Once 4-5 favorite Saudi Crown couldn’t make the lead in Saturday’s $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2), the handwriting was on the wall for an upset at Meydan.

Defending champion Ushba Tesoro will meet 11 challengers in Saturday’s $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan.

As a deep-closing, one-turn specialist, Joe Peacock Jr.’s homebred Senor Buscador has been frustrated time and again in the most prestigious races stateside. But Saturday’s Saudi Cup (G1) proved to be exactly the right stage.

The world’s richest race is shaping to be something of a reboot of the biggest raceday in the United States – with a few extras thrown in for good measure.