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Forever Young (outside) scores in the Saudi Cup (Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia)
Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia Press Release
The 2025 US$20m Saudi Cup was one for the ages. A global clash of the world’s best wowed the Riyadh crowd as Japan’s Susumu Fujita-owned Forever Young (JPN) caught Hong Kong’s superstar Romantic Warrior (IRE) on the wire, winning by a neck and becoming the first horse to win the Saudi Derby-Saudi Cup double.
Breaking exceptionally from the outermost 14-post under Ryusei Sakai, the son of Real Steel slotted over without a hitch and landed pristinely into the two path, following front-running Walk of Stars (GB) down the long King Abdulaziz Racecourse backstretch, with Al Musmak (IRE) and Defunded (USA) contesting the lead immediately to his outside.
Entering the lone turn of the 1800m race, the bay charge took a slight lead between horses, which would be short-lived when fellow leading contender Romantic Warrior made a breathtaking five-wide bid approaching the completion of the turn, circling all of the aforementioned to take the race by the throat.
But Yoshito Yahagi-conditioned Forever Young could not only still breath – he was full steam, chasing his rival home down the stretch to win in the shadow of the wire in a swift time of 1:49.099.
It was another 10 and a half lengths back to third-placed Ushba Tesoro (JPN), who was one and three-quarter lengths to the good of banner-mate Wilson Tesoro (JPN).
On a day when the Japanese team dominated the card with four victories, its quartet of contenders in the world’s richest race finished within the top six, with Ramjet (JPN) last of them, one length astern of fifth-placed American contender Rattle N Roll (USA).
The victory was Forever Young’s eighth from 10 starts and second at the top level, following a one-sided tally in December’s Tokyo Daishoten. His lone losses were thirds in America’s two most prestigious races, the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The first-place prize money increased his bankroll to $14,248,207. His next run, according to connections, will likely be the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on April 5.
The victory was Fujita, Sakai and Yahagi’s second on the day, following Shin Emperor’s domination of the US$2m Howden Neom Turf Cup.
Facteur Cheval (IRE), Wait To Excel (GB), Wootton’sun (FR), Defunded (USA), Al Musmak (IRE), Walk Of Stars (GB), El Kodigo (ARG) and Intense For Me (ARG) completed the order of finish, with prize money paying down to tenth.
Quotes
Yoshito Yahagi, trainer, Forever Young, 1st: “This is my second win in The Saudi Cup, but no matter how many wins you have in The Saudi Cup, it is still a great feeling. I didn’t have confidence; I believed in him.
“You know when he came here to run in the Saudi Derby, he was not in the best condition and he still won. Since that time, he has improved a lot and was in better condition today. I would like to thank all the people of The Saudi Cup who support us. We will go to the Dubai World Cup.”
Ryusei Sakai, jockey, Forever Young: “He jumped very well from the wide gate in 14 and got into a nice position without a problem. It was my tactics to be in that situation. I believe in Forever Young, I never thought I’d lose the race. This is the best moment in my life.”
James McDonald, jockey, Romantic Warrior, 2nd: “He ran incredibly well. I was very proud of him. He flowed into the race well and used his momentum nicely, so it was a terrific effort.
“He was gallant in defeat, the race worked out perfectly for us, he got a little bit of kickback, sidled round just beautifully. I can safely say I wasn’t stopping, I didn’t alter my stride pace at all. It just shows what great horse Forever Young is and what a race was.”
Danny Shum, trainer, Romantic Warrior: “He ran good. It was his first time on the dirt and he ran tremendous. Really good. The winner is a very good horse and didn’t beat us by very much. It was his first run on the dirt and only beaten by Forever Young and that horse is a very tough dirt horse.
“We were only beaten by a head. What can you do? I tried something like this for the first time with Romantic Warrior and hopefully some other trainers and owners will [follow me]. We did the best we could. We hope to win every time, but racing is racing. He tried his best, it was a really good race and most of the people enjoyed the races.
“James was happy with him, so I’m happy with him. Great run. He beat the third horse by lengths. He will go back to Dubai for the Dubai Turf. Definitely turf.”
Joel Rosario, jockey, Rattle N Roll, 5th: “My trip was good and he ran like he normally does in the back and he came with a run, but he just couldn’t’ get to those horses. This is a little different group than last time, but he ran his race. He was coming at the end, but he ran like he needs a mile and a quarter [2000m].”
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