# Dubai Sheema Classic

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 1+1⁄2 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 as 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$6 million making it and the Dubai Turf race the two of the most valuable turf races in the world.

## Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 2,410 metres and Meydan Racecourse)
* 2:25.65 – Equinox (2023)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 – William Buick (2010, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 3 – John Gosden (2010, 2017, 2021)
* 3 – Charlie Appleby (2018, 2019, 2024)
Most wins by an owner:
* 7 – Godolphin (1998, 2003, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024)

## Winners

| 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 |
| 2012 | Cirrus des Aigles | 6 | Olivier Peslier | Corine Barande-Barbe | Dupouy/Niel | 2:31.30 |
| 2013 | St Nicholas Abbey | 6 | Joseph O'Brien | Aidan O'Brien | Smith / Magnier / Tabor | 2:27.70 |
| 2014 | Gentildonna | 5 | Ryan Moore | Sei Ishizaka | Sunday Racing | 2:27.25 |
| 2015 | Dolniya | 4 | Christophe Soumillon | Alain de Royer-Dupré | Aga Khan IV | 2:28.29 |
| 2016 | Postponed | 5 | Andrea Atzeni | Roger Varian | Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum | 2:26.97 |
| 2017 | Jack Hobbs | 5 | William Buick | John Gosden | Godolphin Racing | 2:32.39 |
| 2018 | Hawkbill | 5 | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin Racing | 2:29.45 |
| 2019 | Old Persian | 4 | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin Racing | 2:27.17 |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 2021 | Mishriff | 4 | David Egan | John Gosden | Prince Abdul Rahman al Faisal | 2:26.65 |
| 2022 | Shahryar | 4 | Cristian Demuro | Hideaki Fujiwara | Sunday Racing | 2:26.88 |
| 2023 | Equinox | 4 | Christophe Lemaire | Tetsuya Kimura | Silk Racing | 2:25.65 |
| 2024 | Rebel's Romance | 6 | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin Racing | 2:26:72 |