Forever Young is already in Dubai and will now seek the missing pearl: the World Cup

The Japanese crack arrived in perfect condition in the United Arab Emirates after his remarkable victory last Saturday in the Saudi Cup (G1)

Forever Young steps off the van that transported him to Meydan / LAURA KING / DRC

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Special for Turf Diario).- There is no time to celebrate when chasing history. Just three days after conquering the Saudi Cup (G1) for the second time, the Japanese phenomenon Forever Young has already landed here to prepare for his next major objective: the Dubai World Cup (G1) on March 28 at Meydan.

The Japanese champion and 2025 Eclipse Award winner for Older Dirt Male in the United States will attempt to improve upon the third-place finish he recorded last year when he started as the favorite. That night left a bittersweet taste, not only because of the result but also due to the controversy surrounding the lead-up.

His trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, had expressed his dissatisfaction with the pre-race testing procedures, asserting that both the horse and his groom had been unsettled by the situation. It was, in fact, the only defeat for the star during a 2025 campaign that included his crowning achievement in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

Now, the scenario is different. He arrives as a two-time Saudi Cup winner, carrying an aura of invincibility when he takes the lead and backed by the accumulated experience of a global campaign. Meydan offers $12 million in prize money and the chance to complete the circle that was left unfinished.

The immediate memory of the last edition also includes American dominance: Hit Show (Candy Ride), trained by Brad Cox, defeated Mixto (Good Magic) and could seek a repeat following his recent victory in the Mineshaft Stakes(G3). The landscape promises another clash of powers.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Cup card left administrative consequences. The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia stewards placed four horses on the veterinary list, including Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), the Bob Baffert trainee who finished twelfth in the Saudi Cup.

The subsequent report indicated that the horse showed lameness in the right hind limb and will require veterinary clearance before competing again. The American authority HISA typically recognizes these inclusions once official notification is received.

Another significant case was that of Star Of Wonder (Uncle Mo), who was scratched from the Saudi Cup after the detection of a topical substance administered on race day in violation of the regulations. An additional investigation into the episode was announced.

Furthermore, five jockeys were sanctioned for exceeding the eight-strike whip limit. The most affected was five-time British champion Oisin Murphy, suspended for six days and fined 40 percent of his share of the purse after riding Michael Scofield (Tiz the Law) in the Tuwaiq Cup (L).

But the focus inevitably returns to Forever Young. With the Riyadh dirt still fresh on his hooves, the champion is already at work at Meydan with a single goal: to settle the pending score. If he consolidated his legend in Saudi Arabia, in Dubai he has the opportunity to turn it into an epic.