RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Forever Young cemented his place among the world’s elite dirt horses on Saturday, becoming the first repeat winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. The five-year-old Japanese champion held off a determined challenge from American contender Nysos, winning by a length in a thrilling stretch duel.
The victory marks a historic achievement for Forever Young and trainer Yoshito Yahagi, adding another significant chapter to the growing success of Japanese racing on the international stage. It’s also a frustrating result for veteran trainer Bob Baffert, who has now finished second in the Saudi Cup four times.
Both Forever Young and Nysos settled comfortably behind the early pace, set by Thunder Squall, and Tumbarumba. As the field turned for home, jockey Ryusei Sakai skillfully guided Forever Young through an opening along the rail, while Flavien Prat urged Nysos to the outside. The two horses quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field, engaging in a head-to-head battle for the lead.
“It was close to the 200-meter marker when it began to appear Forever Young wasn’t for catching,” a report from BloodHorse noted, detailing the final push to the finish line. Despite a strong effort from Nysos, Forever Young maintained a narrow advantage, ultimately prevailing by a length.
The final time for the 1,800-meter (approximately 1 1/8 mile) race was 1:51.03. Forever Young paid $2.70 for a $2 win wager. Tumbarumba finished third, 3 3/4 lengths behind Nysos, with Bishops Bay a further length back in fourth. Kenny McPeek’s Rattle N Roll finished ninth, while Baffert’s other runner, Nevada Beach, finished 12th of 13 starters.
This win comes after a remarkable run of success for Forever Young. He previously secured victories in the 2024 Saudi Derby and the 2025 Saudi Cup, defeating Romantic Warrior in a hard-fought battle. His journey to the top also included a third-place finish in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, a race where he was the first Japan-trained horse to hit the board.
“He’s still not 100 percent, but when (Nysos) approached the top of the stretch, I was confident,” Yahagi said, according to BloodHorse. The trainer also hinted at a possible extension of Forever Young’s career, suggesting a potential return for the 2027 Saudi Cup despite initial plans for retirement at the end of this year.
For Baffert, the Saudi Cup continues to be a source of frustration. “I prefer shorter stretches,” he said before the race, a sentiment that ultimately proved inconsequential. He now stands as the “agony of defeat” figure in the race’s short history, having seen horses fall just short of victory on multiple occasions.
Nysos’ performance, despite the loss, was a notable achievement in itself. The horse had been steadily building a strong record, with seven wins from eight starts prior to the Saudi Cup. His recent successes included victories in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes.
Forever Young’s victory earns him a fully paid, automatic berth into this fall’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland. The horse’s connections are now considering their options, with the possibility of continuing his racing career beyond his initial retirement plans.
Owner Susumu Fujita expressed his delight with the win, stating, “The plan was to retire at the end of the year. But I could extend that by two more months for another Saudi Cup.”
The race showcased the growing internationalization of thoroughbred racing, with Japanese horses increasingly demonstrating their competitiveness on the world stage. Forever Young’s consistent success serves as a testament to the quality of Japanese breeding and training programs.
