Japanese Horse Wins 2026 Saudi Cup – $36.9M Race
- The Japanese horse, Forever Young, has secured victory in the prestigious 2026 Saudi Cup, according to reports from the region.
- The race, held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and represented by the Crown Prince, saw Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Prince of Riyadh,...
- The Saudi Cup race itself was described as the strongest and most valuable race globally, boasting a total prize pool of $36.9 million USD.
Forever Young Wins 2026 Saudi Cup
The Japanese horse, Forever Young, has secured victory in the prestigious 2026 Saudi Cup, according to reports from the region.
The race, held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and represented by the Crown Prince, saw Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Prince of Riyadh, in attendance at the main event of the 2026 Saudi Cup.
The Saudi Cup race itself was described as the strongest and most valuable race globally, boasting a total prize pool of $36.9 million USD. The event brought together a selection of elite horses and prominent international stables in a highly competitive atmosphere.
Forever Young’s win marks a significant achievement in the world of horse racing. According to Horse Racing Nation, the race took place on , at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia, with a post time of 12:40 PM ET. The distance covered was 1 1/8 miles on a dirt track and the race was open to horses aged four and older.
The victory makes Forever Young the first horse to win the world’s richest horse race twice. The horse, trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Ryusei Sakai, previously competed in and won a race leading up to the Saudi Cup, as noted in the race details provided by Horse Racing Nation.
Other notable contenders in the race included Nysos, finishing second with jockey Flavien Prat and trainer Bob Baffert, and Tumbarumba, who placed third under the guidance of trainer Hamad Al Jehani and jockey James Doyle. Bishops Bay, trained by Brad H. Cox and ridden by Junior Alvarado, finished fourth, while Luxor Cafe, with jockey Joao Moreira and trainer Noriyuki Hori, came in fifth.
The field also included Sunrise Zipangu, Mhally, Banishing Ghostzapper, Rattle N Roll, Ameerat Alzamaan, Thundersquall, Nevada Beach, and Haqeet. Each horse brought a unique pedigree and racing history to the competition.
The Saudi Cup continues to solidify its position as a premier event in the global horse racing calendar, attracting top talent from around the world. The event’s substantial prize money and competitive field ensure its continued prominence in the sport.
Further details regarding the race, including individual horse ratings and past performances, were available through Horse Racing Nation, which provided a comprehensive overview of the contenders and their respective standings leading up to the event.