Forever Young outguns Nysos to repeat In Saudi Cup
By Emma Berry, TDN
Darkness had long fallen over Riyadh but one star lit up the night sky as Forever Young (Real Steel) galloped into the history books as the first dual winner of the US$20 million (AU$28.3 million) G1 Saudi Cup.
Last year he was forced to stalk Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) all along the stretch for glory, but this time the tables were turned, with Nysos (Nyquist) locking sights on his prey in a determined effort to give Bob Baffert a longed-for victory in the world's richest race.
“I love Saudi and my horses love Saudi.” - Yoshito Yahagi
Instead it once more went the way of Yoshito Yahagi, who proclaimed after the race, “I love Saudi and my horses love Saudi.”
It's no wonder, as Yahagi is the most winning trainer in the history of the meeting, with seven victories to his name in Riyadh, including, crucially, three Saudi Cup wins in only seven runnings.
Simply, Forever Young made his mission look easy. He broke sharply, tucked in behind the leaders, slotted through a gap on the rail turning for home and ground his way back along that straight he has come to know so well. The perfect racehorse, he is Japan's Horse of the year, an Eclipse Award winner and, increasingly, everybody's darling.
Earlier in the week, Baffert had promised that it would be “King Kong versus Godzilla” and both horses played their parts to perfection. The lofty reputation of the valiant Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos was far from dented by going down so narrowly to this warrior of a winner, but of course, for Baffert, a third runner-up in the Saudi Cup was the last thing he wanted.
“This race is almost like the Kentucky Derby because unless you win, second isn't that exciting,” he said. “The good thing, though, is that Nysos showed up. Forever Young is just so good.”
“This race (Saudi Cup) is almost like the Kentucky Derby because unless you win, second isn't that exciting.” - Bob Baffert
Indeed he is and Yahagi, for his part, was reluctant to take any credit.
“I had a lot of pressure on me before the race as he was the best in the field. I think it's not my training that makes him this great horse, I think the horse is just made like a champion and I have little to do with it.”
Ryusei Sakai, who learned his craft in Yahagi's stable from his apprentice days onwards, has been aboard Forever Young for every one of his victories and is so sure of his bond with the horse that he “had no worries.”
“I trust this horse so much,” he added. “There was no pressure, this is my job, the same every time. I'm very proud of him and I want to thank everyone who supported all the team.”
“I'm very proud of him (Forever Young) and I want to thank everyone who supported all the team.” - Ryusei Sakai
For everyone who does support Forever Young, a glimmer of hope that he may not retire at the end of this year as planned was given by his owner Susumu Fujita, who had arrived in Saudi just hours before the race and left soon afterwards but naturally enjoyed his short and highly lucrative day trip. He said, “I enjoyed this so much that I am already starting to think about next year's Saudi Cup.”
Ominously, Yahagi added that he thinks Forever Young is still improving, and if the team surrounding the horse needs any extra evidence of the regard in which he is held, beyond the rapturous reception given as he returned victorious, it may have come from the journalist with a special request from a young fan in Peru who asked that Sakai sign a photo of the horse for him. The world traveller has gained a worldwide following.
Next stop, logically, is Meydan, to try to dispel the frustrations of last year's third-place finish behind Hit Show and Mixto.
“Of course our next target is the Dubai World Cup, so that is what we have to concentrate on now. And then, well I have no idea,” Yahagi said. “Last year, it didn't work out in the Dubai World Cup, he just wasn't good enough. We will try our best to win it this year.”
Forever Young | Image courtesy of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia
With Nysos battling all the way for second, Wathnan Racing's Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance) posted another impressive effort in top company when taking third under James Doyle.
Racing manager Case Clay said of the 6-year-old, “It was a big result for us. We're proud of the horse. He came over here and stepped up in trip in the Al Maktoum Challenge and finished second and finished strong there. He was suited to the track well here.”
Pedigree Notes: Forever Young, a ¥98,000,000 (AU$916,700) JRHA July yearling, is one of six Graded/Group winners for Real Steel. Winner of the 2016 G2 Santa Ynez Stakes, Forever Darling is also the dam of G3 Artemis Stakes heroine Brown Ratchet (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}); the 3-year-old filly Darlinghurst (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) who won in Japan on Saturday; and a juvenile colt by Rey de Oro (Jpn), who was bought by Forever Young's owner for ¥330,000,000 (AU$3.05 million) at the 2025 JRHA Select Sale.
Forever Young's second dam is the multiple stakes winner and multiple Grade-1 placed Darling My Darling (Deputy Minister). She is responsible for 2017 G1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes victress Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon), the dam of Sierra Leone.
