After all the soul searching and angst, Romantic Warrior handled his first run on dirt just fine in the $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 22 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. But it still wasn’t good enough as Forever Young, a dirt specialist, chased him down in the final strides to win the world’s richest race by a neck.

“Romantic Warrior is a strong horse,” winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi said. “Our horse was better.”

Forever Young added the Saudi Cup to his victory in the 2024 Saudi Derby — another come-from-behind, last-strides effort — and the UAE Derby in Dubai. He was an unlucky third in the 2024 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and third again in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.

On his return to Saudi Arabia, he was not to be denied.

Forever Young crossed right over from the outside gate and raced with the leaders through the early stages while Romantic Warrior was reserved right behind. Jockey James McDonald then edged Romantic Warrior outside the leaders turning into the stretch and the two quickly were far ahead of the rest of the field with Romantic Warrior taking a clear lead.

Forever Young gained relentlessly in a finish unlikely to be seen again as Romantic Warrior is destined to return to turf racing.

“He jumped really well from a hard spot and he did a great job,” said winning rider Ryusei Sakai. “Those were my kind of instructions.”

When Romantic Warrior made his bid on the outside, Sakai said, “I felt him come to me. Of course, I believed in Forever Young so I never felt bad about this competition.”

Yahagi, who won the Cup for the second time in its six-year history, expressed a different feeling when he saw Romantic Warrior spurt to a lead.

“I was thinking if my horse passed Romantic Warrior, that was more romantic than the movies,” Yahagi said.

“I was concerned about Romantic Warrior because he had never run on the dirt. So, I didn’t know how much he’d show on the dirt.”

The rest of the field was well beaten. Ushba Tesoro was 10 1/2 lengths farther back in third and Wilson Tesoro fourth. The lone American runner, Rattle N Roll, finished fifth.

In addition to the $10 million winner’s share of the purse, Forever Young earned a fees-paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar. Breeders’ Cup and the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced before the race the Saudi Cup was added to the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series program.

Straight No Chaser Delivers in Riyadh Dirt Sprint

Straight No Chaser’s brilliance, on display in winning the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint last fall at Del Mar, shone similarly in the Saudi Arabia desert when he romped by 3 3/4 lengths in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saudi Cup day.

Saturday marked his second consecutive victory in a $2 million race, with the potential for a third with a planned start in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup day, April 5, at Meydan.

Although Straight No Chaser came from off the pace in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, a deviation from his customary front-running style, he was prominent from the start in Saturday’s race. Breaking well under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, he briefly tracked a hard-hustled Jasper Krone before asserting his authority into the turn of the approximately six-furlong race. Putting away Jasper Krone entering the stretch, he pulled clear, with only a stalking Muqtahem, in contention after a three-wide bid. But under confident handling from Velazquez, who merely hand rode and flashed his riding crop at his speedy mount, Straight No Chaser cruised under the finish line without being threatened.

Gabby’s Sister came on for third, a half-length behind the runner-up.

Straight No Chaser, trained by Dan Blacker, was timed on a fast surface in 1:11.16.

“It’s a different track, a little slower than America, but he still handled it very well,” Velazquez said.

Last year’s Eclipse Award-winning male sprinter was heavily favored in an international pari-mutuel wagering pool. He paid $3.90 to win for a $2 wager.

Besides those cashing on him, many happy viewers were watching from the United States with the American-based Straight No Chaser owned by MyRacehorse, which allows its partners to buy microshares in racehorses. Straight No Chaser has more than 900 owners.

One of those, Steve Carpenter, was in attendance Saturday at King Abdulaziz Racecourse alongside MyRacehorse racing manager Joe Moran. Carpenter won a lottery among the microshare partners to attend.

“It’s just a dream come true for me,” he said.—Byron King

Golden Vekoma Lands Saudi Derby, Dubai the Next Target

The American hopeful did not win the $1.5 million Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, but a horse by a hot young American sire did as Golden Vekoma  ran down Japan’s Shin Forever in the long stretch drive to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

The Dubai-based winner could be headed home to the Bluegrass if he can repeat this performance in another major Middle Eastern race in six weeks.

Golden Vekoma, by Vekoma, trained in Ahmed Bin Harmash, scored his third straight win in the Feb. 22 Derby and most likely is on course to tackle the UAE Derby at his home track on April 5. Under the qualifying points system used by Churchill Downs, that race effectively is a “Win and You’re In” for the 2025 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.—Bob Kieckhefer