A night of upsets at Meydan culminated in Saturday’s $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1), as the 41-1 Hit Show struck top gear late to deny fellow American longshot Mixto, leaving 1-2 favorite Forever Young behind in third.

After Luxor Cafe clinched his invitation to the Kentucky Derby (G1) via the Japan Road, his form was upheld in Saturday’s UAE Derby (G2) by Admire Daytona, who booked his own ticket to Louisville.

Saturday’s $5 million Dubai Turf (G1) was supposed to be all about Hong Kong legend Romantic Warrior, but the 1-5 favorite was mugged on the line by Japan’s Soul Rush.

Last year’s Japanese champion three-year-old male, Danon Decile, scored in his first international foray in Saturday’s $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan.

As a late addition to the field for Saturday’s $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), Dark Saffron was an unlikely candidate to crash the Straight No Chaser versus Tuz party for several reasons.

Purchased for nearly $4 million at Tattersalls last December, Believing furnished dividends in her first start for the Coolmore principals and Resolute in Saturday’s $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1).

Frankie Dettori was back in the spotlight on Saturday’s Dubai World Cup (G1) program at Meydan, guiding Raging Torrent to a 3 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2).

After Dubai Future missed his entire eight-year-old campaign in 2024, the Godolphin homebred’s racing career appeared to be receding into the past.

The Dubai World Cup (G1) anchors a quartet of Breeders' Cup Challenge races at Meydan Saturday, and earlier on the card, the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby concludes with the UAE Derby (G2).

Hitherto campaigned as a sprinter/miler, Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Laurel River vindicated trainer Bhupat Seemar’s bold decision to try about 1 1/4 miles in Saturday’s $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1).

Overlooked at 15-1 in a deep renewal of the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) on Saturday, Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance parlayed an advantageous trip into a two-length victory at Meydan.

Tuz is capable of a big effort on his day, and the Bhupat Seemar trainee picked a good time to deliver an explosive display in Saturday’s $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan.

California Spangle looked like the next big thing when flooring Golden Sixty in the 2022 Hong Kong Mile (G1), but needed a cutback in trip to hit the heights again.

After handling a challenging assignment in the Red Sea Turf H. (G3) on Saudi Cup Day, Tower of London was backed into 2-1 favoritism in a presumably better scenario in Saturday’s $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2).

Once 4-5 favorite Saudi Crown couldn’t make the lead in Saturday’s $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2), the handwriting was on the wall for an upset at Meydan.

Defending champion Ushba Tesoro will meet 11 challengers in Saturday’s $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan.