Forever Young among hot favorites on Dubai World Cup card

Despite regional war and torrential rain this week, Meydan will stage the 30th Dubai World Cup extravaganza on Saturday.

Japan’s globetrotting dirt star Forever Young is the main attraction in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1). If he justifies odds-on favoritism over Magnitude, defending champion Hit Show, and local prep stars Meydaan and Imperial Emperor, Forever Young would become the all-time richest racehorse with earnings in excess of $36 million. His bankroll is flush with prize money from back-to-back wins in the Saudi Cup (G1) and a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

Calandagan, the world’s top-ranked performer of 2025, is the similarly heavy favorite in the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1). His main opponents are fellow European shippers Giavellotto and Ethical Diamond, the surprising winner of last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). 

Godolphin’s top-class Ombudsman looms large in the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1), where he will clash with the 2024 winner, Facteur Cheval; Japanese hope Gaia Force; and Super Saturday hero Quddwah among several competitors from the Carnival.

The Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby concludes with the $1 million UAE Derby (G2), where the 100-60-30-15-10 points format allows the top two to garner invitations to Churchill Downs. 

Godolphin’s unbeaten Pyromancer, winner of the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun on the Japan Road, and fellow Japanese shipper Wonder Dean, most recently fourth in the Saudi Derby (G3), take on local scoring race victors Six Speed, Brotherly Love, and the filly Labwah, who ran away with the UAE Oaks (G3). Salloom, scratched at the gate as the heavy favorite last time, could make amends. 

Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) hero Bentornato is favored to beat fellow Americans Nakatomi and Lovesick Blues, as well as the past two winners, Tuz and Dark Saffron, in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). The $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) features a rematch between Reef Runner and Lazzat, who fought out the finish in the 1351 Turf Sprint (G2) on Saudi Cup night.

Saeed bin Suroor’s 10-year-old Dubai Future will try to repeat in the $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2), but he faces a stiff task against the Joseph O’Brien duo of Al Riffa and Sons and Lovers and the top two from the latest prep, Al Nayyir and Sunway. 

After the day kicks off with the $1 million Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians, the Thoroughbred stakes action begins with the $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2). Bhupat Seemar has half of the 12-horse field, led by Commissioner King, with U.S. shipper Banishing the main threat.

Four of the races are “Win and You’re In” events for the Breeders’ Cup – the World Cup for the Classic, the Dubai Turf for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), the Sheema for the Turf, and the Golden Shaheen for the Sprint.

For more analysis of the World Cup card, including storylines and wagering strategies, visit TwinSpires.com Edge.