Japan's Forever Young and Hong Kong's Romantic Warrior, the embattled 1-2 finishers from $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), head back to their separate surfaces to highlight two top features on the April 5 Dubai World Cup (G1) program at Meydan Racecourse.
The list of likely fields released March 19 by the Dubai Racing Club includes 35 individual group 1 or grade 1 winners, including two reigning Breeders' Cup and Eclipse Award winners. Most of the eight Thoroughbred races feature fascinating showdowns involving horses from around the world.
"The strength and depth of horses aiming for the Dubai World Cup meeting this year is superb," said Ali Al Ali, CEO and board member of the DRC. "We are delighted to have horses from 13 racing jurisdictions represented, including several returning champions."
Forever Young, who rallied to defeat Romantic Warrior by a neck in the Saudi Cup, is the star of the $12 million World Cup field, which is heavy on Japanese and American runners with a seasoning of two upset-minded locals.
The top contenders are familiar to American fans. Forever Young, winner of the 2024 Saudi Derby (G3) and UAE Derby (G2), was third in the dramatic photo finish of the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) and third again in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. He will line up against fellow Japanese star Ushba Tesoro, who won the 2023 World Cup and finished second in 2024 and also contested the Breeders' Cup Classic in those seasons, finishing fifth and 10th, respectively.
Japan also sends Wilson Tesoro and Ramjet, fourth- and sixth-place finishers in the Feb. 22 Saudi Cup.
The United States contingent comprises Hit Show, trained by Brad Cox; Il Miracolo, saddled by Antonio Sano; and two from Doug O'Neill, Mixto and Katonah. Mixto's victory in the 2024 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) is the sole grade 1 win by any of them.
Bhupat Seemar sends out the two locals—Walk of Stars and Imperial Emperor, the 1-2 finishers in the local Al Maktoum Challenge (G1). Walk of Stars then finished 12th in Saudi Arabia while Imperial Emperor stayed home to win the Al Maktoum Classic (G2) by 8 1/2 lengths a week later.
Marquee Turf Events
While Forever Young continues his swashbuckling crusade through the world's top dirt races, Romantic Warrior returns to the green track to contest the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1T) at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles). His connections made good on their promise that the Saudi Cup, no matter the outcome, was meant as his sole stroll on the dirt.
In the Turf, Romantic Warrior is likely to face Godolphin's globetrotting Nations Pride, France's Facteur Cheval, a four-strong Japanese squad featuring star filly Liberty Island and accomplished international miler Soul Rush, and four from England.
Liberty Island, second to Equinox in the 2023 Japan Cup (G1), most recently was second to Romantic Warrior in the Hong Kong Cup (G1) in December at Sha Tin Racecourse. Facteur Cheval won the 2024 edition of the Dubai Turf.
Godolphin's Rebel's Romance, the reigning and two-time Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner and 2024 Eclipse Award champion turf male, is the marquee name in the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) at 2,410 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) on the grass. Since he unseated rider Richard Mullen while clipping heels in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course July 30, 2023, the now 7-year-old Dubawi gelding has won seven of nine starts in jurisdictions as diverse as Qatar, Hong Kong, England, and Germany. Those wins include last year's Sheema Classic.
On form, Rebel's Romance should be among the evening's favorites against another field rife with Japanese runners. A tough contender, though, is Shin Emperor, who exits a victory in the Neom Turf Cup (G2T) on the Saudi Cup undercard. Shin Emperor runs for the powerful connections of owner Susumu Fujita and trainer Yoshito Yahagi with Ryusei Sakai named to ride—the same names behind Forever Young.
Sprints take Shape
The two races for speedballs also promise fireworks.
The $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1T) at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on the turf has Isivunguvungu, a graded stakes winner in his native South Africa and a stakes winner since transferring to trainer Graham Motion in the U.S. He faces the likes of British group 1 winners Regional and Audience.
The $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), run on the Meydan dirt course, pits defending race winner and all-conquering Middle Eastern sprinter Tuz against reigning Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner and 2024 Eclipse Award male sprint honoree Straight No Chaser. Straight No Chaser exits a win in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) on the Saudi Cup undercard.
UAE Derby, Godolphin Mile
The $1 million UAE Derby (G2) has been repositioned this year in the Churchill Downs-sponsored Road to the Kentucky Derby program and now effectively guarantees the winner a spot in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses. Forever Young, as noted, won the race in 2024 and used it as a springboard to Louisville, Ky.
This year's UAE Derby has entries from Japan, Norway, England, and two local trainers. The only American-based 3-year-old is Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Flood Zone from the Brad Cox barn. Six of the 11 expected starters, however, were bred in America, including the Norwegian entry, Queen Azteca, a Sharp Azteca filly bred by Three Chimneys Farm. She is 2-for-2 this year and was last seen winning the UAE Oaks (G3).
The $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2) on the dirt has Raging Torrent, another of O'Neill's runners, who comes off a victory in the Malibu Stakes (G1) on Santa Anita Park's opening day program Dec. 26. The $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2T) is two miles on the grass.
