Forever Young Favoured To Complete Desert Double In Dubai World Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Previews by Alan Carasso, Brian Sheerin, Adam Houghton & Heather Anderson

DUBAI, UAE — After Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) overcame a torrid trip to take out the G2 UAE Derby some 373 days ago, big-spending Japanese owner Susumu Fujita boldly commented: “Looking forward, I would like to underline that I would like to win the Dubai World Cup.”

If ante-post markets are to be believed, those dreams are likely to become reality under the Saturday evening lights at Meydan Racecourse, as Forever Young is expected to jump a short-priced favourite in the 2000-metre contest, now scheduled for 9.30pm local time. The World Cup is a newly added qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic this coming November.

Having finished third in two of America's greatest races–the GI Kentucky Derby and the 2024 Classic–the well-traveled colt was a deserving winner of the G1 Tokyo Daishoten at Ohi Racecourse in late December, easily accounting for Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Ramjet (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) and defending champ and 2023 World Cup hero Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}). Trained by the effervescent Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young looks to become the first to do the G1 Saudi Cup/Dubai World Cup double after defeating Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in an unforgettable renewal of the Riyadh centrepiece six weeks ago and just the second to win the UAE Derby and World Cup in consecutive years (after Thunder Snow {Ire} in 2017-2018).

While Laurel River (Into Mischief) has been ruled out of a title defence, trainer Bhupat Seemar is still represented by pair of runners. Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) won the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge here in January, but faded tamely into 12th after racing with the early gallop in the Saudi Cup. He will need to break cleanly from the inside stall for Mickael Barzalona to have any chance. Imperial Emperor (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the selection of stable rider Tadhg O'Shea. The Deva Racing runner was second in the Al Maktoum Challenge, but powered clear to win the G2 Al Maktoum Classic over Saturday's course and distance on Super Saturday Mar. 1. He is likely to be put into play straight away from barrier 10.

“Imperial Emperor is improving,” said Seemar. “He likes this track and I like his draw. He's won from draw 13, so we should be alright in 10. He's honest as they come and he's very uncomplicated. He's a jockey's dream.”

A quintet of American horses make up the balance of the field, led by Rattle N Roll (Connect). An impressive winner of the G3 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup to earn a Saudi Cup berth in January, the chestnut ran on well for fifth in a deceptively good effort behind Forever Young and gets to try the equivalent of 10 furlongs for the first time on Saturday. Any pace ahead of him would enhance his chances. Jockey William Buick took the six-year-old for a test drive on Thursday.

“He felt good,” Buick said. “Kenny was keen for me to sit on him and [exercise rider] Danny [Ramsey]…says he's been taking him on a bit. He's fresh and he felt very comfortable on the track. He was quite strong with me this morning, but he feels super. He's a really good ride to pick up and I'm looking forward to it.”

Mixto (Good Magic) is one of two in the race for trainer Chief Stipe O'Neill, who sent out the popular Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) to a runner-up effort behind Country Grammer (Tonalist) in 2022. The GI Pacific Classic upsetter, to be ridden by four-time World Cup winner Frankie Dettori, is joined by his GII San Pasqual Stakes-winning stable companion Katonah (Klimt), the mount of Silvestre de Sousa.

Wathnan Racing's five-time graded winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) exited a distant third in the GI Santa Anita Handicap March 1, but also rates an each-way place chance if the pace hots up. A Grade III winner at ages three and four, Il Miracolo (Gun Runner) finds a near-impossible spot for his seasonal debut and is first-up for seven months, having finished eighth in the Pacific Classic. –Alan Carasso

Rattle N Roll | JCSA

Rebel's Romance Bids for Back-to-back Sheema Classics

Big-race jockey William Buick has hailed Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as “a horse of a lifetime” as the seven-year-old bids to do something that hasn't been done before in landing back-to-back Dubai Sheema Classics. This is the first edition that is a GI Breeders' Cup Turf “Win and You're In”.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Rebel's Romance defied odds of 25-1 to run out an authoritative winner of this race 12 months ago. No horse has ever won two Dubai Sheema Classics, but then again not many horses with the profile of Rebel's Romance, who has also won twice at the Breeders' Cup, have taken up the challenge.

