In a race worthy of its title as the richest Thoroughbred horse race in the world with a $20 million purse, a resilient Forever Young edged Romantic Warrior in a thrilling Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 22 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
Passed by 10-time grade/group 1 winning-turf horse Romantic Warrior entering the stretch as the latter made a wide bid, Forever Young never gave in. Angled outside Romantic Warrior in the lane and after switching leads, he gradually wore him down.
Forever Young, who tracked just off the early pace, raced about 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) in a stakes-record 1:49.12 over a fast track. He returned $6.60 for a $2 win wager in an international pari-mutuel pool in which Romantic Warrior was the favorite.
Ryusei Sakai piloted the winner, a 4-year-old son of Real Steel , for trainer Yoshito Yahagi and owner Susumu Fujita.
Ushba Tesoro finished a distant third.
With the Saudi Cup part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, Forever Young earned a paid, automatic berth in the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.
This story will be updated.
