Trainer Yoshito Yahagi returns to Riyadh this weekend believing Forever Young (JPN) has the chance to carve out a unique place in history by becoming the first dual winner of the Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
Twelve months ago, Yahagi’s confidence was rewarded when Forever Young denied the great Romantic Warrior (IRE) in a stirring finish to the Group 1 contest, and the Japanese handler remains convinced that only an exceptional rival could ever have stopped his star.
In Yahagi’s view, Romantic Warrior was the sole threat heading into last year’s renewal, and events unfolded exactly as anticipated. The Hong Kong champion surged to the front at the top of the stretch and briefly looked the winner, only for Forever Young to rally with remarkable resolve under Ryusei Sakai.
The decisive move came late, the Japanese runner edging ahead only inside the final 25 metres to prevail by a neck in a race that will be remembered as one of the great editions of the Saudi Cup.
“I didn’t think he would be beaten by any horse,” Yahagi reflected. “But I wasn’t completely sure about Romantic Warrior, as it was his first time racing on dirt. If Forever Young was going to be beaten, it had to be by Romantic Warrior.”
Even the trainer feared the result had slipped away in the final strides. “It was unbelievable. To be honest, I thought we had been beaten at the finish. It was a great race.”
Building on Breeders’ Cup history
Forever Young lines up in Riyadh having already written another landmark chapter for Japanese racing, becoming the first Japan-trained winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar last November.
That victory prompted a carefully managed campaign, with Yahagi opting to bypass domestic targets in favour of a fresh Middle Eastern return.
“He skipped the Tokyo Daishoten after the Breeders’ Cup,” Yahagi explained. “He was carrying a little extra weight at first, but he has been improving steadily.”
The trainer believes conditions in Riyadh again play to his horse’s strengths. “The anti-clockwise track and the long home straight really suit him in Saudi Arabia, and Sakai knows everything about him. Their partnership is very reliable.”
A third Saudi Cup triumph for Yahagi would further underline his remarkable international record, which already includes major victories in Dubai, Hong Kong and Australia, alongside Panthalassa’s success in Riyadh in 2023.
A broader vision for Japanese racing
Yahagi sees Forever Young’s achievements as part of a wider evolution within the Japanese industry.
“Winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic definitely brought about a big change,” he said. “Horse racing is still not the biggest sport in Japan, but I want to keep working to help it grow.”
He highlighted strong fan engagement and sustained investment as key factors behind the sport’s health, allowing owners to support horses capable of competing — and winning — on the world stage.
Forever Young is scheduled to contest both the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup this spring, with plans for the latter part of the year still under discussion.
“The Breeders’ Cup will be held at Keeneland this year, which makes it a different situation for us,” Yahagi noted. “I need to discuss our plans with the owner, Mr Fujita, who was keen to keep him in training.”
Yahagi’s Riyadh challenge does not end there. Shin Emperor (FR) also returns as a defending champion after making all to land last year’s Howden Neom Turf Cup, now elevated to Group 1 status and worth $3 million.
“He is in very good form and this race has always been the target,” Yahagi said. “The anti-clockwise, flat 2100-metre track on good ground suits him very well. He doesn’t have to lead, but we would like to see him settle into a good position.”
For rivals, Yahagi’s final comment carried a warning: “I thought he had fully matured, but in fact he is still improving.”
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