Buick said, “I've never been involved with a horse quite like Rebel's Romance, with his personality, character and his ability.  He's taken me and so many people all around the world. After he won in Qatar last time, which was a challenging weekend for everybody, I said he was the horse of a lifetime and he really is.”

Buick added, “He's a throwback to the early days of Fantastic Light and Daylami (Ire) and all of those horses who travelled the world for Godolphin. When Sheikh Mohammed set the operation he wanted it to be a global brand and to compete in all of the top races across the world–and that's what Rebel's Romance is doing. He's certainly Godolphin's best horse at the moment. He's taken it to another level really and it's amazing that at the age of seven he still retains all of his enthusiasm and ability.”

Rebel's Romance will need to be nothing short of his best to beat the Francis Graffard-trained Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who put in a spellbinding performance to win the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last season. Calandagan went on to chase home City Of Troy (Justify) in the Juddmonte International before filling the runner-up spot once again in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Graffard explained that he resisted the temptation to travel with the four-year-old during the winter, opting instead to get an international campaign underway in Dubai this week.

He said, “Very happy with the horse. He travelled last Friday and he travelled well. We decided to be gentle on him after the Champion Stakes last year. We decided not to go to the Breeders' Cup or Hong Kong with the view to starting him here this season as a four-year-old. He's quite a feminine horse, quite a light-framed horse, but he looks really well and is easy to train.”

Graffard added, “When you have this calibre of horse you need to look abroad and to all of these big international meetings. Obviously the Arc is not on the agenda for this horse because he is a gelding so I don't think we'll see this horse in France this year. He will travel a lot and this race is already a big target so we will see how he runs. We focus on this race and then we will pick a programme.”

The Dubai Sheema Classic provided the scene for one of the most extraordinary performances in the history of this meeting when Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) streaked clear of his rivals in 2023. This year, the Japanese challenge appears to be headed by the Yoshito Yahagi-trained Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who comes into the contest off the back of a cosy success over the reopposing Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) in the G2 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia. –Brian Sheerin

Rebel's Romance | Dubai Racing Club

More History At Stake For Romantic Warrior

Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) might have opted out of the Dubai World Cup and a rematch with his Riyadh conqueror Forever Young, but certainly nobody can accuse his connections of shirking a challenge as they continue their Middle East adventure with a tilt at the $5 million G1 Dubai Turf, a GI Breeders' Cup Mile “Win And You're In” for the first time.

Already the world's highest-earning racehorse of all time, Romantic Warrior will break yet more new ground should he defeat his 10 rivals at Meydan on Saturday, as it would see him register the 11th Group 1 victory of his remarkable career, a new record for a Hong Kong-trained horse. He is currently tied on 10 with old rival Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who raced exclusively at Sha Tin in his 31-race career, whereas Romantic Warrior is a top-level winner in no fewer than four different countries.

Crucially, Saturday's track and trip has already been a happy hunting ground for the seven-year-old, after he lowered the course record for 1,800 metres on the Meydan turf when winning January's G1 Jebel Hatta by four and a half lengths, despite being only “85 per cent fit” according to trainer Danny Shum.

“The horse loves it here and he is very happy,” Shum added of Romantic Warrior's well-being since his painful defeat in the Saudi Cup. “I wanted to cry after that race. Forever Young was very strong, but the third horse [Ushba Tesoro] was 10 lengths behind. So, he [Romantic Warrior] has done a great job already. He's taken my team everywhere–Australia, Japan, Saudi and Dubai.

“This time [in the Dubai Turf], the main dangers are the Japanese horses. James [McDonald, jockey] will ride him wherever he's comfortable. He's got natural speed, so it all depends on the pace. He's very flexible.”

Romantic Warrior has a quartet of Japanese-trained runners standing in his way, headed by last year's Dubai Sheema Classic third Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who was also the Japanese Triple Tiara heroine of 2023. She is joined in the line-up by last year's G1 Mile Championship winner Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), as well as the 2023 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup scorer Brede Weg (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who was beaten two and a half lengths when fourth behind Soul Rush at Kyoto.

