Super Saturday in Dubai set the scene for World Cup night

Super Saturday in Dubai is the highlight of weekend horse racing around the world. Australia had four Group 1 events, Japanese 3-year-olds continue to sort themselves out with the Classics right around.

Super Saturday at Meydan Racecourse prepared local runners for the Dubai World Cup night on March 27th. Salute the Soldier confirmed his spot in the World cup. Lord Glitters signed his passport for Dubai Turf. Panadol staked out spots in UAE Derby. Frankie Dettori and Pat Dobbs split a sprint race between Final Song and Canvassed.

Salute the Soldier won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Sponsored by Emirates Airline. Jockey Adrie de Vries is happy with the 2,000-meter distance.

Panadol won the UAE Derby on World Cup night. Speight'spercomete finished second and El Patriota third. Panadols was bred by Chester and Mary Broman and sold for $180,000 at the Ocala Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Lord Glitters won the Dubai World Cup on Saturday. Al Suhail finished second. Japan's wondermare Almond Eye won last year's World cup. The event was canceled last November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dettori and Final Song took a substantial lead into the stretch in this prep for the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint. Motafaawit came flying from far back down the middle of the track and just missed FinalSong by a head. Finalsong finished the 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) in 1:10.39. Acklam Express was third.

Canvassed won the Mahab Al Shimaal Sponsored by Emirates Skywards dirt sprint. Good Effort was in the lead but surrendered it in final strides to Canvassing. Lavaspin finished third.

Walton Street won the Dubai City of Gold Sponsored by Emirates Holidays marathon. Godolphin runners finished 1-2-3-4 in this 2,410-meters marathon, a prep for the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night.

Midnight Sands won by 2 1/4 lengths at Meydan. Burj Nahaar finished eighth in the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland in November.

Zoutori won the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Homesman won TAB Australian Cup. Lion's Roar won at Royal Randwick Guineas. Savatiano won Heineken Canterbury Stakes at the Royal. Randick. Bivouac won Godolphin's Heinken. Dubai World Cup is on Saturday.  

Malmoos won the Group 1 World Sports Betting S A Classic for 3-year-olds at Turffontein Standside. Second Base finished in second place with Catch Twentytwo catching third money. War of Athena won her counterpart Group One, the Wilgerbosdrift S a Fillies Classic, by 1 3/4 lengths from Netta.

Meikei Yell and Elizabeth Tower shared the victory in Saturday's Grade 2 Tulip Sho at Hanshin. Titleholder won the 2,000-meter trial at Nakayama on Sunday. Danon the Kid won his 3-for-3 races. He was making his 2021 debut. Japan is lifting some pandemic restrictions. The facilities were opened for fans this weekend at the Hanshine and Chukyo Racecourses.

Flagship Glory won in Sunday's Class 3 Hyacinth Handicap. He is the first offspring of Epsom Derby winner to win in Hong Kong. The BMW Hongkong Derby is in two weeks. Frankie Lor, who won the 2019 Derby with Furore, kept him out of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.