Deva dreams well and truly alive for World Cup night

Worcester-based Deva Racing are counting down the days until they get to rub shoulders with some of the world’s best when Imperial Emperor goes for Dubai World Cup glory in Meydan.

Many will be tuned into the action unfolding at Aintree on April 5, but for the loyal owners lucky enough to be involved with the one-time Derby hope turned budding Dubai superstar, it will be the bright lights of the climax of the Dubai racing season that is solely in their thoughts.

Following on from the early overseas inroads made by Deva’s Royal Mews, Imperial Emperor’s exciting dirt transition has seen the rapidly-growing syndicate begin to make a real mark in the Middle East.

That journey could now reach a crescendo when the impressive ‘Super Saturday’ scorer locks horns with the likes of Japan’s Saudi Cup scorer Forever Young and 2023 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro.

“It’s what dreams are made of and we never thought this would happen,” said Ryan Tongue, Deva Racing’s director and bloodstock agent, who was born and raised in Worcester and worked at the racecourse in his early days.

“Our first horse in Dubai, Royal Mews, took us to the Godolphin Mile, which was fantastic, but for our second horse out there to take us to the Dubai World Cup is a dream and we’re competing against the best.

“It’s going to be an amazing day and who would have expected it? We paid around £65,000 for him and we love buying horses over there, the incentives are fantastic, the weather and the prize-money is great and you get so well looked after by the Dubai Racing Club.

“It’s been an exciting journey with him and we’ve now ended up with a Dubai World Cup runner in a $12million race and hopefully the fun continues.”

Imperial Emperor was once a Classic hope for Charlie Appleby when trained in Newmarket, winning his first two races.

However, he has thrived for the move to both warmer climes and dirt and having won three of his four starts for the Deva team and trainer Bhupat Seemar, finds himself the 9-2 second-favourite for Dubai World Cup victory.

Tongue – who bought future Grand National hero I Am Maximus as a three-year-old on behalf of the late Michael Grech, before he was later sold to JP McManus – continued: “He was second-favourite for the Derby at one stage and he is by Dubawi, who does exceptionally well on the dirt, which is why we liked him.

“His dam Zhukova was a Group One-winning mare and related to Ghaiyyath and it was just a fantastic pedigree. He looked fantastic at the sales and we couldn’t believe we got him for that price.

“He’s improved with every run and I think he’s a horse who is only going to continue to improve. Super Saturday was only his fourth start on the dirt and Bhupat Seemar has always been very happy with him at home and his work is always very good. He’s a horse who’s given us a huge amount of pleasure.”

Win or lose out in Dubai, the thrill of international competition has seen Deva further broaden their horizons, with a first runner trained by Wesley Ward soon to hit the track in America.

The currently unnamed colt by No Nay Never out of Girl Friday is already earning rave reviews Stateside.

“We’ve joined up with Wesley Ward in America and have one lovely two-year-old there which we own with John Magnier and fingers crossed he will be Royal Ascot-bound,” added Tongue.

“He will make his debut at Keeneland next month, but I know they are very adamant he’s a very good two-year-old, so hopefully we get to mix it up with the big boys at Royal Ascot as well.”