Beyond Forever Young, Gaia Force and Lugal, strong Japanese contenders
- Turf Diario
- 34 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The popular grey will compete in the Dubai Turf (G1), while his stablemate will be one of the key contenders in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Special for Turf Diario).— A smaller Japanese delegation compared to previous seasons and the massive shadow cast by Forever Young (Real Steel) in the main event seem to have contributed to trainer Haruki Sugiyama maintaining a relatively low profile during this Dubai World Cup week.
However, with the popular Gaia Force and the consistent sprinter Lugal (Duramente), the trainer holds two legitimate contenders to achieve G1 glory in the Dubai Turf (G1-1,800 m, turf), sponsored by DP World, and the Al Quoz Sprint(G1-1,200 m, turf), sponsored by AZIZI Developments, respectively.
When competing in Japan—as was the case during his first international foray in the Champions Mile (G1) in Hong Kong in April 2025—Gaia Force generates enormous enthusiasm among fans due to his almost ghostly grey coat. The son of Kitasan Black will be partnered for the first time on Saturday by Ryusei Sakai, though the draw was not kind, granting him stall 11, the outermost position, which could complicate matters for a horse that usually performs near the vanguard.
At 7 years old, he has been the perennial runner-up to several of the world's best, finishing close to figures of the stature of Songline (Kizuna), Romantic Warrior (Acclamation), and Jantar Mantar (Palace Malice) at the highest level over the mile. For his part, Lugal already knows success over short distances, having conquered the 2024 Sprinters Stakes (G1), and will have Katsuma Sameshima in the irons for the third consecutive time.
Sugiyama appeared delighted with how the trip has unfolded and made no excuses regarding the preparation of his pupils. "Both Gaia Force and Lugal handled everything exceptionally well, as they have traveled abroad before," the trainer stated. "They adapted quickly to the new environment and maintained both their weight and appetite. This allowed us to execute the training program exactly as planned, maintaining a moderate intensity to ensure they don't feel overwhelmed."
The Gaia Force fan club hopes he can finally add that long-awaited G1 to his record, an omission that Sugiyamahimself feels deeply. "I am very aware of his immense popularity. Our ultimate goal is to repay that support by claiming a G1 title here in Dubai," noted the professional, who personally handled much of the daily supervision at Meydan, with the support of Hiroki Koga for the morning works.
Although Sugiyama has enjoyed multiple G1 successes in his homeland—leading Daring Tact (Kitasan Black) to the Triple Tiara in 2020 and holding high Classic hopes this year with Lovcen (World Premiere), winner of the Hopeful Stakes (G1)—achieving victory with either of his two pupils would represent the most significant international triumph of his career.
The 44-year-old professional did not miss the opportunity to compete on the world stage: "I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Dubai Racing Club, the Emirates Racing Authority, and Sheikh Mohammed. Their incredible support and hospitality are the reasons we can be here today."
Gaia Force has been surrounded by big names throughout his campaign, even facing none other than Do Deuce(Heart's Cry) in his debut at 2 years old, and was even tested on the dirt by his trainer. As for Lugal, his first four outings were also on the sandy surface, but it is on the turf where he has consolidated his performance, arriving in Dubai after an excellent prep finishing third, just a half-length back, in a G3 at Nakayama last month.
