free, the Group 3 Al Quoz Sprint, worth US$1 million, to be run over 1200m on turf, the Dubai Golden Shaheen and UAE Derby, both worth US$2 million, and the US$1 million Godolphin Mile. The evening kicks off with the Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians.

Top Jockeys & Trainers: Jockey Kieren Fallon has 2 wins and Frankie Dettori has 2 wins for Godolphin horses trained by Saeed Bin Suroor. Japan's Shadai Racehorse also have 2 wins.

About the Track: "Meydan" is the Arabic word for meeting place. The grandstand is the longest in the world at 1.6km. There are no on course tote or bookmaker facilities as gambling is not permitted in the UAE. Punters who live outside of the UAE can bet on Dubai racing online with our recommended bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au.