Yoshito Yahagi doesn’t speak about Forever Young like a typical racehorse. There’s a reverence in his tone, something closer to disbelief than routine admiration. At Meydan this week, amid a field stacked with international stars, it is the Japanese dirt phenomenon who has quietly taken center stage—drawing crowds on the track and questions off it.

A victory in Saturday’s $12 million Dubai World Cup would do more than add another trophy to an already glittering résumé. It would elevate Forever Young past Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior as the highest earner in racing history, while also completing a rare sweep of the sport’s most prestigious dirt prizes: the Saudi Cup, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the Dubai World Cup.

For Yahagi, however, the numbers only tell part of the story.

“Of course he is a superstar for us and I worship him like he’s a god,” he said during Thursday’s media session. “A god came to my stable and I cannot show enough appreciation for that.”

It’s not lost on the veteran trainer how remarkable this run has been. To saddle a horse like Forever Young so soon after champions like Lys Gracieux and Contrail feels less like planning and more like fortune. Yet it’s that same horse who has carried Yahagi across the globe, conquering races that once seemed distant ambitions.

On paper, Saturday’s assignment looks straightforward. Forever Young holds a clear ratings advantage—10 pounds over Magnitude and 11 over defending champion Hit Show. But Yahagi isn’t entertaining discussions about rivals. His concern is far more immediate and far less controllable.

Rain.

“Yesterday’s gallop wasn’t a hard piece of work, as we considered the track conditions,” he explained. “It was light work and he is in very good condition. But I don’t want to see it raining heavily on Saturday, definitely not.”

Twelve months ago, Forever Young came up short when attempting the Saudi Cup–Dubai World Cup double, finishing third behind Hit Show after a grueling effort in Riyadh. This year’s Saudi Cup win, though successful, came easier—and paradoxically, that presents its own challenge.

“It’s actually not helping, to be honest,” Yahagi admitted. “A shorter gap is easier to manage. He can get too relaxed, and this year the Saudi Cup wasn’t a hard race.”

Beyond Saturday, the future remains open-ended. There have been whispers of a turf experiment, while a return to defend his Breeders’ Cup Classic title would be welcomed in the United States. But those decisions are on hold. Owner Susumu Fujita is watching from Japan, and Yahagi made it clear that any plans will be settled the old-fashioned way—face-to-face, over dinner.

Integral to the journey has been jockey Ryusei Sakai, whose rise has mirrored that of his stable star. Keeping him aboard wasn’t always the obvious call, particularly when Forever Young first ventured onto the global stage.

“He hadn’t won a Grade 1 in Japan at the time,” Yahagi said. “But the owner believed in the team. Ryusei has grown—his skill, his strength, his experience. He’s an essential part of what we’re doing.”

Thirty years after Cigar helped launch the Dubai World Cup into racing’s elite, this anniversary edition feels primed for something special. The stage is set, the spotlight firmly fixed.

Now it’s up to Forever Young to deliver—again.