Leading the European challenge is defending champion Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), who was chased home by a pair of Japanese runners when successful by a short head 12 months ago. Jerome Reynier's six-year-old will appreciate the return to turf at Meydan, having finished down the field behind Forever Young and Romantic Warrior in the Saudi Cup last time.

Karl Burke's Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) also reopposes Romantic Warrior after he finished third in the Jebel Hatta, before faring best of the rest behind Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G2 Singspiel Stakes. That was an 11th career win for Nations Pride, a four-time Group 1 winner in three different countries, but trainer Charlie Appleby fears his charge might be playing for places behind the Hong Kong Horse of the Year.

“Nations Pride heads into a tough renewal of the Dubai Turf in good order,” Appleby told Godolphin.com. “The plan was to give him a confidence boost in the Singspiel Stakes and it appears to have done the trick. He has been enjoying himself out in Dubai and goes into this as a player, although realistically more for the places rather than the win.”

Of the rest, Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is yet to make the breakthrough in Group 1 company, but he showed his top-class potential on multiple occasions in 2024, notably finishing third in the Juddmonte International at York, behind only City Of Troy and leading Dubai Sheema Classic fancy Calandagan.

“I think he's strengthened again from three to four,” trainer Clive Cox said of his runner. “His form last year was hugely consistent throughout and he ran in what was recorded as the best race in the world [the International at York]. It's a hugely competitive field, and we're very respectful of the opposition from all over the world, but it's exciting to be able to come and take part with a horse of this calibre.” –Adam Houghton

Romantic Warrior | Hong Kong Jockey Club

Who Will Shine In the Golden Shaheen?

It is very much an us-versus-them proposition in Saturday's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, as the Bhupat Seemar-conditioned Tuz (Oxbow) seeks to become the third horse to record consecutive victories in the 1200-metre dash while facing arguably the best horse he's ever seen in the form of American champion Straight No Chaser (Speightster). The Golden Shaheen offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in November.

It has been nothing but blue skies for Tuz this season in Dubai, with four wins from as many trips to the races, including the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal on Super Saturday, when the $7,000 Keeneland September yearling bargain became the first horse to sweep the local sprint series. On that occasion, he easily accounted for Japan's American Stage (Into Mischief)–whose older half-brother Super Chow (Lord Nelson) also lines up here–and the veteran Eastern World (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Straight No Chaser has drawn outside in nine and is likely to pour the pressure into Tuz, the expected pacesetter from gate five from the word go. The two have similar running styles–speed enough to fight out strong fractions and stamina enough to be around at the finish nevertheless. When last seen in the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on February 22, it was Straight No Chaser buried down inside of the speedy Jasper Krone (Frosted)–a scratching from the Golden Shaheen–but he swatted him away and went on to a clear-cut victory. But connections are under no false illusions and know Saturday's race will present a stiffer test.

“This is a new surface for us, a new challenge,” said trainer Dan Blacker. “I've watched his win in the Golden Shaheen last year and we respect that horse a lot. Bhupat [Seemar, trainer] does a great job and he's on his home turf–I think that's the main thing. We'll just have to see who's best on the big night.”

—Alan Carasso

Tuz | DRC/Erika Rasmussen

Rapidly-improving West Acre Holds Leading Claims for the Group 1 in Al Quoz

George Scott's West Acre (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) has been something of a revelation in Dubai and the Newmarket trainer says he is hoping that his rapidly-progressive sprinter can continue his improvement by bagging a breakthrough Group 1 success in the Al Quoz Sprint.

West Acre has landed back-to-back successes over the minimum trip at Meydan in Group 2 and Group 3 sprints respectively. He is yet to score over 6f but Scott is quietly hopeful that the young sprinter has even more in his locker and says he is expecting a big performance.

Scott said, “It's been a special journey up until this point. I always thought a huge amount of him, he trained like a very good horse and it's well documented he had a bit of a setback so we were slightly cautious as to where he'd end up.

“The idea was that he'd miss most of his two-year-old season and therefore have a campaign here, so it wasn't an afterthought and he's just thrived out here.

“In the Blue Point he was exceptional, you just don't often see a performance like that out of the blue, he broke the track record, then a different type of performance in the Nad Al Sheba, where he showed a gritty attitude. Hopefully we're able to race on a nice fast racing surface and that should see the best of him.”

