Knicks Go, Charlatan, and Mishriff are set to resume their rivalry in the Dubai World Cup on Saturday, March 27 at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Dubai World Cup headlines the richest day of the year in thoroughbred horse racing. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Dubai World Cup for Saturday, March 27. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Horse Racing – Dubai World Cup on March 27
2021 Dubai World Cup
- When: Saturday, March 27
- Where: Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, UAE
- Distance: 1 ¼ miles dirt
2021 Dubai World Cup Odds
- Knicks Go +300
- Charlatan +400
- Mishriff +600
- Military Law +600
- Jesus Team +600
- Swiss Skydiver +700
- Chrisoberyl +800
- Maxfield +1000
- Tacitus +1000
- Gronkowski +1200
- Chuwa Wizard +1600
- Military March +1600
- Capezzano +2000
- North America +2000
- Gifts of Gold +2500
- Muntazah +3300
- Big Team +4000
Will the 2021 Dubai World Cup be a repeat of the Saudi Cup in February?
The $20 million Saudi Cup produced a finish with Mishriff in first, Charlatan in second, and Knicks Go in fourth. Great Scot, who may not run in the Dubai World Cup, finished third when catching Knicks Go in deep stretch.
Knicks Go and Charlatan ran a crazy fast early pace. But Mishriff wasn’t far off the pace. The real key for the Dubai World Cup will be what Charlatan’s jockey does.
If Charlatan presses Knicks Go early, the pace should set up for Mishriff. If Charlatan’s jockey allows Knicks Go to speed to an easy lead, the Brad Cox trained runner should be tough to run down.
So, the answer to the question is yes and probably not. Yes if Charlatan presses Knicks Go from the beginning. Probably not if Knicks Go gets an easy lead.
But just because Knicks Go gets an easy early lead, it doesn’t mean he wins. Charlatan almost held off Mishriff. The Saudi Cup winner beat two of the best American horses in a dirt race.
At this level, Grade 1 races like the Dubai World Cup, it’s best to back the horse you like the most. You could talk yourself off the winner by overthinking it.
If we don’t overthink it, we end up on Mishriff to repeat his Saudi performance. Again, the winner ran close to the pace and overtook Charlatan in the stretch. Mishriff also offers overlay odds compared to the other two.
Of the two speed horses, Charlatan and Knicks Go, which deserves the longer look?
By far, Charlatan deserves the longer look. The Baffert trainee took the lead from Knicks Go, relinquished the lead around the final stretch, and then pulled ahead of Knicks Go in the stretch.
Not only that but Charlatan almost held off Mishriff. If he didn’t bounce out of the Saudi Cup, Charlatan did run a crazy fast race, Charlatan should offer much less than +400 odds. Consider Charlatan the favorite.
What horses look best to upset Charlatan, Knicks Go, and Mishriff?
Jesus’ Team is a good racehorse. He’ll have a nice burst in the stretch. But he doesn’t appear to have the quality of Knicks Go, Charlatan, or Mishriff.
The horse to watch, if he doesn’t run this Saturday in the Santa Anita Handicap, is Maxfield. The 5-for-5 Street Sense sired 4-year-old colt hasn’t come close to running a number that rivals Charlatan, Knicks Go, or Mishriff.
But he also hasn’t had to run that fast to dominate his competition. If trainer Brendan Walsh feels he can pull off the upset, Walsh might put him on a plane to Dubai.
