Yoshito Yahagi Confident an Even Better Forever Young Will Show Up for Dubai World Cup

The trainer is aiming for a historic double at Meydan and admitted that in 2026 he might pursue a major turf victory with the star colt

Forever Young, the top hope for Yoshito Yahagi and Japanese racing / DRC / LESLIE KING

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Special to TDN) (DWC Media Team) – Trainer Yoshito Yahagi is confident that Forever Young, the heavy favorite for the G1 Dubai World Cup, has taken another step forward following his epic victory over Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) in last month’s G1 Saudi Cup. His jockey, Ryusei Sakai, is also determined to bounce back from a string of painful near-misses and secure a major international victory in 2024.

The son of Real Steel stood out as a 3-year-old, finishing third in both the G1 Kentucky Derby and the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, while stablemate Shin Emperor—a leading contender for the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic—also picked up a pair of notable third-place finishes in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes and the G1 Japan Cup, the latter when beaten just a neck by Do Deuce (Heart’s Cry) in a dead-heat for second.

Looking ahead to their assignments at Meydan, Sakai shared his thoughts during a press conference:

“It’s a mix of emotions because obviously there’s pressure. But personally, I’m really grateful for the opportunity to ride top-level horses, not only in Japan but also on the world stage.”

The young rider also made it clear that redemption is on his mind: “In 2024, we couldn’t win a G1 overseas with these two horses, but this year we’re coming back with the goal of winning as many races as possible—maybe even all of them.”

That ambition is shared by Yahagi, who jokingly referred to Sakai as “my apprentice,” while praising the preparation of both horses for Saturday’s challenge.

Speaking about Forever Young, Yahagi explained that the hard-fought battle down the stretch in the Saudi Cup helped bring the colt to peak condition for the Dubai World Cup.

“Of course, it was a tough race and he was a bit fatigued for a few days,” the trainer said. “But my team did a great job in his recovery, and from that point on, the plan was always to come here for the Dubai World Cup.”

Yahagi also pointed out that the increase to 2000 meters and the four-turn configuration will play to his colt’s strengths.

“I’ve been asked a lot about how he came out of the race and about his condition in general, and some people have expressed concern. But actually, I think that tough race helped him improve even more. Everything is positive—I don’t see anything negative.”

As for Shin Emperor, who captured last month’s G2 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia, Yahagi said he has adapted well to Dubai.

“He really enjoys the environment here—maybe a little too much, in fact—so we asked him for a bit more in his gallop yesterday. We wanted to make sure he’s truly ready for the race.”

While not expecting a major leap forward from his most recent effort, Yahagi is confident that Shin Emperor will be competitive in the Sheema Classic.

“I haven’t seen a big improvement from his last race, but he remains in excellent physical condition and should be competitive in the Sheema Classic.”

The future of Forever Young remains open, and Yahagi revealed that he has discussed with owner Susumu Fujita the possibility of keeping the colt in training as a 5-year-old. Following a potential return to the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, the horse could take aim at a major turf victory before retiring.

Meanwhile, Shin Emperor has a serious European goal in sight: the G1 International Stakes at York, which could serve as a prep for another try at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) in France.

For now, however, all eyes within Team Yahagi and Sakai’s camp are on the Dubai World Cup. The trainer emphasized how important the race is to Japanese fans, recalling Victoire Pisa’s (Neo Universe) emotional victory in 2011, just weeks after the devastating earthquake in Japan.

“In Japan, we always want to win the Dubai World Cup. Victoire Pisa’s win and Transcend’s (Wild Rush) second-place finish were very meaningful for our country in a difficult time. This race has a prestigious history and is becoming more and more popular in Japan.”

If Forever Young delivers as expected on Saturday at Meydan, his victory will not only strengthen the bond between Japan and the Dubai World Cup, but also solidify his place among the global stars of Thoroughbred racing.