Forever Young Shines Once More For Second Straight Saudi Cup

BRILLIANT JAPANESE PERFORMER DEFEATS NYSOS IN AN ABSORBING DUEL

Image: Forever Young (JPN) claims the Group 1 USD$20m Saudi Cup for the second time on Saturday. Credit: JCSA//Ali Al Zenaidi

Forever Young (JPN) made sporting history at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday as he became the first two-time winner of the Group 1 USD$20m Saudi Cup.

Yoshito Yahagi’s undisputed dirt champion found a perfect gap along the inside rail turning into the home straight and he used his will, class and determination to fend off a brave challenge from Nysos (USA) by one length in a final time of 1:51.027.

Banishing (USA) and Thundersquall (GB) had led the field along the backstretch with Nysos tracking. Meanwhile, Forever Young and jockey Ryusei Sakai sat just behind those horses, but hugging the rail in a tactical move that ultimately worked out perfectly.

Forever Young and Nysos went head-to-head in the last 400m, but this incredible globetrotting 5-year-old, who took The Saudi Cup 12 months ago in a gripping encounter with Romantic Warrior (IRE) and went on to land the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic on his final start of 2025, is an almost impossible horse to pass when in front and with the bit between his teeth. Tumbarumba (USA) came from off the pace to claim third ahead of Bishops Bay (USA).

It was actually a third victory out of the seven renewals of this meeting for Forever Young, who also has a Saudi Derby success to his name and continues his progression towards legendary status.

Quotes

Ryusei Sakei, jockey, Forever Young, 1st: “He’s an amazing horse, two times in the Saudi Cup, and I just trust him. I had no worries, there was no pressure, this is my job, the same every time. I’m very proud of him and I want to thank everyone who supported all the team.”

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer, Forever Young: “He gave me an unbelievable feeling all the time through the race. Of course I had a lot of pressure on me before the race as he was the best in the field. I think it's not my training that makes him this great horse, I think the horse is just made like a champion and I have little to do with it.

“Of course our next target is the Dubai World Cup, so that is what we have to concentrate on now. And then, well I have no idea. Last year, it didn't work out in the Dubai World Cup, he just wasn't good enough. We will try our best to win it this year. Ryusei Sakai was my apprentice, my stable jockey and he developed and improved as he grew up. And he has become a really good jockey for us.”

Bob Baffert, trainer Nysos 2nd, Nevada Beach, 12th: “This race is almost like the Kentucky Derby because unless you win, second isn’t that exciting. The good thing, though, is that Nysos showed up. Forever Young is just so good.

“Irad [Ortiz] said Nevada Beach never really got engaged in it. He said he didn’t pick up his feet, at all. I was really disappointed in him because he was really going over this track very well.”

James Doyle, jockey, Tumbarumba, 3rd: “Delighted with him, he’s put in another big performance. I’m very proud of the horse and his young team who are getting going. For them, to have a horse run well here is brilliant.”

Case Clay, racing manager, Tumbarumba: “It was a big result for us. We’re proud of the horse. He came over here and stepped up in trip in the Al Maktoum Challenge and finished second and finished strong there. He was suited to the track well here. He looked a picture and Tommy Allen and Hamad Al Jehani were saying that he’s been going over the track well in the morning. We were confident going in and to be able to run third here, that has us possibly looking to the Dubai World Cup after this. We’ll regroup after this and decide.”

Brad Cox, trainer, Bishops Bay, 4th: “He was training well. I loved how he presented himself in the paddock. I thought he would run his race and I think he did. Junior [Alvarado] was happy with him and I was very happy with the performance. Turning for home, I thought we had a shot. At the eight-pole, it was looking more like maybe we would be third and ultimately he was fourth. He’s a hard-trying horse and I love the effort he showed, I thought we got a good trip and I’m proud of what he did here. I’m not usually happy with running fourth very often, but we’ll take it here.”

Joao Moreira, Luxor Cafe, 5th: “He ran well. He didn’t jump very well, we came from a recovery situation, but I was happy.”

Oisin Murphy, Sunrise Zipangu, 6th: “Great run. He didn’t have the speed early but it was a pretty good result.”

Joel Rosario, Rattle N Roll, 9th: “He ran his race, it was a tough race but he did his best.”