A year after scoring victories and placing in the top three international dirt races for older horses, the remarkable Forever Young continued his impressive run with a season-opening victory in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) on February 14 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
With his second straight win in the Saudi Cup and a third straight win on the Saudi Cup day card, the Japanese-trained international runner and reigning Eclipse Award winner as older horse champion is serving as a pioneer for owners with horses at the top of the sport: lucrative racing opportunities exist for connections willing to compete in top international races.
Forever Young entered Saturday as the earnings leader among all Eclipse Award winners in history. In fact, he already topped the winning list of every horse with at least one start in North America. When holding off the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) race. Nysos To secure a one-length victory in the Saudi Cup, Forever Young managed to secure a further $10 million, moving to an incredible $29,385,590.
The 5-year-old Japanese-bred son of Real Steel is now more than $10.5 million ahead of Ushba Tesoro on the all-time earnings list for every horse with at least one start in North America. That $10.5 million gap between first and second place is bigger than the gap between second place and number 25 American Pharaoh ($8,650,300).
The plan calls for Forever Young to continue racing throughout the season with a return trip to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), which he won last year in a season that also saw him finish third in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1). Some highlights at 3 include winning the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3) and $1 million UAE Derby (G2) before finishing a close third in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He finished that year with a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
After Saturday’s race, Forever Young’s owner noted that while the plan is to retire as a stud for the 2027 season, that plan could be pushed back a few months to try and win the Saudi Cup for the third time in a row.
For United States-based connections, it’s good to know that these lucrative opportunities focus on dirt racing. While you can dream of the kind of success Forever Young is enjoying, keep in mind that Nysos raised more money for owner Baoma Corp. with his second-place finish in the Saudi Cup ($3.5 million) then his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile ($520,000).
From Wathnan Racing Tumbarumba a two-time US Class 3 winner, secured the biggest payday of his racing career when finishing third in the Saudi Cup. The $2 million he earned moved him to the top spot among Louisiana-breds in terms of career earnings.
Tumbarumba wins the 2025 Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs
As the sport tries to keep its stars in training, international racing appears to be the avenue for connections to consider such an option. As reported by our correspondent Bob Kieckhefer, in the days leading up to the Saudi Cup, Philip Newton, chairman of the British Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, while speaking at the Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, outlined an international series similar to Formula 1 car racing.
Given racing’s downward trend in breeding, he said such an approach could provide a way forward.
“There is very clear evidence that there is a global audience and global attention for an elite international racing product,” Newton said, adding that the key is cross-jurisdictional collaboration to build a cohesive global brand that encompasses the major race meetings around the world – an effort that will require more selflessness and mutual support than has yet surfaced.
Forever Young’s connections are on board.
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