Andrew Bon reports exclusively for Formgrids: The 2025 Dubai World Cup - interviews with jockeys:
- James McDonald
- William Buick
- Saffie Osborne
James McDonald: "It was going to take something extraordinary to miss Randwick - but Romantic Warrior is extraordinary."
In a week where the world’s best horses, jockeys and trainers are on show, few have attracted more attention than James McDonald - the reigning ‘World’s Best Jockey’ whose partnership with Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior has brought him to the Dubai World Cup meeting for the first time.
Since the ‘World’s Best Jockey’ title was first awarded in 2014, only four riders have landed the prize: Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore four times each, McDonald twice and Hugh Bowman once.
William Buick, jockey, on REBEL'S ROMANCE (Sheema Classic), NATIONS PRIDE (Turf) and TRAWLERMAN (Gold Cup).
"He's got a super chance" - Saffie Osborne eyeing historic victory at Saturday's Dubai World Cup meeting.
Back in 2014 she watched her father win the UAE Derby race from the sofa at home in Britain. Now she is hoping to make history by landing the race herself.
And Saffie Osborne believes she has a "super chance" of becoming the first woman to ride a winner at the Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday.
She will be riding Heart Of Honor, trained by Jamie Osborne, in the UAE Derby, a race the yard won 11 years ago.
"It's huge as Toast Of New York won the UAE Derby in 2014," said Osborne. "I was sat on the sofa at home — I was only 12 and it's quite cool to think we'd be back here 11 years on. It’s a pretty niche race for a European trainer to have runners in.
"This is my third ride on World Cup night, it's somewhere every jockey wants to ride winners and it would be really special."