British trainers must find a way of foiling Forever Young Meydaan and Heart Of Honor fly the flag for Britain in the $12milion Dubai World Cup at Meydan on Saturday, where they face a formidable task in trying to lower the colours of Japanese superstar Forever Young. Simon and Ed Crisford’s Meydaan emerged as a serious player when dropping in trip and switching to dirt to win the Al Maktoum Challenge, beating last year’s World Cup fourth, Walk Of Stars, by five and a quarter lengths. “It was a big transition from turf to dirt and we went for it, Sheikh Ahmed (owner) was very keen for us to try something new with him,” said Ed Crisford, who along with his father sent out Algiers to be second in the 2023 renewal. “He goes really well on that dirt track, he won on Super Saturday in really good style. The World Cup is going to be a super tough race, you’ve got the best dirt horse in the world in Forever Young and it’s going to be no easy feat to beat that horse. “Meydaan is fit and well though and he’s coming off the back of a big win, so I think he can run a really decent race.” Osborne Counting on Stamina Slog Jamie Osborne was a winner on World Cup night with Toast Of New York in the UAE Derby in 2014 and his Heart Of Honour – just a nose away from UAE Derby glory himself 12 months ago – could be given an each-way chance if a line is put through his poor run last time out. “On that last run, that was the first time he had run 10 furlongs on that track and we felt that could bring about some improvement, but that was the day he chose to throw in a stinker,” said Osborne. “I still believe the 10 furlongs around Meydan will suit him significantly better than the 1900m of the (UAE) Derby and if this race turns into a stamina slog, he’s the one horse in the field that you know that will be doing his best work at the end. “So if he can be not too far behind them, if they have gone a really strong pace and he’s not too far behind them turning in and he’s got there in his usual manner, we know he’s going to keep galloping down to the line.” To give an indication of the size of the task, trainer Yoshito Yahagi said he worships Forever Young “like he’s a god”. Worshipping the Japanese Superstar While the fields in some of the other races on the night may not be as deep as in previous years due to the conflict in the Middle East, the World Cup itself has stood up well. But Forever Young is a long odds-on favourite, having won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and a second Saudi Cup since being surprisingly beaten in this race 12 months ago. “Of course he is a superstar for us and I worship him like he’s a god. A god came to my stable and I cannot show enough appreciation for that,” said Yahagi. “It’s a small field and it is competitive as it always is. I am particularly concerned at the moment that I don’t want to see it raining heavily on Saturday, definitely not.” Improving Sakai Vital to Team Success Yahagi praised his jockey, Ryusei Sakai, who has been with him every step of the way. “Ryusei Sakai is an essential piece of the team,” said Yahagi. “It wasn’t an easy decision to keep him aboard Forever Young. “Obviously he is my stable jockey, but at the time (we first travelled the horse), he had never won a Grade One in Japan. But Mr Fujita, the owner of Forever Young, appreciated the team aspect. “Ryusei has been improving his skills and experience, as well as his strength, through travelling with the team and with Forever Young. So yes, he is an essential part of the team and we wanted to compete with him on the world stage.” Defending Champion Returns for Wathnan Hit Show hit the target for Wathnan Racing and trainer Brad Cox in 2025 and is back to defend his crown. Wathnan Racing’s racing manager Ali Al Kubaisi said: “Hit Show did something unbelievable for Wathnan last season. “We are so pleased with him and hope that he can do what Thunder Snow did, winning two years in a row. He’s in good form and he had a very good preparation before he came to Dubai. “He looks to be OK physically, but this season is very different to last year – nobody knew who he was last year, while this year everyone is focused on him.”
