2026 Dubai World Cup Preview

Dubai World Cup Tips

The Dubai World Cup is one of the rare prizes that the world’s leading dirt horse, #1 Forever Young, missed out on last year. Can he make up for it this year?

Race 9, 12:45 p.m. ET: Dubai World Cup (G1), 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), dirt, open, $12 million

• $4 Trifecta: 1 with 2, 3, 4 with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ($16)

Like last year, Forever Young came into this race as the odds-on favorite, starting at 4-9. But to everyone’s surprise, he didn’t have enough energy at the end of the race, failing to hold off #3 Hit Show and Mixto.

Forever Young had only just turned four when he contested this last season, and five weeks beforehand, he exhausted himself in overhauling Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior in the Saudi Cup. The impact of that race showed on Romantic Warrior as well, as he was beaten in the Dubai Turf on the same day by Japan’s Soul Rush, a horse he should have normally beaten.

This year, Forever Young also won the Saudi Cup, so there’s grounds to be a little concerned again. But he didn’t seem to have to work so hard to beat Nysos as he did to beat Romantic Warrior, and with another year on him, he may be a little more resilient this year.

Hit Show is back again and in good form, having won the Mineshaft (G3) Feb. 14. Also present is #2 Magnitude, who beat Hit Show in the Clark (G2) at Churchill Downs Nov. 28, albeit receiving seven pounds, and who returned to racing well when winning the Razorback (G3) at Oaklawn Feb. 28. If Forever Young is at his best they face a tough task, but they are likely alternatives if he’s not.

There’s been support for the English horse #4 Meydaan after his five-length victory over #7 Walk Of Stars and the former Russian #9 Tap Leader in the 1 1/4-mile Maktoum Classic (G2), something of a surprise given he’d been previously racing on turf at 1-3/4 miles and beyond. That field wasn’t as good as this one, but he’s certainly worthy of his place.

The other leading local prep for this was the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) Jan. 23, won by #5 Imperial Emperor from #6 Tumbarumba, who subsequently ran third in the Saudi Cup, and #8 Heart Of Honor. Imperial Emperor and Tumbarumba both have some chance of running in the money, though Imperial Emperor was disappointing in this last year.

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If you have your doubts about Forever Young’s ability to bounce back here because of what happened last year, it’s understandable. But I’m on his side this year. Victory would take his career earnings past $36 million, surpassing Romantic Warrior as the highest-earning horse in history. By Saturday evening, I’m expecting Forever Young to hold the new earnings benchmark.