Tadhg O’Shea returns to Dubai ahead of a new Meydan season
The 2024 Dubai World Cup winning jockey is back in Meydan’s orbit as another campaign with Zabeel Stables approaches.
Irish jockey Tadhg O’Shea is back in Dubai as the UAE season and Meydan Carnival draw closer. Dubai Racing Club welcomed him back to his role with Zabeel Stables on its official social account.
His return carries the memory of a defining Meydan night: O’Shea rode Laurel River to victory in the 2024 Dubai World Cup for trainer Bhupat Seemar. The club records it as the first locally trained winner outside the Godolphin operation. That history gives the partnership sporting weight without predetermining its results this winter.
The Emirates Racing Authority records 46 wins from 385 rides for O’Shea in the completed 2025–26 season. Those are historical season figures, not a tally for the coming campaign. His individual mounts and programme will be established by official declarations for each meeting.
When does the test begin?
Dubai Racing Club has set Friday, 6 November 2026 as the Carnival opener. Official declarations will show which horses O’Shea partners for Zabeel Stables and elsewhere. His familiarity with Meydan makes the return compelling; the results must still be earned on the track.