The draw is done, the guessing stops here, and now it’s down to how it all unfolds under the lights at the Dubai World Cup.

Japan’s dirt star Forever Young couldn’t have asked for much more. Stall 6 — right in that sweet spot — gives Ryusei Sakai options, and trainer Yoshito Yahagi didn’t hide his satisfaction after pulling the number. Twelve months after finishing third, this feels like a setup that gives the colt every chance to take the final step.

Right next door sits the defending champion Hit Show in gate 5. Jockey Florent Geroux brushed off any concern about the draw, suggesting the horse’s running style makes positioning less of a headache. If he’s right, that inside pairing of 5 and 6 could shape the race early.

There’s pace — and plenty of it. Walk Of Stars (3) looks primed to use his natural speed, with trainer Bhupat Seemar calling it a “perfect draw” for a horse who thrives when dictating. Magnitude, stuck on the rail in 1, also figures to be prominent, with assistant trainer Scott Blasi pointing to tactical flexibility despite the inside gate.

That early tempo could have a ripple effect. Heart Of Honor (4) may get dragged into a position closer to the rail than ideal, while Meydaan (2) risks being shuffled back if things get tight early — a concern openly acknowledged by Simon Crisford.

Further out, Imperial Emperor (7) is being plotted as a shadow to the favorite. Seemar made it clear: follow Forever Young and hope to outfinish him late. Tap Leader (8) and Tumbarumba (9), meanwhile, land in spots that should allow them to stay out of trouble and build momentum — something both camps were keen to emphasize after previous traffic issues.

Beyond the main event, the supporting Group 1s added their own intrigue. Calandagan will jump from 2 in the Sheema Classic, though in a small field that draw may be largely irrelevant. Ombudsman (7) and Facteur Cheval (6) are set to line up side-by-side in the Dubai Turf, while Bentornato (2) looks well placed for the Golden Shaheen.

Over in the Al Quoz Sprint, Lazzat (7) finds himself two gates away from Riyadh conqueror Reef Runner (5), setting up a potential rematch with just enough distance between them to keep things interesting.

Back to the main stage, though — nine runners, multiple pace angles, and a favorite drawn exactly where connections wanted. On paper, Forever Young has been handed the kind of setup that can win a World Cup.

Now comes the hard part.