Bhupat Seemar's Laurel River Soars to Record-Breaking Dubai World Cup Glory as Trainer’s Star Continues to Rise

Bhupat Seemar's Laurel River claimed a record-breaking victory at the Dubai World Cup, elevating Seemar's status in global horse racing. The triumph marks Seemar's second UAE trainer’s title in just three seasons. This remarkable win has grabbed the attention of horseracing betting fans, who are excited to see what lies ahead for Seemar and his champion horse.

Sam Turner

Sports Writer

Last Updated: 2024-10-23

Fact checked by:

Louis Hobbs

Lead Journalist

6 minutes read

Prize presentation for the Dubai World Cup 2024, as jockey Tadgh O'Shea lifts the trophy with winning trainer, Bhupat Seemar

Image Credits: Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images

In a little over two minutes on a sweltering and breathless Dubai evening, Bhupat Seemar’s stock soared to stratospheric levels.

March 30, 2024, will forever be a date etched in the mind of the 47-year-old who could barely believe what he was witnessing under Meydan’s floodlights as Laurel River routed a classy field in the hands of a confident Tadgh O’Shea to land one of the world’s iconic flat races by a record-breaking eight-and-a-half length margin.

The victory saw the highly personable head of Zabeel Stables join an illustrious list of horseracing heavyweights as well as completing a wonderful Group 1 double following the earlier success of Tuz in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.

It is any wonder Seemar is still struggling to process the events of that momentous night.

“I’m still coming to terms with it, I’ve probably watched that replay close to 12,000 million times – once for each dollar of the prize money!” quipped the affable handler who also landed the UAE trainer’s title for the second time in just three seasons with a license following a stellar campaign.

“The race has been run for nearly three decades and it is incredible that we have our name on the roll call. To join such an elite group of horseman and horses is hard to imagine so it’s a wonderful feeling.”

It is incredible what you see from Laurel River in the mornings sometimes, so I’ve never been as sure about any racehorse as I was with him.

Bhupat Seemer

“He was doing things faster and easier than Group 1 sprinters, but he would never get tired!”

“On a lot of occasions, what you may think as a trainer never seems to materialise but I was just delighted our view of him was vindicated with the way he won,” he told SportsBoom.com.

It has been quite a few months for Seemar and his staff who have relocated from the iconic Zabeel Stables in the heart of downtown Dubai to Meydan Racecourse where Dubai Racing Club are building Zabeel 2.0.

“The move is still on, we haven’t completely moved from Zabeel as construction takes time, but once it’s totally ready, the new facility is going to be as amazing as Zabeel,” he adds.

“We’ll have all the facilities that we had at our previous home and I’m very thankful to Dubai Racing Club as they’ve been very supportive and hopefully, we will have moved everything by the end of October which will be a relief.”

“We made some good memories at the original Zabeel Stables and we’re hoping to make plenty of new ones at Zabeel’s new incarnation.”

Those new memories could again come courtesy of the world’s highest rated horse in Laurel River who arguably remains unexposed given he has so few miles on the clock.

The fact he is the highest rated horse on the planet indicates he is somewhat of a freak.

Bhupat Seemer

“He has had a super summer and it was great of the owners to keep the faith in us and leave the horse here with us in Dubai. They could have taken him for the Breeders’ Cup, but the fact he remained with us just reinforces what a brilliant operation Juddmonte is.”

“He’s had some paddock time; he’s used the spa and been in the pool, so he’s enjoyed some proper ‘R&R’ and now he’s back into training.”

“Laurel River is a no-nonsense horse – he just knows he’s very good!”

“He’s not one of those who will come to you for a pat or a Polo. He’s a bit aloof and a cool horse, but he’s not mean, he’s just very calm and doesn’t need any mollycoddling.”

“When he goes out in the morning, he just does his job and, when he feels good, he shows his class – he’s a dream to train.”

“I’m not entirely sure where he will start off this season, but he needs to have a prep run before the Saudi Cup on February 22nd. We will wait until he reaches a certain level of fitness and then look for a prep race.”

“Defending his crown in the Dubai World Cup is obviously the target afterwards.”

Laurel River’s triumph has brought further backing from Juddmonte who have strengthened their association with Seemar.

He revealed: “Winning the Dubai World Cup has helped with constructing a new team of horses for the forthcoming season. I don’t have any more horses numerically which is probably a good thing, but I believe we have some real quality.”

“Juddmonte has been kind enough to send us two more horses. There is a full brother to Laurel River called Castlewarden. He’s a very talented horse who has only had a handful of starts.”

“There is also Artorius who is by the Dubai World Cup Winner Arrogate and won the 2022 Curlin Stakes so they are two exciting horses to look forward to, hopefully they’ll be good for us.”

With a triumvirate of talent for one of the world’s preeminent bloodstock operations to look forward to this winter, Seemar’s stock may not have finished soaring just yet.

Sam TurnerSports Writer

Sam is an award-winning horseracing journalist with more than three decades of experience in the industry.

During a 20-year association with the Daily Mail newspaper in England, he has also covered the sport at the highest level on both terrestrial and Sky television channels and more recently has worked in Dubai acting as Editor for the region’s racing magazine, Adiyat Racing Plus.

As well as following horseracing passionately, Sam is a life-long cricket lover, while he also supports Wolverhampton Wanderers (for his sins).