Scott added, “Both times he ran over six furlongs  he had legitimate excuses and Callum Shepherd [jockey] has been very pleased with him. His breeding, his stride pattern and cadence wouldn't suggest he's an out-and-out five-furlong horse either. Although I think it's not going to be a problem for him, I'd like to see him do it, and it would open up some more doors as well.

“I'm not going to sit here for one second and say he's going to be able to improve from what he's done in his last two starts but if he matches that, he should be in the mix. What he's got in his favour is this is his home turf. He has it all to prove at this level, he hasn't proved himself to be a Group 1 performer and a lot of these horses have. It's going to be a fascinating race.”

Fellow Newmarket trainer George Boughey holds major claims with Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) bidding for that all-important breakthrough Group 1 success. Coolmore swooped to land the dual Grade 1 runner-up at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale for 3 million gns last year and connections are quietly confident of a bold showing on her seasonal return.

Meanwhile, the John Size-trained Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) brings genuine top-class international form to the table being a smart sprinter back in Hong Kong while the Ed Bethell-trained Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}) is not out of things if reproducing his best form.

Bethell said, “He cantered well today and he's bright and happy so hopefully he'll go well. [It's been] a long time off the track though, so we'll see. He's been working nicely at home and it's just nice to be part of it. It's wide open, I think any one of them could win, in fairness. Across the board ratings-wise, they're all pretty similar bar Audience, but obviously he's got his rating from a different distance.” –Brian Sheerin

West Acre | Dubai Racing Club

From The Gotham To Glory In UAE Derby?

The $1 million G2 UAE Derby features a field of nine, and is worth a total of 200 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Series (100-50-25-15-10). Anchoring the three-year-olds on rankings is the Brad Cox-trained Flood Zone. The son of Frosted broke his maiden at second asking over 6 1/2 furlongs in January and then took the GIII Gotham Stakes on March 1 for Big Frank Stable, Enrico Ascione, Guy Mancini, Veb Racing Stable and trainer Victor Barboza, Jr. before being privately purchased by Wathnan Racing and sent to Cox. He will leave from stall five and has Florent Geroux in the irons.

Naturally, Japan has a strong hand in the 1900-metre dirt affair having won the past three years and four times overall. They send a quartet of colts this term including Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) and Dragon (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits). The former is a winner over 1600 metres at Tokyo earlier this year, and was fourth–one better than Dragon–to the talented Luxor Café (American Pharoah) in the Listed Hyacinth Stakes in February, a qualifier for the Japanese Road to the Kentucky Derby. G3 Saudi Derby runner-up Shin Forever (Complexity), has already had a warm-up in the Middle East, and leaves from stall seven under Akira Sugawara.

As chronicled in Friday's TDN, Saffie Osborne could become the first female rider to win a race on Dubai World Cup night with a victory aboard Heart Of Honor (GB) (Honor A. P.). The bay is a consistent sort, and, after taking second in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas in January, was a too-good-to-lose second to Galactic Star (Improbable) in the Listed Al Bastakiya on February 21.

Osborne, whose father Jamie won this race with Toast Of New York (Thewayyouare) in 2014, said “It's huge. Eleven years ago Toast Of New York won the UAE Derby. I was sat on the sofa at home, I was only 12, so it's quite cool to think that 11 years on we'd be back here.” –Heather Anderson

Flood Zone | Sarah Andrew

Mufasa Makes UAE Bow In Godolphin Mile

The $1 million G2 Godolphin Mile has been reduced to 14 runners after both Cagliostro (Upstart) and Meshtri (Medaglia d'Oro) were scratched earlier in the week, but that doesn't necessarily make it any easier to solve, with virtually every horse in the field appearing to have a chance of sorts.

In a wide-open contest, Mufasa (Chi) (Practical Joke) must be considered one of the more interesting contenders on his first start for Bhupat Seemar, having been bought privately after his defeat of White Abarrio (Race Day) in the GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park in December.

