{"id":205853,"date":"2026-03-30T08:28:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T08:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/magnitude-upsets-forever-young-in-dubai-world-cup-bloodhorse\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T08:28:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T08:28:57","slug":"magnitude-upsets-forever-young-in-dubai-world-cup-bloodhorse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/magnitude-upsets-forever-young-in-dubai-world-cup-bloodhorse\/","title":{"rendered":"Magnitude Upsets Forever Young in Dubai World Cup – BloodHorse"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jose Ortiz celebrates aboard Magnitude after their victory in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse
Magnitude<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span>'s accomplishment in defeating Forever Young<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span> in the 30th Dubai World Cup (G1) March 28 at Meydan Racecourse is measured not only in that gutsy accomplishment itself, but also by reference to his owner's and trainer's history.
The Not This Time<\/a> <\/use><\/svg><\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span> colt led all the way in the 2,000-meter (about 1 1\/4 miles) World Cup and bravely held off Forever Young, ranked as the world's best dirt horse, by 1 length for owner Ron Winchell, trainer Steve Asmussen, and jockey Jose Ortiz.
For Asmussen, the history was sweet. He sent out Curlin<\/a> <\/use><\/svg><\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span> to win the 2008 World Cup at the old Nad Al Sheba track. For Winchell, it was sweet redemption, an antidote to seeing his star, Gun Runner<\/a> <\/use><\/svg><\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span>, beaten in the stretch run in 2017 by Arrogate.
For Ortiz, it was an exercise in emotions and he took a moment to rein in his feelings before guiding Magnitude to his victory party.
Ortiz said there was no plan take Magnitude to the lead but, when he broke well, with Forever Young right in his wake, the race itself turned into a "catch me if you can" affair.
Sign up for BloodHorse Churchill Downs<\/a><\/span> and the Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park<\/a><\/span>. Magnitude did the same in his preparations for Dubai.
Before the World Cup, Winchell said he is "trying to mimic the Gun Runner path and we'll see if that works out. … We'll see if he can take the next step. Obviously, Gun Runner was second here. We'd like to improve on that."<\/p>\n

\"Magnitude
Photo: Dubai Racing Club<\/small><\/p>\n
Magnitude in the winner's circle after winning the 2026 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Magnitude now has his work cut out for him if he is to duplicate Gun Runner's post-World Cup exploits. The son of Candy Ride<\/a> <\/use><\/svg><\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span> ran the table, winning all five races after the Dubai setback. All five were grade 1 affairs, including the 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic.
He took one step forward on that agenda with the World Cup win as the race is part of the Breeder's Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, guaranteeing him a slot in the Classic starting gate on Halloween at Keeneland<\/a><\/span>.
Meydaan<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span>, a 5-year-old Frankel<\/a> <\/use><\/svg><\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span> gelding making just his second start on dirt, ran third, 2 3\/4 lengths behind Forever Young. That backed up his victory Feb. 28 in the Al Maktoum Classic (G2), a 5 1\/4-length score that had him on top of some analysts' lists.
Imperial Emperor<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span>, a 6-year-old Dubawi <\/a><\/span><\/span> gelding, finished fourth on a night of disappointments for his trainer, Bhupat Seemar. Seemar, whose yard is a local powerhouse, had good chances in several of the night's events, but was shut out for winners. Among the tough beats was Six Speed<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span>'s second in the UAE Derby (G2). Seemar also saddled the second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers in the Godolphin Mile (G2).
Hit Show<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span>, last year's surprise winner for trainer Brad Cox, finished fifth under Florent Geroux and Tumbarumba<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span> was sixth. Both run for Wathnan Racing. Heart of Honor<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span>, Tap Leader<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span>, and Walk of Stars<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span> completed the order of finish.
Magnitude was bred in Kentucky by Ron Stolich out of the Bernardini<\/span> mare Rockadelic <\/a><\/span><\/span>. Winchell Thoroughbreds haltered him for $450,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Gainesway consignment.
His sire, Not This Time, by Giant's Causeway<\/span>, won the 2016 Iroquois Stakes (G3), then was retired after finishing second behind Classic Empire<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/span> in that year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
Not This Time stands at Taylor Made Stallions near Nicholasville, Ky., for a 2026 fee of $250,000.<\/p>\n

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