Shamardal's Royal Champion earns first Group 1 in Neom Turf Cup
By Emma Berry, TDN Europe
On a day when America, Britain, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Japan were all represented in the winner's circle at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, perhaps the most astonishing performance came from the Karl Burke-trained Royal Champion. The son of Shamardal appears still to be improving at the age of eight and bounced into his biggest success yet in the G1 Howden Neom Turf Cup off the back of a similarly impressive win in the G2 Bahrain International Trophy.
His jockey Oisin Murphy had got his eye in with a Listed victory earlier in the day aboard Michael Scofield, and he guided Royal Champion wide in the straight to allow him to make full use of his electric finishing kick which ultimately blasted him four and three-quarter lengths clear of runner-up Facteur Cheval (Ribchester) in second while Survie (Churchill) closed late to grab third under Ryan Moore.
Royal Champion's win was of course sharply poignant after the sudden death of his owner-breeder Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum in late December.
“Of course our thoughts are with his family. We'll hopefully keep the show on the road for a little while yet,” Burke said.
“(Royal Champion) can be pretty keen at home and we just wanted to get into a nice rhythm behind a decent pace. Once he gets a bit of cover he just travels lovely and Oisin has pulled it off fantastically well. I was so confident once he was turning in in that position. He's a horse with a turn of foot who keeps galloping and stays the trip really well.”
“He's (Royal Champion) a horse with a turn of foot who keeps galloping and stays the trip really well.”
Feeling just great at eight, Royal Champion has made a steady progression towards this top tier, claiming the Neom Turf Cup in its first year after promotion to Group 1 status, and with prizemoney topped up to US$3 million. The gelding has been racing for Burke for just over a year since being repatriated to Britain after a spell in Australia and, since his return, he has continued to thrive. This time last year it was the G3 Winter Derby which became his first win at group level, that being followed by the G2 York Stakes and, most recently another valuable overseas victory in Bahrain. Could Dubai be next?
Karl Burke | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“He's been accepted for the Dubai Turf but Sheikh Mohammed Obaid wouldn't have been a fan of sending him to Dubai, so I'll have to discuss that with the guys at Darley and we'll see what we do,” Burke said.
“He's (Royal Champion) been accepted for the Dubai Turf but Sheikh Mohammed Obaid wouldn't have been a fan of sending him to Dubai.” - Karl Burke
“But it's an obvious race for him, and I think dropping back a furlong wouldn't do him any harm. So, we'll see. A lot of it will be up to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's family.”
Pedigree Notes: Royal Champion hails from one of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's equine families which has gained increasing prevalence over the last few decades. A posthumous and perhaps final Group 1 winner for Shamardal, who died almost six years ago, he is out of Emirates Queen, a Street Cry half-sister to Dubawi, and is himself a half-brother to G2 Jockey Club Stakes winner Outbox (Frankel).
Into Mischief's Imagination leads American 1-2 In Riyadh Dirt Sprint
By Alan Carasso, TDN
In the week leading up to the Saudi Cup meeting, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert lamented to anyone who would listen about just how taxing those final 100 metres at King Abdulaziz Racecourse can be on the equine athletes.
And he's certainly got the right to take that position, given that the likes of Mucho Gusto and Charlatan couldn't quite see it out in the G1 Saudi Cup, while Havnameltdown was just tagged after a long stretch duel in the G3 Saudi Derby a few years back. Pinehurst did manage to strike for Baffert in the 2022 Derby…. if only just.
In Saturday's $2 million G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland this fall, that final half-furlong finally came in handy, as Imagination (Into Mischief), last seen finishing runner-up in the 2025 Sprint at Del Mar, needed every inch of the deep surface to grind his way past fellow American shipper Just Beat the Odds (Munnings) for the victory.
Saudi Arabia's top sprinter Muqtahem (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), runner-up to Straight No Chaser (Speightster) here 12 months ago, picked up more prizemoney with a valiant third.
Imagination was behind the eight ball right from the word go after missing the break and found himself in a cloud of dust from near the back of the pack. Just Beat the Odds argued the early fractions outside of the Dubai-based Echo Point (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), with Breeders' Cup Sprint fourth American Stage (Into Mischief) and Muqtahem widest out.
Switched off heels while racing on his wrong lead approaching mid-stretch, Imagination continued to plug away gamely and surged past Just Beat The Odds for the victory despite never changing his legs. Muqtahem was gallant in third ahead of American Stage, with California's Lovesick Blues (Grazen) rallying belatedly into fifth.
“Usually when they hit the 100-metre mark, my horses start gassing out, but he was just getting going,” Baffert said. “Brilliant ride by Prat. You have to have a really good horse to win here and they have to show up on this big night.”
Bob Baffert | Image courtesy of Fasig Tipton
Added the recently crowned champion jockey:
“He broke a step slow and then I got squeezed but I felt very confident when we hit the turn, he was travelling very well and kicked on good. I think he's going to keep improving. Bob always loved him, it took him a bit of time to figure it out but with time he's just getting better and better.”
