The Al Maktoum Challenge, is a horse race run over a distance of 1,900 metres (approximately one and three-sixteenth miles) on dirt in late January at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The event was known as Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 3 and was the third of three races in the Al Maktoum Challenge series which serve as trial races for the Dubai World Cup but was renamed in 2024
It was first run in 1994 on dirt at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. It was transferred to Meydan in 2010 where it was run on the synthetic Tapeta Footings surface. In 2015 the synthetic surface at Meydan was replaced by a dirt track.
The race was originally run over 2,400 metres before he current distance was established in 1996.
The race began as an ungraded stakes race before attaining Listed status in 1996. The race was elevated to Group 3 level in 2000 and became a Group 2 event in 2002. The race became a Group 1 event in 2012.
The distance of the event was decreased from 2,000 metres to 1,900 metres in 2024. The three race challenge series was moved for Arabian horses and the event was rebranded as the Al Maktoum Challenge.
Records Record time: 1:56.21 - Walk of Stars (2025)
Most wins by a horse: 2 - Salute The Soldier (2021, 2023)
Most wins by a jockey: 7 - Frankie Dettori (1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008)
Most wins by a trainer: 11 - Saeed bin Suroor (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Most wins by an owner: 8 - Godolphin Racing (1996, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2015)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1994 Cezanne 5 Gary Hind Hilal Ibrahim Sheikh Mohammed 2:36.77 1995 Dover Straits 4 John Carroll Hilal Ibrahim Sheikh Mohammed 2:34.40 1996 Tamayaz 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:08.41 1997 Kammtarra 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Saeed Maktoum Al Maktoum 2:03.83 1998 Nabhaan 5 Richard Hills David Morley Hamdan Al Maktoum 2:05.91 1999 Spindrift 4 Gary Hind Saeed bin Suroor Rashid Bin Mohammed 2:00.53 2000 Dubai Millennium 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:59.60 2001 Hightori 4 Olivier Peslier Philippe Demercastel Gary Tanaka 2:01.59 2002 Street Cry 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:01.25 2003 Grandera 5 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:02.83 2004 Victory Moon 4 Weichong Marwing Mike de Kock Mad Syndicate 2:03.30 2005 Chiquitin 4 Michael Kinane Jerry Barton Sultan Mohammed Saud Al Kabeer 2:04.70 2006 Electrocutionist 5 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:01.06 2007 Eu Tambem 3 Kerrin McEvoy Ismail Mohammed Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 2:01.532008Jalil4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin2:03:352009Asiatic Boy5Johnny MurtaghMike de KockMohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum2:03.032010Red Desire4Olivier PeslierMikio MatsunagaTokyo Horse Racing2:02.622011Twice Over6Tom QueallyHenry CecilKhalid Abdullah2:05.442012Capponi5Ahmed AjtebiMahmood Al ZarooniHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum2:03.052013Hunter's Light5Silvestre de SousaSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin2:03.652014Prince Bishop7Kieren FallonSaeed bin SuroorHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum2:04.232015African Story8James DoyleSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin2:04.922016Special Fighter5Fernando JaraMusabah Al Muhairi Mansoor bin Mohammed al Maktoum2:03.092017Long River7Mickael Barzalona Salem bin GhadayerHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum2:04.202018North America6Richard MullenSatish SeemarRamzan Kadyrov2:01.712019Capezzano5Mickael BarzalonaSalim bin GhadayerSultan Ali2:05.022020Matterhorn5Mickael BarzalonaSalim bin GhadayerHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum2:04.442021 Salute The Soldier6 Adrie de Vries Fawzi Abdulla Nass Victorious2:03.092022 Hypothetical5Mickael BarzalonaSalem bin GhadayerSheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum2:04.792023 Salute The Soldier8 Adrie de Vries Fawzi Abdulla Nass Victorious2:04.522024 Kabirkhan4 Pat Dobbs Doug Watson Tlek Mukanbetkaliyev 1:57.722025 Walk Of Stars6 Tadhg O'Shea Bhupat Seemar Athbah Racing 1:56.212026Imperial Emperor6Richard MullenBhupat SeemarDeva Racing1:58.82
See also List of United Arab Emirates horse races
References
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