Like a boxer who's just knocked out his most dangerous opponent in a tough bout, Forever Young enters the Dubai World Cup (G1) April 5 at Meydan Racecourse looking around for the next challenger.
The tough guy he beat in the Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 22, Romantic Warrior, has retreated to his preferred turf surface. The lineup of 10 opponents for the World Cup is talented enough, including the 2023 winner, but on current form has something to find.
And the trainer in Forever Young's corner, Yoshito Yahagi, says his fighter came out of the Saudi race stronger than ever.
"Of course he had a tough race and he was a little fatigued for a few days," Yahagi said after Forever Young drew gate 5 in ceremonies April 2. "My staff really did a great job in aiding his recovery and from then the plan was always to come here and compete in the Dubai World Cup.
"I think the extra 200 meters will be an advantage for him and also going four turns will benefit him."
Forever Young won the Saudi Cup, going 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) around one turn at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, by a neck over Hong Kong's Romantic Warrior. The closest rival was another 10 1/4 lengths up the track. The World Cup is 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), around two sweeping bends which in international terms equate to four turns.
"I've been asked a lot about how he has come out of the race and his overall condition and some people have been concerned," said the affable Yahagi, known in global racing circles as "the man in the hat" for his colorful race-day headgear. "But I actually think that, having experienced that tough race, he has improved another level. I think it's all positive. I don't see any negatives."
Nonetheless, the others hold out hope.
2023 World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro and Wilson Tesoro, the distant third- and fourth-place finishers in the Saudi Cup, return for another try and trainer Noboru Takagi keeps the faith.
Takagi said of Wilson Tesoro that he was "happy to avoid a wide draw" in gate 3 while the late-running Ushba Tesoro will "run his own race, regardless of the draw."
United States hope Rattle N Roll, who finished fifth in Riyadh, takes another swing, this time from post 2 and trainer Kenny McPeek gave that a thumbs-up.
"It's a long run to the first turn and he can tuck in and find his way from there," McPeek said. "In these races, you need to save as much ground as possible."
The other American horses, Il Miracolo, Mixto and Katonah, drew post 6, post 8, and post 11, respectively. Leandro Mora, assistant to Mixto's and Katonah's trainer Doug O'Neill, sounded relatively pleased. Antonio Sano said he was granted his wish of "the middle rather than the inside or outside" for Il Miracolo.
Hot Dubai-based trainer Bhupat Seemar, who won the 2004 World Cup with Laurel River, returns with Walk of Stars who in fact walked through the recent World Cup Carnival as a star among locals, winning the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1).
Seemar hopes the 6-year-old will return to form on home footing after finishing 12th in Saudi Arabia and said the inside gate assigned to Walk of Stars was perfect as he expects him to be "rocking and rolling" on the lead, probably with Forever Young.
Stablemate Imperial Emperor, also impressive in the local preliminaries, starts from gate 10.
While it's a big race for everyone, there's special meaning to the Dubai World Cup for Japanese connections.
"The Dubai World Cup is a race that in Japan we always want to win," Yahagi said. "In 2011, straight after a devastating earthquake in Japan, Victoire Pisa won it and Transcend finished second. That was meaningful for the people. They were encouraged by that and this race, which has a prestigious history, has become more and more popular."
Even if Forever Young runs to his notices and dominates the World Cup, Yahagi, owner Susumu Fujita, and jockey Ryusei Sakai said they will see it as one more step on the march into the history books.
The 4-year-old Real Steel colt won the Saudi Derby (G3) in Riyadh and the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai in 2024, earning his way to the Kentucky Derby (G1). There, he finished third in a three-way photo behind Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone, victimized by repeated bumping through the stretch run.
He returned to Japan, won the Japan Dirt Classic in October and then came back across the Pacific Ocean to finish third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar. They had similar disappointments with their other stable star, Shin Emperor.
"Last year, we were unable to win a group 1 overseas with these two horses," Sakai said. "This year, we're coming back to win as many races as possible with them, and perhaps every race."
A win in Saturday's event could earn Forever Young an automatic berth back to the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Classic as a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event.