Pedigree Notes: The longshot winner of the 2012 G2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap and third behind Groupie Doll (Bowman's Band) in that year's G1 Humana Distaff Stakes for breeder Peter Blum and Allen Iwinski, Magical Feeling has bred eight foals, all of which have started and six of which are winners, including 2023 G3 Monmouth Oaks victress Occult and the listed winners Exulting and Magical.
Imagination traces back to Blum's Mine Only–Imagination's fourth dam–and the female family includes Grade 1 winners Golden Ticket (Speightstown) and Well Chosen (Deputy Minister) as well as Academy Award (Secretariat) and the MG1SP Tomahawk (Seattle Slew). Sixth dam Sun Igual was a full sister to Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner Assault.
The cross of Into Mischief - now 21 years old - over Empire Maker mares has been a potent one, accounting for 33 winners from 48 starters and eight full stakes winners. Among those are 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard and G1 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun; the latter's 'Rising Star' full brother Mullion; Laurel River, the 2024 G1 Dubai World Cup romper; and the late Taraz. New York-based stallion Honest Mischief is a son of Empire Maker's half-sister Honest Lady (Seattle Slew).
Magical Feeling is also the dam of the 3-year-old colt Make My Day (Gun Runner), a US$1.1-million (AU$1.55 million) KEESEP purchase who was a distant third behind 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}) at Tampa February 7, and the mare is due to National Treasure for her 2026 produce.
Iffraaj colt Al Haram stays unbeaten in Saudi Derby
By Alan Carasso, TDN
Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah's Al Haram (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), unbeaten and untouched in three tries entering Saturday's US$1.5 million (AU$2.1 million) G3 Saudi Derby, came with a barnstorming run through the final 200 metres and raced over the top of a pair of raiding rivals to score by a widening 1 1/4 lengths over 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Obliteration (Violence) and hot favourite Satono Voyage (Jpn) (Into Mischief).
The victory was worth 30 points to the winner on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, though he was not among the original nominees to the series when entries closed in late January. He can be supplemented for US$6000 (AU$8500) at the second stage in early April.
Having debut as late as last November with a course-and-distance victory, the £150,000 (AU$289,500) purchase out of the 2024 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale thrashed a field of local 3-year-olds when running out 7 1/4 lengths to the good in the 2000 Guineas, the final Saudi Derby prep back on January 17.
Beaten for speed, as largely expected, Al Haram settled right at the back of the field, as Obliteration showed the way, with Satono Voyage glued to his outside and Nashua Stakes and Jerome Stakes winner My World (Essential Quality) also in the phalanx widest out.
Patiently handled throughout by leading local rider Ricardo Ferreira, Al Haram commenced a rally three furlongs from home and was in full gear by the time Obliteration and Satono Voyage peeled away from the rest of their rivals. The pair looked as if they were going to settle it, but Al Haram split rivals decisively with 200 meters to travel and savaged the line to win going away. Obliteration just got the better of Satono Voyage for second.
“It was very special because I think this horse is the best one I have ridden in my life,” said Ferreira. “The stable have done a really good job. This horse has improved race by race. He wants a little more distance. I think he's better with 2000 meters, but this was the goal for this weekend, to win this race. He doesn't jump well but he comes step by step.”
“It was very special because I think this horse (Al Haram) is the best one I have ridden in my life.” - Ricardo Ferreira
Ultimately, a trip to Churchill Downs remains a possibility, but Al Haram does hold an entry for the G2 UAE Derby over 1900 metres at Meydan on March 28 and that could well be the next port of call.
Sheikh Faisal Al Sabah, son of Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah, owner's representative, said: “He's a champion, he's an amazing horse. From the beginning here in Saudi Arabia he's been fascinating us.
“He showed his class today and hopefully the next stop the UAE Derby. Hopefully he is good enough to be in the Kentucky Derby, he's a very good horse.”
Of the runner-up, assistant trainer Scott Blasi commented: “It was a really good effort. Kind of took the worst of it and really finished on well. I'm super proud of him.”
Pedigree Notes: Al Haram is a rare stakes winner on the dirt for his sire Iffraaj (GB), who was being represented by his 104th to succeed at the black-type level, 51 Group or Graded winners.
Al Haram is the lone starter from an unraced full sister to the crack sprinter Limato (Ire), whose 13 career victories include two of the premier short-track events in Europe, the G1 Darley July Cup and the G1 Prix de la Foret. He was placed in a further four elite-level sprints, including the Diamond Jubilee Stakes , Nunthorpe Stakes and Commonwealth Cup. This is also the female family of G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes winner Compton Admiral (GB).
Liberamente is also the dam of the 2-year-old colt Clink (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) that was sold for 30,000gns (AU$60,000) at Tattersalls October last fall and a yearling colt by Mehmas (Ire).
