The $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) is just a few days away, with Forever Young the popular favorite seeking international racing history.
The Japan-bred 4-year-old could become the first horse to sweep the world’s richest races if he can add the 1 ¼-mile Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse to his dramatic win in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) in Riyadh on Feb. 22.
On Saturday, post time 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 p.m. Dubai time), Forever Young faces 10 rivals, many he’s already defeated, as he attempts to extend his unbeaten record to 9-0 outside the United States.
Forever Young drew the No. 5 post and is listed as the 8-13 early favorite, with local entry Imperial Emperor next at 5-1, leaving from post 10.
“We thought that the wider we got, the better,’’ Forever Young’s trainer Yoshito Yahagi said after Wednesday’s post-position draw. “I didn't want stall 1 or 2 for him so he gets a fair race, though it's not a big matter anyway.”
In those memorable defeats, the Real Steal bay colt finished third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) by two noses in a three-horse photo and third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, less than three lengths behind champions Sierra Leone and Fierceness.
Among the challengers this time are three fellow Japan-breds – Ushba Tesoro (14-1), Wilson Tesoro (25-1), and Ramjet (25-1), who ran third, fourth, and sixth, respectively, in the 1 1/8-mile Saudi Cup; five American entries in Rattle N Roll (fifth in the Saudi Cup), Il Miracolo, Mixto, Hit Show, and Katonah; and two local entries, Imperial Emperor and Walk of Stars (12th in the Saudi Cup).
One opponent will not be in the race – 10-time Grade 1/Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior, who was gallant in defeat in the Saudi Cup, losing by a nose to Forever Young in his first race on dirt in a thrilling run to the wire.
Instead, Romantic Warrior will return to the turf, where he is the overwhelming favorite in the Dubai Turf (G1).
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young is now rated the No. 1 horse in the world. The trainer has an ambitious plan to return to the BC Classic at the end of the year.
“Forever Young is getting more popular after he won the Saudi Cup," Yahagi said. "There are not enough overseas buyers coming to Japan to buy Japanese horses. I keep showing to international owners how good Japanese horses are.”
Last year, Forever Young won the Saudi Derby and the UAE Derby to clinch his spot in the Run for the Roses. While he didn’t win at Churchill Downs, he was a fighter in defeat. He was bumped around by Sierra Leone in the stretch, and Mystik Dan passed them both on the inside. A win and he’ll also join Thunder Snow as the only UAE Derby winner to take the Dubai World Cup.
Ushba Tesoro, who is scheduled to retire after the race, is currently 10-1 as he hopes to regain the winning touch he had in capturing the 2023 Dubai World Cup. He finished second to Senor Buscador last year.
Rattle N Roll (25-1) gives trainer Kenny McPeek hope for a U.S. win. The 6-year-old was sidelined for a year, but he returned late last year to win the Clark Stakes (G2) in November and the Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques Cup (G3) at Meydan on Jan. 25 before his fifth in the Saudi Cup.
Hit Show (40-1) for trainer Brad Cox was a distant third in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and doesn’t generate much enthusiasm, even with Florent Geroux aboard from post 7; the Doug O’Neill trained duo of Mixto (40-1) and Katonah (100-1) are likely out for some decent prize money as also rans; and Il Miracolo (66-1) for trainer Antonio Sano will be an extreme longshot.
This is the 29th Dubai World Cup. Fourteen U.S. breds have won (two of them trained in Dubai, including last year’s winner Laurel River). Six Ireland-breds have won, while owner Godolphin has nine victories.
The winner takes home $6,960,000, with second worth $2.4 million, third $1.2 million, fourth $600,000, fifth $360,000, sixth $120,000, seventh $60,000, and eighth $60,000. If Forever Young wins, his bankroll will soar to more than $21 million (he was purchased for $720,603 by Susumu Fujita at the 2022 JRHA yearling and foal sale).
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