| Location | Meydan Racecourse Dubai |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1998 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | emiratesracing.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,410 metres (1½ miles) (2,400 metres prior to 2010) |
| Track | Turf, left-handed |
| Qualification | Four-years-old & up (N. & S. Hemisphere) |
| Weight | 54 kg |
| Purse | US$5,000,000 |
The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (approximately 1½ miles; 2410 metres since 2010) on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in March.
The race was first run in 1998, and it was initially titled the Dubai Turf Classic. The present name was introduced two years later. The event attained Group 1 status in 2002. Prior to 2010 it was run at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.
The Dubai Sheema Classic currently offers a purse of US$5 million, making it and the Dubai Duty Free race the two richest turf races in the world. [1]
Speed record: (at current distance of 2,410 metres and Meydan Racecourse)
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 1998 | Stowaway | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 2:29.01 |
| 1999 | Fruits of Love | 4 | Kieren Fallon | Mark Johnston | Michael Doyle | 2:28.45 |
| 2000 | Fantastic Light | 4 | Kieren Fallon | Sir Michael Stoute | Maktoum Al Maktoum | 2:27.70 |
| 2001 | Stay Gold | 7 | Yutaka Take | Yasuo Ikee | Shadai Racehorse | 2:28.23 |
| 2002 | Nayef | 4 | Richard Hills | Marcus Tregoning | Hamdan Al Maktoum | 2:29.64 |
| 2003 | Sulamani | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 2:27.67 |
| 2004 | Polish Summer | 7 | Gary Stevens | André Fabre | Khalid Abdullah | 2:31.09 |
| 2005 | Phoenix Reach | 5 | Martin Dwyer | Andrew Balding | Winterbeck Manor Stud | 2:30.54 |
| 2006 | Heart's Cry | 5 | Christophe Lemaire | Kojiro Hashiguchi | Shadai Racehorse | 2:31.89 |
| 2007 | Vengeance of Rain | 6 | Anthony Delpech | David E. Ferraris | R. G. Chow Hon Man | 2:31.03 |
| 2008 | Sun Classique | 5 | Kevin Shea | Mike de Kock | L. Cohen / W. V. Rippon | 2:27.45 |
| 2009 | Eastern Anthem | 5 | Ahmed Ajtebi | Mubarak bin Shafya | Hamdan Al Maktoum | 2:31:84 |
| 2010 | Dar Re Mi | 5 | William Buick | John H. M. Gosden | Lord Lloyd-Webber | 2:31:84 |
| 2011 | Rewilding | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Mahmood Al Zarooni | Godolphin Racing | 2:29.01 |