emirates7 - Imperial Emperor strengthened his bid for a place in the Dubai World Cup (G1) with a commanding victory in the Al Maktoum Classic (G2) on Super Saturday, 1st March, at Meydan Racecourse.

The win marked a significant success for trainer Bhupat Seemar, who now boasts three strong contenders for the prestigious race.

Jockey Tadhg O’Shea positioned himself strategically on the outside of the leading pack, allowing him to launch a decisive move in the straight. Seizing the advantage off the final turn, he powered Imperial Emperor to an emphatic eight-and-a-half-length triumph over stablemate Artorius and Korean challenger Global Hit, who put in a strong front-running effort.

“This is a dream come true. I can’t believe we’ve secured a place in the Dubai World Cup!” O’Shea exclaimed.

Reflecting on the performance, he added, “This horse is improving all the time. I’ve ridden him just three times, and we’ve won on all three occasions. That was likely his career-best run. It was a truly competitive race with no room for error. He’s incredibly genuine.”

Super Saturday serves as a key qualifier for the highly anticipated Dubai World Cup night, set to take place on 5th April.