Study Guide: 2024 UAE Derby

Mar 27, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

A talented 13-horse field has turned out to contest Saturday's UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan in Dubai. Held over 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) on dirt, the UAE Derby awards Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points to the top five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.

The UAE Derby has yet to produce a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, but that could change in 2024, given the caliber of horses in this year's UAE Derby field. Let's meet the entrants:

Auto Bahn

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum
Breeder: Al Adiyaat Argentina S.A.
Trainer: Julio Olascoaga
Jockey: Mickael Barzalona

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $57,897

Sire: Asiatic Boy
Dam: Autografiada
Color: Dark bay/brown

Auto Bahn was best by a neck over Killer Collect when winning the Feb. 23 Al Bastakiya over the same track and distance as the UAE Derby. But he's facing tougher competition on Saturday and must carry a hefty 131 pounds, 10 more than the majority of his rivals.

Oasis Boy

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum
Breeder: Al Adiyaat Argentina S.A.
Trainer: Julio Olascoaga
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $28,957

Sire: Asiatic Boy
Dam: Olinka
Color: Chestnut

Oasis Boy has finished behind a few of his UAE Derby rivals, including when eighth to Forever Young in the Saudi Derby (G3). He'll need improvement to turn the tables while carrying 131 pounds.

Rock Walk

Start(s): 8
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Haras Phillipson
Breeder: Phillipson
Trainer: Julio Olascoaga
Jockey: Joao Moreira

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $141,960

Sire: T. H. Approval
Dam: Go to Heaven
Color: Chestnut

Rock Walk has run well over a wide variety of distances in Uruguay, most recently finishing second in the Gran Premio Jose Pedro Ramirez racing 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles). But he's facing tougher competition in the UAE Derby and will do so while toting 131 pounds, so Rock Walk's assignment is challenging.

Ballon d'Or

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Toshio Terada
Breeder: Shadai Farm
Trainer: Mikio Matsunaga
Jockey: Norihiro Yokoyama

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $130,955

Sire: New Year's Day
Dam: Lumiere d'Or
Color: Bay

Ballon d'Or has won twice in Japan, but a sixth-place finish in last month's Hyacinth S. on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaves him as a UAE Derby longshot. He finished third behind Forever Young in a maiden race at Kyoto last year and must find better to turn the tables.

Forever Young

Start(s): 4
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Susumu Fujita
Breeder: Northern Racing
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $1,469,451

Sire: Real Steel
Dam: Forever Darling
Color: Bay

Japanese star Forever Young is undefeated in four starts, including a determined victory in the Saudi Derby (G3) last month. Forever Young figures to improve in his second run of the season and should enjoy the UAE Derby distance, so by any metric he's the horse to beat.

George Tesoro

Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co.
Breeder: Shingo Higashikatsuragi
Trainer: Takayuki Kato
Jockey: Yuga Kawada

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $198,739

Sire: Best Warrior
Dam: Grin Tesoro
Color: Chestnut

George Tesoro has won a couple of sprint races in Japan and ran second in the Cattleya S. racing 1,600 meters (about one mile) on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby last fall. He can't be counted out of the mix for a top-five finish, even while making his first start outside of Japan.

Guns and Glory

 

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Mrs. Fitriani Hay
Breeder: Stud TNT
Trainer: Bhupat Seemar
Jockey: Jamie Spencer

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $35,740

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Baby Go Far
Color: Bay

Guns and Glory won over the track and distance of the UAE Derby when taking the March 8 Dubai Marina by 12 lengths. He ranks among the most promising local runners and has a shot to factor this Saturday.

Henry Adams

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor
Breeder: Whisperview Trading
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $101,643

Sire: No Nay Never
Dam: Jigsaw
Color: Brown

Henry Adams wasn't quite up to beating Grade 1 competition in Europe last year, finishing fourth in both the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) and Dewhurst (G1). He's competed exclusively in seven-furlong turf sprints and isn't necessarily bred to shine in a dirt route, but not every horse runs to their pedigree, and perhaps switching distances and surfaces will trigger improvement from Henry Adams.

Killer Collect

 

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Michael Hilary Burke and Negar Burke
Breeder: Bhupat Seemar
Trainer: Nobiz Like Shobiz
Jockey: Tadhg O'Shea

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $201,911

Sire: Collected
Dam: Comforter
Color: Dark bay/brown

Killer Collect couldn't keep pace with Mendelssohn Bay when second in the 1,600-meter UAE 2000 Guineas (G3), but he improved when stretching out over 1,900 meters for the Al Bastakiya, beating Auto Bahn by a neck. Killer Collect is progressing in the right direction, but needs another step forward to beat tougher competition in the UAE Derby.

Mendelssohn Bay

 

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Suited and Booted Racing Syndicate
Breeder: Cuyathy
Trainer: Bhupat Seemar
Jockey: Pat Cosgrave

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $145,409

Sire: Mendelssohn
Dam: Reiki Baby
Color: Dark bay/brown

Mendelssohn Bay was much the best in the UAE 2000 Guineas, beating Killer Collect by 3 3/4 lengths. His pedigree suggests stretching out over 1,900 meters is within his wheelhouse, so Mendelssohn Bay can't be counted out of the mix.

Navy Seal

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Wayne Lordan

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $28,933

Sire: Dubawi
Dam: Athena
Color: Bay

Navy Seal hasn't had the best luck against stakes competition on turf, finishing fourth in the Beresford Memorial (G2) and fifth in the Criterium International (G1) in Europe last season. Nor did he thrive when trying synthetic in a minor 1 1/4-mile event at Dundalk on March 1, finishing third. But if he handles switching to dirt in his second run of 2024, Navy Seal could be an intriguing longshot contender.

Pandagate

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Adelphi Racing Club, Madaket Stables, Corms Racing Stable, and On The Rise Again Stable
Breeder: Fred W. Hertrich III
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Jockey: Dylan Davis

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the Gander S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $101,650

Sire: Arrogate
Dam: Kitty Panda
Color: Gray/roan

The lone U.S. hopeful in the UAE Derby is Pandagate, who trounced New York-bred rivals to win the one-mile Gander S. by 5 1/2 lengths. Pandagate is a strong stretch runner with the pedigree to shine over 1,900 meters, so if anyone can upset Forever Young, it's likely this promising gray raider.

Satono Phoenix

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Hajime Satomi
Breeder: Shimokobe Farm
Trainer: Masato Nishizono
Jockey: Oisin Murphy

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $218,951

Sire: Henny Hughes
Dam: Mermaid Tiara
Color: Bay

The final Japanese hopeful is Satono Phoenix, who finished behind Forever Young when fifth in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun and 10th in the Saudi Derby. Reversing those outcomes will require a step forward.