Simon and Ed Crisford will look to foil the Japanese party on Saturday evening as they gear up to saddle the aptly-named Meydaan in the $12,000,000 Group 1 Dubai World Cup.

Few if any would have expected the five-year-old to end up a key Dubai World Cup contender following his midfield finish in the Melbourne Cup last November, even more so when you take into account his two runs on turf over one-mile six furlongs at Meydan in January.

However, an inspired switch to the dirt which was coupled with a drop back to a mile and a quarter saw the son of Frankel put up a destructive performance in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Classic, leaving connections dreaming of Dubai World Cup glory.

“It was a big transition from turf to dirt and we went for it, Sheikh Ahmed was very keen for us to try something new with him,” said Ed Crisford.

“He goes really well on that dirt track; he won on Super Saturday in really good style. The World Cup is going to be a super tough race; you’ve got the best dirt horse in the world in Forever Young and it’s going to be no easy feat to beat that horse.

“Meydaan is fit and well though and he’s coming off the back of a big win so I think he can run a really decent race in the World Cup.”

As previously mentioned by Crisford, Meydaan will have to topple the best dirt horse in the world if he’s to collect top honours on Saturday evening, with Forever Young standing firmly in his way.

Yoshito Yahagi’s superstar could become the highest-earning thoroughbred of all time if he wins on Saturday and jockey Ryusei Sakai was happy with how the five-year-old Breeders’ Cup Classic hero felt when getting back onboard for the first time since their victory in last month’s Saudi Cup.

He said: “It was my first time back on him since the Saudi Cup. He is in good form.”

Photo: Racing Photo