A Japanese Champion Dominates the Saudi Cup, Leaving Rivals in His Dust – Again!
It seems the Saudi Cup has become a personal playground for the incredible Forever Young, the Japanese racing sensation who has truly mastered the art of winning on this grand stage. And for the third year running, he's proven that he's not done conquering just yet!
Imagine this: a thrilling, neck-and-neck battle in the final stretch, with a formidable opponent pushing him all the way. For the third consecutive year, Forever Young has emerged victorious in the demanding, sweeping turns of the King Abdulaziz Racecourse. This time, the prestigious Saudi Cup (G1) was his prize, and he claimed it by triumphing over Nysos, one of America's finest contenders.
But here's where it gets a bit heartbreaking for some: this outcome adds another painful second-place finish to the record of renowned trainer Bob Baffert, who has now experienced this agonizing outcome four times in this very race. The stakes are enormous, with the winner taking home a staggering $10 million, while the runner-up secures a still-impressive $3.5 million. Talk about an expensive Valentine's Day gift!
In the heat of the Saudi Cup, held over 1,800 meters (approximately 1 1/8 miles), both Forever Young and Nysos maintained a comfortable position behind the early pace. As they rounded the final bend, jockey Ryusei Sakai skillfully guided Forever Young along the inside rail, while Flavien Prat urged Nysos on his outside.
Around the 200-meter mark, it became clear that Forever Young was simply not going to be caught. He crossed the finish line with a decisive 1-length advantage, and the gap was only widening.
Trainer Baffert had mused before the race, "I prefer shorter stretches," but in hindsight, it seems it wouldn't have made a difference. Forever Young blazed through the distance in 1:51.03, and for those who placed a $2 win wager, the payout was a sweet $2.70 in international pari-mutuel betting.
Following the top two, Tumbarumba secured third place, a further 3 3/4 lengths behind, and Bishops Bay finished fourth, another 1 length back. Other notable finishers included Rattle N Roll in ninth, and Nevada Beach, Baffert's second runner, who came in 12th out of 13 starters.
Interestingly, Forever Young, a 5-year-old son of Real Steel, appeared to have a smoother run this time compared to his previous nail-biting victories. Remember his narrow win over Book'em Danno in the 2024 Saudi Derby (G3)? Or his epic back-and-forth duel with Hong Kong's celebrated globetrotter, Romantic Warrior, in the 2025 Cup? This latest triumph seemed less of a struggle.
"He's still not at 100%," admitted trainer Yoshito Yahagi, affectionately known as "the Man in the Hat." He's now an impressive three-time winner of the Saudi Cup, having also trained Panthalassa to victory in 2023. "But when he approached the top of the stretch, I was confident."
Baffert echoed a similar sentiment, noting, "That jockey just rides him with so much confidence." He added with a touch of wry humor, "Well, even King Kong got beat."
Forever Young's meteoric rise began in October 2023 in Japan, where he won his first three races, culminating in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushunat at Kawasaki Racecourse. Although this race was part of the 2023-24 Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, his connections made the strategic decision to bypass that path and instead head to Riyadh for the 2024 Saudi Derby.
In that Saudi Derby, Forever Young looked to be in trouble early in the long stretch, with Book'em Danno taking a commanding lead. However, once he found his stride, Forever Young unleashed a powerful closing kick to win by a mere head. He followed this with a more comfortable victory in the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai a month later, earning him a coveted spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
His Kentucky Derby appearance was unforgettable, a thrilling three-way photo finish where Forever Young finished third, just two noses behind Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone. After a well-deserved rest, he returned to win the Japan Dirt Classic in October, followed by a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), once again behind Sierra Leone. He concluded that season with a victory in the Tokyo Daishoten (G1).
His signature win, however, arguably came in the 2025 Saudi Cup. In what was essentially a two-horse race, he momentarily yielded the lead to Romantic Warrior before rallying with incredible determination to snatch victory by a neck. Trainer Yahagi attributed his subsequent third-place finish in the Dubai World Cup (G1) to a pre-race mishap.
Following another extended break and a preparatory race in Japan, Forever Young made his way to Del Mar and clinched the Breeders' Cup Classic, fending off his familiar rival Sierra Leone by half a length.
With the Saudi Cup being a key race in the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, Forever Young has secured a paid, automatic entry into this fall's Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland.
And this is the part most people miss: Nysos's performance, even in defeat, was a remarkable achievement in itself. Despite a stellar record of seven wins in eight starts coming into the Saudi Cup, Nysos has been a project for trainer Baffert, his career having been punctuated by setbacks. He arrived in Saudi Arabia after impressive victories in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2).
Baffert, ever the determined competitor, expressed his unwavering commitment to this race. Just two days before the event, he stated that the Saudi Cup represents "a hole in my résumé. It's one race I haven't won and I want to win it." He boldly declared, "If we don't get it done this year, we'll keep coming back."
And if he does keep coming back, he might just have to face the formidable Forever Young once more. Owner Susumu Fujita shared his delight, saying, "I'm delighted how he won. The plan was to retire at the end of the year. But I could extend that by two more months for another Saudi Cup."
What do you think? Is Forever Young's dominance in the Saudi Cup a sign of his unparalleled talent, or is it a reflection of the challenging racing conditions that favor his specific style? And for Bob Baffert, will his persistence finally pay off, or will Forever Young continue to be the ultimate roadblock? Share your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your take!
