In the days leading up to Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, usracing.com is posting profiles of the leading contenders.
Forever Young opens his 4-year-old campaign in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, seeking to extend his unbeaten record to eight in races outside America.
The popular Japan-bred has two tough losses on his resume: third by two heads in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs and third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita.
Other than that, he’s been perfect with five victories to open his career, including the 2024 Saudi Derby (G3) and UAE Derby (G2), and wins in the Japan Cup after the Derby and the Tokyo Daishoten (G1) after the BC Classic.
In closing out his 3-year-old campaign in 1 ¼-mile Tokyo Daishoten, Forever Young raced second behind the longshot leader but moved clear of the field in the stretch under Ryusei Saki and won by 1 ¾ lengths.
Both trainer and jockey agreed that Forever Young had recovered about 80% following his trip to the Breeders’ Cup.
“I think that is the proof that he is not at his best yet,” Sakai said after the race. “And I think that is the issue he has to overcome in order to become No. 1 in the world … I was sure I would not lose. But I really did give him a ‘go’ sign, thinking of the big future ahead of him.”
The Saudi Cup is 1 1/8 miles, a distance that seems to fit his style, and he’ll look to give trainer Yoshito Yahagi a second win in the race – he won in 2023 with Panthalassa, a 15-1 shot who led gate-to-wire.
Perhaps the toughest challenge will come from Romantic Warrior, a 10-time Grade 1 winner making his first start on dirt.
“Romantic Warrior should be the biggest danger, but he is not the only rival to us,” Yahagi said.
A win over this track also helps. He broke slow but ran down Book’em Danno in the stretch and won the 1-mile Saudi Derby by a head.
Forever Young drew the far outside No. 14, perhaps not a most favorable place to start, but Yahagi smiled afterward: “I’d prefer the outside rather than the inside,’’ he said through a translator.
Added Sakai: “The wide gate is not a big concern and distance-wise there is no issue either. I understand this will be a very competitive race, but my focus is to show his run.”
Betting Advice: With a decent start, he looks like a winner in this spot, although who knows how Romantic Warrior (10-time Grade 1 winner on turf) takes to dirt for the first time? Top contender.
Post position: 14
Odds: 8-5
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Owner: Susumu Fujita
Career record: 9-7-0-2
Career earnings: $4,248,207
Age: 4
Last race: Tokyo Daishoten (G1), Oi Racecourse, Dec. 29 (1st)
Top Equibase speed figure: 111
Pedigree: Real Steal-Forever Darling, by Congrats
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker/closer
Notes: Yahagi is a character known for his extensive collection of colorful hats … Forever Young is a grandson of Hall of Famer Sunday Silence, who in 1989 won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and BC Classic … Forever Young … Forever Young’s five wins in Japan have come at four tracks, and his other wins came in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
