Japanese megastar Forever Young will look to avenge his defeat in last year’s G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt) when he again tackles the US$12 million (approx. HK$94 million) contest on Dubai World Cup night on Saturday (28 March).

On what promises to be a huge night as the Dubai World Cup celebrates its 30th anniversary, Forever Young is again poised to start a heavy favourite in one of the few top dirt contests that has eluded him.

Twice victorious in the mega-rich G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt), Forever Young added the prestigious G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (2000m, dirt) to his burgeoning CV back in November.

After winning the G2 UAE Derby (1900m, dirt) at Meydan in 2024, Forever Young returned to the United Arab Emirates last year under a weight of expectation after outduelling Romantic Warrior in a titanic Saudi Cup struggle.

That battle likely took its toll on both superstars, with Romantic Warrior nosed out by Soul Rush in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) and Forever Young lacking his customary brilliance when running third behind Hit Show and Mixto two races later.

Connections will be confident of righting that wrong this time around, with the Yoshito Yahagi-trained five-year-old a more comfortable winner of the Saudi Cup under regular jockey Ryusei Sakai in Riyadh last month.

Forever Young has been in Dubai since last month and Yahagi is happy with the horse’s condition and movement.

“Based on past experience, we brought him along gradually,” Yahagi said. “The horse is doing very well.”

While it was a pair of American gallopers who outpointed Forever Young last year, the son of Real Steel’s toughest opposition takes on a cosmopolitan look this time around.

Hit Show is again there and is one of two American runners boasting strong claims, along with Magnitude. Imperial Emperor will fly the local flag for Bhupat Seemar, and Meydaan represents Britain.

Hit Show again brings strong form from the United States, winning first up in the G3 Mineshaft Stakes (1700m, dirt) last month, while Magnitude looks the pick of the Americans after scooping the G3 Razorback Handicap (1700m, dirt) in his first-up run at Oaklawn Park on 28 February.

Brad Cox, who trains Hit Show, said the horse had travelled well.

“He seems to be every bit as good this year as he was last year,” Cox said of the grey/roan stallion.

Imperial Emperor had some excuses when finishing a disappointing last in last year’s Dubai World Cup but he has been in hot form since, returning from a lengthy layoff with victories in the G2 Al Maktoum Mile (1600m, dirt) and the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge (1900m, dirt), fending off the reopposing Tumbarumba, Heart Of Honor and Walk Of Stars in the latter.

The Simon & Ed Crisford-trained Meydaan also boasts strong form, producing two good showings on the Meydan turf before switching to the dirt for a dominant success in the G2 Al Maktoum Classic (2000m, dirt) on 28 February.

Meydaan defeated Walk Of Stars, last year’s Dubai World Cup fourth, by around five and a quarter lengths, with Tap Leader – who rounds out this Saturday’s field – further back in third.

The victory of Meydaan, a one-time G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hope, thrilled Ed Crisford.

“Meydaan winning on the dirt was fantastic and it was a little bit of a punt, but he had been training so well on that surface,’’ he said.

“The way he travelled was exceptional and then he turned into the straight and picked up really well. We were very pleased, and it’s a ‘win and you’re in’ for World Cup night, and hopefully we go there with a squeak.

“The field will be much stronger and Forever Young will be tough to beat. He’s got to step up a level, but that was his first run on dirt and there is no reason why he can’t improve again when having his second run on the surface.”

The Dubai World Cup is carded as S3-8 and will be run at 12.45am (Hong Kong time) on Sunday, 29 March.

Photo: JCSA