Yahagi welcomes middle draw for DWC contender Forever Young

The Gl Saudi Cup winner Forever Young drew stall five for Saturday's $12 million GI Dubai World Cup (sponsored by Emirates Airline).

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A relaxed Yoshito Yahagi said of his stable star: "We thought [beforehand] that the wider we got, the better. I didn't want stall one or two for him so he gets a fair race, though it's not a big matter anyway.

"He is the best horse I have trained so far.

He's got a sound mind and a great attitude. He should be comfortable with the middle draw, and hopefully all goes well for him on the race night." Yahagi believes that Forever Young has taken a step forward from his epic defeat of Romantic Warrior in Riyadh last month, while jockey Ryusei Sakai is determined to make up for some heartbreaking near-misses in 2024.

Forever Young finished a narrow third in both the GI Kentucky Derby (2000m) and the Gl Breeders' Cup Classic (2000m) during his threeyear-old season The 2023 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro will break from stall four. He drew eight when successful two years ago.

His stablemate Wilson Tesoro will emerge from stall three in a bid to reverse Saudi Cup form with Forever Young and Ushba Tesoro.