Forever Young for DWC double

The 29th edition of the Dubai World Cup headlines a night of top-class international racing at Meydan tomorrow, the culmination of the season in the Emirates.

- Jack Milner

First run in 1996, the Dubai World Cup looks at the mercy of Forever Young, Japan's champion on dirt who is unbeaten in the Middle East and a red-hot favourite to land the $12m showpiece.

Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, the four-year-old colt defeated Romantic Warrior in a titanic battle in the Saudi Cup, the world's richest race six weeks ago.

Twelve months ago Forever Young made history when completing the UAE Derby/Saudi Derby double and is fancied to see off the challenge of local pair Imperial Emperor and Walk Of Stars on his return to Dubai.

The former, trained by Bhupat Seemar, is the choice of stable jockey Tadhg O'Shea and is much improved since switching to dirt.

Imperial Emperor has won three of his last four starts and impressed when winning the Al Maktoum Classic over the same course and distance last month.

He holds leading claims of giving Seemar and O'Shea back-to-back wins in the Dubai World Cup, 12 months after Laurel River slammed his rivals in the 2024 renewal.

Seemar has booked Mickael Barzalona to ride Walk Of Stars, a six-year-old that has benefited from a change of tactics this season.

He made the running when winning the Entisaar and the Al Maktoum Challenge and jumping from stall No 1, I expect he will be ridden positively, once again.

He never made an impact in the Saudi Cup, coming home a poor 12th of 13 having made the early running before dropping out tamely.

He was reported to have an infection after the race and if back to full health, he commands obvious respect.

The highlight for many is the clash of US top dirt sprinter Straight No Chaser and Tuz, last year's winner, in the Golden Shaheen.