Forever Young Nips Romantic Warrior In An Epic Saudi Cup
Yesterday at 01:17 PM
RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — Susumu Fujita's FOREVER YOUNG (JPN) (c, 4, Real Steel {Jpn}–Forever Darling, by Congrats) grabbed Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the shadow of the winning post to win a spine-tingling renewal of the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, a race that did not deserve a loser. Forever Young was part of a four-way scrum for the early lead with anticipated front-runners Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Al Musmak (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) as James McDonald tucked Romantic Warrior–having his first go on a dirt track–just in behind. With positions mostly unchanged approaching the end of the back straight, McDonald took the bold decision with fully half the distance yet to cover of angling out around longshot Defunded (Dialed In) and was consigned to a five-wide run around the turn. Nevertheless, Romantic Warrior traveled on the steel, quickly moved up to them and poked his head in front, with Ryusei Sakai and Forever Young left a bit flat-footed one off the fence at the head of the lane. Romantic Warrior went clear and they were partying in Wan Chai, but as he displayed when blousing out Book'em Danno (Bucchero) at the finish of last year's G3 Saudi Derby, Forever Young loves a fight, and he began pegging back the margin with time ticking away. James McDonald was hard at work on Romantic Warrior and said post-race that the 7-year-old 'was not stopping', but Forever Young proved narrowly better on the day in a race that won't soon be forgotten. Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), last down the back, picked up the pieces late for third, picking up more Saudi prizemoney after just losing his own heartbreaker 12 months ago. The final time for the 1800 meters was 1:49.12, which breaks the previous record of 1:49.50 set by Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) in 2024. Japanese runners swept the last four races on the card. Sales history: $720,603 Ylg '22 JRHAJUL. Lifetime Record: 10-8-0-2, $14,248,207. O-Susumu Fujta; B-Northern Racing; T-Yoshito Yahagi.
FOREVER YOUNG #フォーエバーヤング!!!
He let Romantic Warrior go by and then ran him down late in the $20,000.000 @TheSaudiCup (G1)! The Real Steel colt takes the #WAYI@BreedersCup Classic race for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Jockey Ryusei Sakai brings the big one home for Japan! pic.twitter.com/cEBhyw8g5Z
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 22, 2025
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