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Seemar’s dawn of dreams: UAE champion trainer eyes another defining Dubai World Cup night
With a powerful squad and momentum on his side, Bhupat Seemar sets his sights on adding fresh glory at Meydan
- PUBLISHED: Tue 24 Mar 2026, 3:01 PM
Before the day breaks at Nad Al Sheba, Bhupat Seemar has already started his daily routine. The stillness of early morning is broken only by the rhythm of hooves and the quiet hum of a yard in motion. Directly ahead looms Meydan Racecourse, a daily reminder of the stage where ambition meets reality.
For Seemar, that view is more than scenery. It is his motivation.
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Having already secured the UAE Champion Trainer title this season, following previous wins in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons. Seemar now turns his focus to the sport’s biggest night in Dubai. And he does so armed with strength in numbers and in quality.
“This is what you work for every single day,” says Seemar, who boasts a tireless commitment to managing a formidable string of nearly 150 horses at Zabeel Stables, “When you look up and see Meydan every morning, it reminds you where you want to be.”
Despite only launching his training career at the top level just three years ago,, Seemar has wasted no time making his mark. From elite sprint victories with horses like Switzerland (2022) and Tuz (2023) to landing the world’s richest race with Laurel River (2024), his rise has been both rapid and emphatic. Yet, if anything, success has helped sharpen his appetite.
This year, he sends out a remarkable team across Saturday’s Dubai World Cup card, headlined by multiple Group 1 contenders. In the $12 million G1 Dubai World Cup, Imperial Emperor and Walk Of Stars return for another crack at glory, each arriving with stronger profiles than twelve months ago.
“Imperial Emperor feels like a different horse this time,” Seemar told the media at Meydan. “Last year probably came at the end of a long campaign, but we’ve kept him fresh, and he’s showing us exactly what we want to see.”
He is equally encouraged by Walk Of Stars: “He’s improved with every run this season. You always want to see progression, and he’s given us that.”
Standing in their path, however, is global superstar Forever Young, widely regarded as the benchmark and the horse every connection will hope to eclipse.
“He’s the one everyone has to beat,” Seemar says. “You respect a horse like that. But at the same time, this is why we compete, you want to test yourself against the very best.”
Speed has long been one of Seemar’s strongest assets, and once again, he holds a powerful hand in the sprint division. Veteran Tuz, a proven top-level performer, returns with a carefully managed campaign designed to have him peaking at the right moment.
“With Tuz, it’s about timing,” Seemar notes. “We didn’t push him early in the season. He needed to come here fresh, and I think we’ve got him exactly where we want.”
He is joined by Drew’s Gold, unbeaten since joining the yard, and the enigmatic Mufasa, who continues to hint at significant untapped ability.
“Drew’s Gold has done everything right so far,” he says. “And Mufasa, he’s still learning, but there’s definitely something there. When a rider like Ryan Moore is keen to stick with him, that tells you plenty.”
Seemar’s depth extends beyond the established stars. In the UAE Derby, a quartet of runners showcases both brilliance and potential, none more intriguing than Six Speed, already a UAE 2000 Guineas winner with international ambitions.
“He’s naturally quick and very talented,” Seemar says. “The big question is the distance, but if he gets it, he becomes very dangerous.”
Then there is Salloom, perhaps the most unpredictable of the group. “He’s got ability, no doubt,” Seemar admits. “It’s just about getting everything to come together on the day. If it does, he could surprise people.”
Composure amid elite competition
For all the firepower at his disposal, Seemar remains grounded. The scale of the occasion, the depth of competition, and the fine margins of elite racing are never far from his mind.
“You prepare as best as you can,” he says. “After that, you let the horses and jockeys do their job.”
But make no mistake, the man who starts his day in the shadow of Meydan is not just hoping for success. He is chasing it, relentlessly, ready to turn early-morning dreams into a timeless achievement.