The Dubai World Cup is not merely a race—it is horse racing’s most opulent stage, where extravagance reigns supreme. In an era where racing struggles for survival elsewhere, Dubai stands defiantly, turning Meydan Racecourse into a shimmering paradise of wealth, spectacle, and elite competition. From jaw-dropping prize purses to architectural marvels, from racing royalty to the sheer pageantry of the occasion, every element drips with luxury. While the sport in other parts of the world fights to stay afloat, Dubai transforms it into a high-stakes celebration—where speed meets splendour, power meets prestige and the thrill of the turf glows as brilliantly as the city’s skyline.

The magnificent Meydan is set to dazzle as it hosts a thrilling nine-race card, with the prestigious Emirates Dubai World Cup as its crowning jewel. Since its inception in 1996, when the legendary American champion Cigar triumphed in emphatic fashion, the Dubai World Cup has only grown in stature, cementing its place as one of the sport’s grandest spectacles.

In recent years, Japanese contenders have risen to prominence, both in numbers and reputation, mirroring the fervent passion for racing in Japan. This year, Forever Young carries an aura of invincibility, his breathtaking Saudi Cup victory and prior triumphs against elite opposition making him the horse to beat. Meanwhile, 2023 champion Ushba Tesoro returns in search of redemption after his late charge last year proved futile, with Laurel River already home and hosed. Known for his sluggish starts, the defending champion must break sharper and stay within striking range when the race reaches its decisive moment at the top of the stretch.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi is brimming with confidence—perhaps even a touch of theatrical certainty—that Dubai World Cup hotshot Forever Young has leveled up since his dramatic dismantling of Romantic Warrior in Riyadh last month. Meanwhile, jockey Ryusei Sakai is still nursing the wounds of several near-misses in 2024 and is itching to set the record straight under Meydan’s floodlights.

Forever Young has made a habit of turning up at the party but leaving without the biggest prize—finishing a close third in both the G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Breeders' Cup Classic last season. His stablemate Shin Emperor, another big player on Saturday’s $6 million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic stage, shares a similar tale of “almost” glory—third in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes and then settling for a frustrating dead-heat second behind Do Deuce in the G1 Japan Cup. It seems the Yahagi barn has developed a flair for dramatic near-misses, but Sakai is eager to change that script.

As for Forever Young, Yahagi insists that his slugfest with Romantic Warrior in Saudi Arabia was just what the doctor ordered—a hard-fought duel to sharpen his arsenal for Dubai’s biggest night.

"Of course, he had a tough race and was a little fatigued for a few days," Yahagi admitted. "My staff did a great job with his recovery, and our plan was always to bring him here. The extra 200 metres is a plus. People have been asking me about his condition, almost as if I should be worried. But honestly I see no negatives."

I was there when Victora Pisa won the Dubai World Cup in 2011 in a thriller and the win meant a lot to Japan. The triumph was a much needed one for a nation reeling from disastrous earthquake. That unforgettable night at Meydan, with Transcend chasing him home in second, was more than just a racing milestone—it was a symbol of resilience, a rallying cry for a country in need of hope.

"The Dubai World Cup is a race that Japan always wants to win," Yahagi declared. "That 2011 victory, coming so soon after the earthquake, meant so much to the people. It encouraged them, and over time, this race has only grown in prestige and popularity."

Saudi Cup champion Forever Young landed post five for Saturday’s $12 million G1 Dubai World Cup, a position that sits well with trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who preferred to avoid an inside draw. Defending champion Ushba Tesoro starts from stall four, while stablemate Wilson Tesoro breaks from stall three, aiming to overturn his Saudi Cup loss.

Trainer Noboru Takagi welcomed the inside draw for Wilson Tesoro, while noting that Ushba Tesoro, a habitual slow starter, will run his own race regardless.

Front-runner Walk Of Stars secured a dream draw in stall one, much to trainer Bhupat Seemar’s delight, as he anticipates a head-to-head battle with Forever Young. Stablemate Imperial Emperor faces a tougher task from stall ten, though last year’s winner Laurel River proved that a wide draw is no barrier to success when scoring from stall 12.

Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior landed barrier nine for his shot at an 11th Group 1 title in the Dubai Turf, a shift from his dominant Jebel Hatta victory in January when he broke from gate one. His jockey, James McDonald, is taking it as a good omen, with another of his mounts, Howdeepisyourlove, also drawing nine in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint. "I’d rather nine than one. He’ll be able to do his thing from there," he quipped.

Meanwhile, Rebel’s Romance, Godolphin’s defending Dubai Sheema Classic champion, starts from a favorable stall four. Having conquered stall 11 last year, he now bids to become the first back-to-back winner of the race—proof that for this superstar, the gate number is just a detail.