- ARAB NEWS
- 30 Apr 2025
Since 1975
RIYADH: Japan’s Forever Young hunted down Hong Kong racing royalty Romantic Warrior to land the world’s richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh on Saturday.
The Japanese colt displayed his suitability for the dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racecourse when he won the $1.5m Saudi Derby presented by ZOOD Realty a year ago, before finishing a fine third in both the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended the event and handed the trophy and additional prizes to the winning team.
During his attendance at the event at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in the capital, the crown prince also met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Al-Nassr and Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
#PHOTOS: As well as handing out prizes to @TheSaudiCup winning team from Japan, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met @FIFAcom president Infantino and @AlNassrFC_EN star @Cristiano #Ronaldo at the event in Riyadh https://t.co/FBbeynLpSX pic.twitter.com/ZVmPPgf9Pi
— Arab News | Sport (@ArabNewsSport) February 22, 2025
“Since he won the Tokyo Daishoten in December he had stayed at Yoshito Yahagi’s stable at Ritto Training Centre and remained in training … and then he started to have steady workouts three weeks before his trip to Saudi Arabia,” Sakai had said. “I think everything has gone very well so far.”
Forever Young breezed for 1,300 meters on the dirt track under Sakai on Wednesday and had easy exercise for 60 minutes in the training yard at the quarantine stable on Thursday. In between, Sakai discovered Forever Young had drawn gate 14 of 14.
“He travelled to Riyadh very well. He has been very relaxed and looked confident since he has arrived,” Sakai had said a day before the race. “I have no worries about him. He is a very versatile type of horse and can handle any type of track condition.
“The wide gate is not a big concern and distance-wise there is no issue either. I understand this will be a very competitive race, but my focus is to show his run. I am really looking forward to Saturday.”
Japan made it one-two in the G2 1351 Turf Sprint as the Yoichi Kuroiwa-trained Ascoli Piceno chased down Win Marvel for owner Sunday Racing Co. Ltd under a sensational Christophe Lemaire.
A victory for Japan came in Race 6 of the Saudi Cup meeting as Shin Emperor returned to winning ways in the Group 2 Howden Neom Turf Cup.
The 4-year-old Siyouni colt, a brother of 2020 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass, was a disappointing 12th in the Arc last October but bounced back to finish a good second to Do Deuce in November’s Group 1 Japan Cup.
“He looked great (when) he came back from the break after the Japan Cup,” Sakai said.
“As he is a French-bred horse and has travelled from France to Japan, from Japan to Europe, he is already an experienced traveler.
“Since he has arrived in Riyadh, he has been keeping in good condition and has felt really good when I galloped him yesterday. The left-handed flat track here should be the perfect match for him, and I am very confident of his chances in the race if he can show his class.”
Byzantine Dream, ridden by jockey Oisin Murphy and trained by Tomoyasu Sakaguchi, made Japan proud by winning the G2 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap.
Chairman of the Equestrian Authority and the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA), Prince Bandar bin Khalid bin Faisal, thanked the Saudi leadership for its patronage and support of the event.
“I extend my highest gratitude and appreciation to King Salman, honorary president of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, and to the crown prince, for their great and continuous support of this global event,” he said.
“This event receives the keen attention of the crown prince, who has dedicated all resources to ensuring its continued success and its prominent position on the global stage of horse racing. This has contributed to its international recognition and follow-up from various tracks and federations worldwide.
“On my behalf and on behalf of the members of the JCSA and the entire equestrian community, I extend my renewed gratitude to the wise leadership for the attention and support we receive in the Kingdom, which contribute to the advancement of this unique event,” he added.
