Forever Young, facing the race that could put him above all others

If he wins the Dubai World Cup, the Japanese crack will become the highest-earning horse in the history of horse racing

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Special for Turf Diario).— It is not just another race. It is not just another international challenge. For Forever Young, this Saturday's Dubai World Cup (G1) could represent the exact point where his name stops competing with the best… to stand above them all.

At Meydan, where stars abound in every corner, the Japanese phenomenon has taken center stage. Not only because of his current form, but because of what is at stake. If he wins, he will not only surpass Romantic Warrior(Acclamation) as the highest-earning horse in history, but he will also achieve something even more shocking: simultaneously holding the three most important dirt races in the world, adding the World Cup to his triumphs in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and the Saudi Cup (G1), which he conquered again last month.

The magnitude of the moment escapes no one. Least of all his trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, who spoke without filters at the pre-race press conference:

"He is a superstar for us. I worship him as if he were a god. A god arrived at my stud and I don't have words to thank him." The words are not accidental. The emergence of Forever Young, coming shortly after training champions like Lys Gracieux (Heart's Cry) and Contrail (Deep Impact), places Yahagi before a unique opportunity, even for someone accustomed to the grand stages.

And in strictly sporting terms, the numbers support the feeling. In the ratings, the Japanese horse clearly surpasses his rivals, holding an advantage over names like Magnitude (Not This Time) and Hit Show (Candy Ride), the defending champion.

However, the trainer is not distracted by the opponents. His main concern lies elsewhere: "Yesterday's work was light due to the track conditions. It is in very good shape, but I don't want it to rain hard. That does worry me," he confessed.

The reference is significant. Last year, Forever Young was unable to complete the Saudi Cup–Dubai World Cupdouble and had to settle for third place behind the aforementioned Hit Show, following a demanding previous race in Saudi Arabia.

Curiously, this time he arrives after a more comfortable victory… and that is not necessarily an advantage: "In reality, it doesn't help. When the interval between races is shorter, it is easier to maintain his condition. This year the Saudi Cupwas not as tough and he might relax too much," he explained.

Meanwhile, the team remains calm about the future. There has been talk of a possible foray into turf racing, or defending his title in the Breeders’ Cup, but nothing is defined. "We will talk about that when he returns to Japan, with the owner, over dinner and something to drink," he said with a smile.

A fundamental part of the phenomenon is also Ryusei Sakai, the jockey who grew alongside the horse to become one of the most recognized in the world.

"He is an essential part of the team. It was not an easy decision to keep him, because at that time he hadn't won a G1 in Japan. But the owner valued the teamwork," Yahagi recalled. And he added: "He has improved in everything: experience, strength, ability. We wanted to compete with him on the international stage."

Thirty years after Cigar (Palace Music) marked the beginning of the Dubai World Cup's great history, the anniversary edition seems to be waiting for a name that measures up. The racing world is already watching. Now, it is up to Forever Young to do what he has been doing for a long time: respond on the track.