Forever Young (JPN) claims the USD$20 million Group 1 Saudi Cup for the second time on Saturday, Credit: JCSA // Ali AlZeanaidi
Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia
Forever Young (JPN) made sporting history at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday when he became the first two-time winner of the Group 1 USD$20 million Saudi Cup.
Yoshito Yahagi’s undisputed dirt champion found a perfect opening along the inside rail leading into the home straight and he used his will, class and determination to mount a brave challenge from Nysos (USA) with one length in a final time of 1:51.027.
Exile (US) And Thunderstorm (GB) had led the field down the backstretch with Nysos tracking. Meanwhile, Forever Young and jockey Ryusei Sakai were right behind those horses, but hugged the rail in a tactical move that ultimately worked perfectly.
Forever Young and Nysos battled it out in the final 400 metres, but this incredible five-year-old globetrotter, who won the Saudi Cup in a thrilling encounter with Romantic Warrior (IRE) 12 months ago and then clinched the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in his final start of 2025, is an almost impossible horse to pass when he’s up front and with the bit between his teeth. Tumbarumba (USA) came off the pace to claim third place by a margin Bishop’s Bay (USA).
It was effectively a third victory from seven extra-times at 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 a great horse, twice in the Saudi Cup, and I just trust him. I wasn’t worried, 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 the whole team.”
Yoshito Yahagi, trainer, Forever Young: “He made me feel incredible the whole race. Of course, I had a lot of pressure on me before the race because 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 goal is the Dubai World Cup, so that’s what we have to concentrate on now. And then, well, I have no idea. Last year we couldn’t do it in the Dubai World Cup, he just wasn’t good enough. We’ll do our best to win it this year. Ryusei Sakai was my student, my stable jockey and he developed and improved as he grew up. And he’s become a very 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 place isn’t that exciting. The good thing, though, is that Nysos showed up. Forever Young is just that good.”
“Irad [Ortiz] said Nevada Beach was never really into it. He said he didn’t lift his feet at all. I was really disappointed in him because he drove really well around this track.
James Doyle, jockey, Tumbarumba, 3rd: “Happy with him, he has put in another great performance. I am very proud of the horse and his young team going into work. For them it is great to have a horse running well here.”
Case Clay, race manager at Tumbarumba, said: “It was a big result for us. We are proud of the horse. He came here and stepped up in the Al Maktoum Challenge and finished second and finished strongly there. He was well suited to the track here. He looked a cutie and Tommy Allen and Hamad Al Jehani said he handled the track well in the morning. We were confident we could run third here, potentially looking forward to the Dubai World Cup afterwards. This we will regroup and decide after this.’
Brad Cox, trainer, Bishops Bay, 4th: “He trained 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. When we went home, I thought we had a chance. On the eighth pole it looked more like we might finish third and in the end he finished fourth. He is a hard working horse and I like the commitment he showed. I thought we had a good trip and I’m proud of what he did here. Normally I’m not happy about finishing fourth often, but we’ll take it with us here.”
Joao Moreira, Luxor Cafe, 5th: “He ran well. He didn’t jump that 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.”
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