Mufasa is likely to go forward from stall 10, though he almost certainly won't have things all his own way at the head of affairs, with the likes of Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) and No Lunch (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) also expected to be prominent granted swift exits from stalls eight and 13, respectively.

Raging Torrent, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, was last seen winning the GI Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita in December and will be trying to provide trainer Chief Stipe O'Neill with a second consecutive victory in the race after that of Two Rivers Over (Tamarkuz) in 2024.

“It's a real honour to have a horse that's classy enough to travel to meetings like this,” said O'Neill. “We circled the Godolphin Mile after the Malibu. Having Frankie in the saddle, arguably one of the best of all time, it's a great asset. He knows him well, he's worked him and won on him, so it's definitely a big plus.”

No Lunch features in a three-pronged attack from France–along with the Nicolas Caullery-trained pair Fort Payne (Fr) (Rio De La Plata) and King Gold (Fr) (Anodin {Ire})–after three straight wins on the all-weather in France, while last year's G1 February Stakes winner Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) is another key runner from Japan on the card.

Adding further to the international flavour is Hong Kong raider Sword Point (Aus) (American Pharoah), another horse who could be involved in the early pace battle with James McDonald in the saddle.

“James has said that it is a track where being on speed and on the rail is important,” said trainer Frankie Lor. “From gate two, I think he will lead early and we are happy to take up the running on our own. If someone else wants to lead we are happy to sit behind them. It's great to be here and hopefully this might be the first of a couple of opportunities to travel with him.”

–Adam Houghton

Mufasa | Lauren King/Coglianese Photography

Scorching Heat Another Dynamic for European Runners to Navigate Gold Cup

Maureen Haggas, wife and assistant trainer to William Haggas, has admitted that the scorching temperatures in Dubai will represent a whole new challenge for Term Of Endearment (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), with the six-year-old set to make her debut for her new connections in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup.

All of the races on Dubai World Cup night have been pushed back due to what some weather forecasters are predicting highs of 38 degrees celsius on the day. The Dubai Gold Cup is one of the first races on Saturday's card, due to take place at 5.10pm local time, and Haggas says that the weather will present an added challenge for their new recruit.

“We've been mainly going up to the training track early in the morning and we're happy with the horses,” she said.

“Both travelled [the stable also runs Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) in the Dubai Turf] and settled in well. Obviously the weather has been very hot and we've got the filly running in the two-mile race earlier in the day, which is going to be quite tough but it's the same for all of them. But we're happy with the two of them and fingers crossed.”

Term Of Endearment joined the Haggas stable after being snapped up by Yuesheng Zhang's Yulong operation for 1.3 million gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. She had won four of her 10 starts for Henry de Bromhead, including at Group 2 level. Saturday will represent the mare's first time running outside of Europe.

Aidan O'Brien's sole representation in Dubai on Saturday, Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), is fighting it out for favouritism in the race with the John and Thady Gosden-trained Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}).

Continuous was last seen finishing third in the G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap in Ryadh while Trawlerman arrived in Dubai a fresh horse. Last year's Gold Cup runner-up at Royal Ascot is one of three Godolphin-owned runners in the Dubai Gold Cup, with Saeed Bin Suroor, this meeting's most successful trainer, readying a two-pronged attack with Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

Speaking about the nine-year-old Dubai Future, Suroor said, “He's improving in the mornings. The way he won the Nad Al Sheba Trophy was easy and we thought we would give him a chance over two miles in the Dubai Gold Cup. It will open up options for us in Britain-staying races like the Gold Cup. I hope he can stay sound.

“He's going well and you have to remember African Story was a seven-year-old when he won the Dubai World Cup and Prince Bishop was an eight-year-old.”

He added on outsider Passion And Glory, “He likes a right-handed track like at Ascot and Bahrain, but last time he finished strong and good to finish second and it made us think this race would really suit him.”

Meanwhile, the Coolmore camp appear to be happy with how Continuous has settled into his surroundings, and are expecting a good performance from the 2023 St Leger winner, with racing manager David Keegan saying, “He has travelled over well and is in good form. It's a competitive race as you would expect, it's great to have a runner over here. Hopefully he can put in a good performance.” –Brian Sheerin

Term Of Endearment | Liesl King/DRC

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