Forever Young hits the $12m Dubai World Cup

The international stars Forever Young, Calandagan and Ombudsman are all aligned as the odds-on favourites for the $30.5m 30th Dubai World Cup night at Meydan.

And with Forever Young coming off a second consecutive victory in the $20m Saudi Cup, he’s the $1.40 race favourite with nation-wide betting agencies for the $12m Dubai World Cup.

”I wanted middle to outer, so I’m pleased,” said trainer Yoshito Yahagi when Forever Young was allocated Barrier 6 of the 9 runners, and will be ridden by his regular jockey Ryusei Sakai.

And with Forever Young completing his main exercise gallop Yoshito Yahagi stated “Ryusei Saka breezed him over five furlongs and it wasn’t a hard piece as we considered the track.”

“We decided to give him lighter work than originally planned due to the fast track conditions here at Meydan as we successfully completed exactly what we intended to do this morning.”

“He executed as planned and looked to have a spring in his step and all is well,” while Sakai stated “he’s in better shape than he was in Saudi Arabia, and I think he’s in fantastic condition.”

With the Dubai World Cup run over 2000m on dirt, and Forever Young the World Best Ranked dirt horse, he won three Group 1’s on dirt last year including the $7m Breeders’ Cup Classic.

In also winning the UAE Derby and Saudi Derby, and a nose x nose third in the Kentucky Derby, he’s a 5yo horse by the Dubai Turf winner Real Steel, and was a ¥98m 2022 JRIH Select Yearling.

Priced as the $8 equal-second pick is the Steve Assusman trained Magnitude, a last start Razorback Handicap with Jose Ortiz, and Meydaan for Simon and Ed Crisford and with William Buick.

And with Hit Show to be the only horse to twice win the Dubai World Cup, he’s at $11 for Brad Cox and Florent Geraux, while Bhupal Seemar has Imperial Emperor at $9 and Walk of Stars $34.

The green of the Aga Khan Studs with be shining for the $6m Dubai Sheema Classic of 2400m on turf, with their 2025 World Best Racehorse Calandagan drawn Gate 2 of the 6 runners.

Now first up from winning the Japan Cup in November, and four Group 1’s on end last season, he will again be ridden by Mickael Barzalona for Francis Graffard, and is a 5yo gelding by Gleneagles.

However, it’s the Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Ethical Diamond who is gaining the attention as he also won the Ebor Handicap and Duke of Edinburgh Stakes last season, having also raced over hurdles.

Trained by Champion Britain and Ireland National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins and paying $5 for Dylan Brown McMonagle, he’s drawn the outside in 6, with Giovellotto at $9 for James Doyle.

“He’s travelled over very well,” said Willie Mullins, “and he’s had the longest break of any of the horses in the field without a run but I had always wanted to give him a break after America.”

“It’s the start of a long year for him but we’ve tried to get him as fit as we can at home. It’s still a busy time over here and I’ve kept the same team that travelled with him last time.”

The $5m Dubai Turf, sponsored by DP World is over 1800m and sees the Queen Anne Stakes winner Ombudsman at $1.50 for William Buick, with $7 for Gaia Force and Facteur Cheval paying $9.

“After York and Ascot we thought we’d freshen him up and come here,” said trainer John Gosden. ”I discussed with Sheikh Mohammed back in October in Newmarket, so we made this the target.”