Forever Young, Calandagan and Rebel’s Romance among likely contenders for Dubai World Cup

Multiple Group 1 winners Forever Young and Calandagan are among the likely runners for the 30th Dubai World Cup meeting, at Meydan Racecourse, on March 28.

A field of nine has been announced for the $12million G1 Dubai World Cup (sponsored by Emirates Airline), including 2025 winner Hit Show, aiming to become just the second horse to win the race twice, and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Forever Young.

G2 winner Magnitude has also arrived from the US, while the UAE challenge is headed by G1 winners Walk Of Stars and Imperial Emperor.

Calandagan, who’s brilliant 2025 culminated in victory in the G1 Japan Cup, heads a possible seven runners in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.

His opposition includes nine-time G1 winner Rebel’s Romance, as well as G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Ethical Diamond.

The G1 Dubai Turf, sponsored by DP World, has also attracted a strong field, including multiple G1 winner Ombudsman, G1 Queen Anne Stakes winner Docklands and Facteur Cheval, successful in this race in 2024.

The two sprints on the card also have international casts, with G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato facing 2024 winner Tuz in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (sponsored by Nakheel) and top-level scorers Lazzat and Khaadem in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (sponsored by Azizi Developments).

“We are delighted to see horses from so many different countries here for this landmark 30th Dubai World Cup meeting,” said Erwan Charpy, Head of Department, Racing Operations & International Relations, for Dubai Racing Club.

“To have so many defending and former champions, including Hit Show. Rebel’s Romance, Tuz, Forever Young and Dark Saffron back here is also very pleasing. We thank everyone for their support and wish them the best of luck on the big day.”

Carnival Foray Pays Dividend: When British trainers Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole embarked on their first Dubai Racing Carnival mission in late 2025, it was a dream, rather than a plan, that they would end up at the Dubai World Cup meeting.

Dreams can come true, however, and their four-year-old gelding Dividend has an invitation to the $5million G1 Dubai Turf following two wins and a strong second to Quddwah in the G2 Singspiel Stakes.

“We’re delighted that Dividend has been invited and it’s a credit to Lucy (Hammond), who has done all the work with them out there, and Jodie Wingrove who has ridden him since he arrived in our yard in England,” says Insole.

“It’s our first trip out to Dubai and to have two winners is a massive credit to everyone and a real achievement for the yard.”

Dividend progressed through the Carnival, finishing third on his first run in January, before two successes and that excellent Singspiel Stakes silver medal – all under jockey Rossa Ryan. Insole believes Dubai’s training environment brings out the best in the son of Kodiac.

“He was quite a playful, energetic two-year-old, but he’s been very easy to deal with,” he continues. “He loves quick ground and the step up in trip at Meydan has definitely helped. He loves the conditions out there and he’s thriving in the weather and being abroad. He enjoys his work and he’s loved cantering on the main track every day. He’s been training predominantly on the dirt out there and doing his fast work on the turf. He’s a pretty cool character.

“Lucy has been out there for two months with him and Witness Stand. She is our travelling head girl and it’s her first trip to Dubai. She’s really thrown herself in and enjoyed it. There are people who have been going to Dubai for ten years and haven’t had a winner, so for us to have two winners and a second in the Singspiel and now a runner on World Cup night, it’s super exciting!”

Dividend will face a strong field in the $5million race, including 2024 winner Facteur Cheval and multiple G1 winner Ombudsman, but Insole is hopeful he will acquit himself well.

“He’s going to have to step up again, but what many people haven’t noted is that his second in the Singspiel was off the back of an eight-day turnaround from his last win the weekend before,” he says. “It was a very short time before running in the biggest race of his life. It’s a nice prep now into World Cup night, he’s going to have a bit more time to freshen up and to train for it.

“I think we could see him improve again and I think nine furlongs [1800metres] works really well for him, plus a bigger field and a stronger pace to aim at. If we could run in the first four or five, the whole syndicate and the team at home would be delighted.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to be invited to a race like this.”