Baffert Ready To Chase “Unicorn” Forever Young

Japanese star heads Saudi Cup 14

Image: Forever Young at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, February 11, 2026.

Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Neville Hopwood.

Thursday February 12, 2026 – More history awaits Japanese superstar Forever Young (JPN) this Saturday as the world’s best dirt horse looks to become the first to win the Group 1 USD$20million Saudi Cup twice.

The G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner returns to Riyadh after his unforgettable performance in The Saudi Cup last year and will face Bob Baffert's G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner, Nysos (USA) and his stable companion, Nevada Beach (USA).

Legendary American Baffert is back in town for the first time since the inaugural running of the meeting in 2020 and there is an air of confidence emerging from the Hall of Fame trainer who has come so close to winning The Saudi Cup on multiple occasions.

“You are just hoping that when they turn for home that they are running and for me hopefully it’s going to be Nysos, and Nevada Beach is right there too, with Forever Young - King Kong versus Godzilla,” Baffert said.

“I have brought good horses here but I think Nysos, hopefully, is the best.”

Baffert was glowing in his praise for the reigning champion, Forever Young, but is hopeful that he can finally win the 1800m race that has so far eluded him.

“Forever Young, he’s a unicorn,” Baffert quipped. “I have so much respect for that horse. What he did as a 3-year-old – to win in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and come to the [Kentucky] Derby and go so close… that is just unheard of, you know, a horse shipping that much. Credit to his trainer, his jockey and his staff, he’s an incredible horse.

“These races are supposed to be tough and bring the best horses here so we are here. If you were to win it, it would be nice to be here and enjoy it.”

Yoshito Yahagi is already the only two-time winning trainer of The Saudi Cup after claiming victory with Panthalassa (JPN) in 2023 and, having won the G3 Saudi Derby in 2024, Forever Young is looking for a third successive victory at the fixture.

“Maybe this is going to be Forever Young’s last time to be able to compete in The Saudi Cup, so we will do our best to bring his full potential,” Yahagi said. “This year also has a strong lineup but the most important thing is to do my job and bring his best potential.”

The Japanese challenge for The Saudi Cup is strengthened by Kyoko Maekawa’s Sunrise Zipangu (JPN) and Noriyuki Hori’s Luxor Cafe (USA), both of which have attracted significant jockey bookings.

Brazilian maestro Joao Moreira will ride G3 Musashino Stakes winner Luxor Cafe, while Oisin Murphy partners Sunrise Zipangu for Maekawa, who recently became the Japan Racing Association’s first licensed female trainer.

Maekawa has history with The Saudi Cup as she previously worked as Yahagi’s assistant trainer and she's hopeful to create her own piece of history on Saturday night.

“I expect a good result with Sunrise Zipangu,” Maekawa said. “We prepared him well in Japan. Then we came here and he needs a bit of adjusting to maintain his condition but he breezed well and I expect a lot from him.”

The Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah-owned Mhally (GB) won The G3 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup last month and jockey Ricardo Ferreira continues his association with the Abdullah Alsidrani-trained 4-year-old.

Ryan Moore has been booked to ride the only filly in the field, Ameerat Alzamaan (GB), who proved herself to be the leading equine female in Saudi Arabia when finishing second behind Mhally last time and carries the Red Stable colours of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz.

King Saud Cup winner Haqeet (USA) will break from barrier two under Mickael Barzalona for owner King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz & Sons and trainer Saad Aljenad, who also send out King Faisal Cup winner Star Of Wonder (USA), the mount of Camilio Ospina.

The American challenge is strengthened by Banishing (USA) and last year’s fifth-place finisher Rattle N Roll (USA), both part-owned by Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri, Bishops Bay (USA) for KAS stable, while the seventh running of The Saudi Cup is completed by the Prince Saud bin Salman bin Abdulaziz-owned Thundersquall (GB) and Tumbarumba (USA).

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