Dubai racing on hold as fallout of Iran conflict spreads

Racing in the United Arab Emirates has been temporarily suspended due to the impacts of the conflict which has erupted between Iran and the United States and Israel,

The 30th running of the Dubai World Cup could be in doubt as the Gulf region comes to terms with escalating tensions, triggered by a sudden joint US-Israel attack on Iran, resulting in major Middle East ports closed due to retaliatory attacks. 

The deadly US-Israel mission, which reportedly killed Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khamenei, has caused chaos throughout the Middle East with Dubai’s signature racing carnival a possible unintended casualty of US President Donald Trump’s military intervention.

As it became apparent that Iran was launching ballistic missiles towards key sites in the UAE, Saturday’s Meydan race meeting proceeded as planned but Sunday’s Jebel Ali card was later cancelled.

Simon and Ed Crisford trained a winning treble on the seven-race Meydan card, while the Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel’s Romance won the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold on the turf.

Top Godolphin-retained jockey William Buick rode a double including on Rebel’s Romance.

All flights at Dubai International and the Jebel Ali-based Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) have been suspended until further notice.

As a result, a number of European-based jockeys and trainers could remain stranded in Dubai with the airport closed and airlines cancelling or diverting flights away from the major Middle Eastern ports such as Dubai and Doha.

Dubai’s international airport was damaged by debris with at least one person killed. 

Expatriate Australian trainer Michael Costa, who is based in Dubai, confirmed he, his wife Mel and four children were safe but that they had endured a long night as Iran launched retaliatory attacks on the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

The region hosts US defence force bases and personnel.  

Fourth in this season’s Emirates Racing Authority trainers’ premiership with 21 winners, Costa was scheduled to have four runners at Sunday’s Jebel Ali meeting until officials made the call to abandon it due to safety concerns.

Former Gold Coast-based Costa, who has been training in Dubai since 2022, oversees the stable of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at Jebel Ali Stables.

The Dubai carnival has been building up to its March 28 crescendo at Meydan where the World Cup is scheduled to be run three decades after Cigar, a six-year-old trained in the US by Bill Mott, won the inaugural World Cup at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.

Australian trainer Troy Corstens has been considering travelling Baraqiel to Dubai for the Al Quoz Sprint, while Godolphin’s three-year-old colts Beiwacht and Tentyris had also been suggested as possible runners at Meydan.

Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap at Flemington was to help determine whether Corstens pressed ahead with his Dubai plans for Baraqiel, a stablemate to the now retired The Astrologist who ran second in the 2023 Al Quoz Sprint.

Flights from Europe, including those scheduled to carry Dubai Honour and several stablemates to Australia for the Sydney autumn carnival, were cancelled, leaving trainer William Haggas to make alternative plans.