Forever Great!
In a sensational stretch run for the ages, Forever Young caught Romantic Warrior in the final strides for a glorious victory in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) on Saturday night.
The showdown between two of the world’s best horses began after Romantic Warrior took the lead into the stretch and opened a few lengths on the field. But Forever Young found his groove and started moving closer and closer to his rival.
Forever Young. JCSA Photo.
A nose separated the top two at the wire in the $20 million Saudi Cup
Romantic Warrior, a 10-time Group 1 winner racing for the first time on a dirt track, gallantly tried to hold on, but Forever Young kept gaining ground, seized the lead with just a few strides to go, and won by a neck.
“Unbelievable!’’ said elated trainer Yoshit Yahagi minutes after the race. “Romantic Warrior is such a strong horse, but our horses were better today.”
Forever Young, ridden by Ryusei Sakai, was sent off as the favorite, and boy did he deliver in his 4-year-old debut at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
Forever Young extended his unbeaten record outside the U.S. to 8-0, his only losses coming when third by two heads in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Yes, there was a field of 14, but the 1 1/8-mile Saudi Cup was a two-horse race, as expected—third-place finisher Ushba Tesoro 10 ½ lengths back a year after running second to Senor Buscador.
The duel between the favorites was a tactical one. While Forever Young stalked the pace set by Walk of Stars, jockey James McDonald took Romantic Warrior a bit wide to avoid kickback during the 7-year-old’s first race on dirt. With 400 meters left, Romantic Warrior was moved inside, took the lead, and looked like a winner before Forever Young came through.
“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,’’ said Sakai. “I believe in Forever Young; I never thought I’d lose the race. This is the best moment in my life.”
The win capped off a giant day for Japan. Horses based in Japan won four of the Saudi Cup Day races: the others were the $2 million Neom Turf Cup with Shin Emperor (same connections as Forever Young), the $2.5 million Red Sea Turf (Byzantine Dream), and the $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint (Ascoli Piceno, with fellow Japan-based Win Marvel second).
In the Saudi Cup, Japan’s four entries ran first, third, fourth (Wilson Tesoro), and sixth (Ramjet).
McDonald was proud of Romantic Warrior.
“He was gallant in defeat, the race worked out perfectly for us, he got a little bit of kickback, sidled round just beautifully,” said McDonald. “I can safely say I wasn’t stopping. I didn’t alter my stride pace at all. It just shows what a great horse Forever Young is and what a race was.”
Wilson Tesoro was fourth, followed by U.S.-based Rattle N Roll, Ramjet, Facteur Cheval, Wait To Excel, Wootton’sun, Defunded, Al Musmak, Walk Of Stars, El Kodigo, and Intense For Me. The top 10 finishers earned prize money.
Forever Young boosted his earnings to $14,248,207 with eight wins in 10 starts. Next up for racing’s biggest star is the Dubai World Cup on April 5.