Senor Buscador will attempt to become the first horse to pull off the Saudi Cup-Dubai World Cup double when he faces 11 other horses in the 2024 Dubai World Cup on Saturday at Meydan Racecourse. Five weeks ago, Senor Buscador rallied from back in the pack to capture the $20 million Saudi Cup. Only one previous winner of the Saudi Cup has even attempted to win the Dubai World Cup, 2023 champ Pantahalassa, who finished 10th at Meydan. On Saturday, Senor Buscador is an 8-1 longshot to win among the 2024 Dubai World Cup horses. Defending Dubai World Cup champion Ushba Tesoro is the 5-2 favorite in the 2024 Dubai World Cup odds. Kazakhstan invader Kabirkhan is the 3-1 second choice in the 12-horse 2024 Dubai World Cup field, while Derma Sotogake is 4-1.
The 2024 Dubai World Cup post time is set for 12:35 p.m. ET. With several of the world's best dirt horses set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you'll want to see what Santa Anita-based racing reporter and analyst Michelle Yu has to say before making any 2024 Dubai World Cup picks.
Few people in racing are as well-connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders' Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She also is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.
Yu also has astute handicapping chops. In a wide-open Kentucky Derby in 2021, she gave out Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first, as the winner at 12-1. In Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager two years ago, she suggested a play on All Other 3-Year-Olds, which cashed at a whopping 18-1 when Rich Strike won the Derby.
Last year she crushed the Saudi Cup, riding 15-1 winner Panthalassa, nailed Derma Sotogake to win the UAE Derby and hit the exacta in the Santa Anita Derby. She hit the exacta in the Preakness Stakes and Hollywood Gold Cup and had both the winner and exacta in the Summertime Oaks and the Prince of Wales's Stakes. She also smashed the Haskell Stakes for a $663 score, hitting 12-1 winner Geaux Rocket Ride as well as the exacta. And in January, she correctly called National Treasure to win the Pegasus World Cup.
Now, Yu has handicapped the 2024 Dubai World Cup lineup, made her picks and constructed her best bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2024 Dubai World Cup predictions
One surprise: Yu is completely fading Derma Sotogake, even though he is one of the top favorites. Purchased for a little more than $163,000 three years ago, Derma Sotogake already has earned more than $3.1 million in his career. His biggest career win came almost exactly one year ago, when he won the UAE Derby at Meydan.
But since then, he has not found the winner's circle in three starts. He finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby, and in his two starts facing older horses, he finished second in the Breeders' Cup Classic and fifth in the Saudi Cup. Yu is not including Derma Sotogake in any of her wagers. You can see all of Yu's 2024 Dubai World Cup bets here.
How to make 2024 Dubai World Cup picks
Moreover, Yu is high on a double-digit longshot who is "worth considering for the exotics." Her top pick is a horse who "has looked fantastic in training." She is including these horses in her 2024 Dubai World Cup bets, and so should you. She's sharing which horses to back at SportsLine.
So who wins the 2024 Dubai World Cup, what longshot is a must-back and how has Yu constructed her wagers? Visit SportsLine to see Yu's picks for the Dubai World Cup, all from the expert who nailed last year's winner, and find out.
2024 Dubai World Cup odds, contenders
| Prg # | Horse | Odds | Projection |
| 1 | Clapton | 50-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 2 | Crupi | 14-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 3 | Defunded | 50-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 4 | Derma Sotogake | 4-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 5 | Dura Erede | 12-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 6 | Kabirkhan | 3-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 7 | Laurel River | 16-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 8 | Military Law | 50-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 9 | Newgate | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 10 | Senor Buscador | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 11 | Ushba Tesoro | 5-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 12 | Wilson Tesoro | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
