Forever Young chases Saudi Cup double

Ed Marnane
Defending champion Forever Young, the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, returns to King Abdulaziz racecourse attempting to become the first-ever dual winner of the Saudi Cup over 1800m on Saturday. 

Yoshito Yahagi’s stable star boasts a remarkable record in the Middle East, winning the Saudi Derby, UAE Derby and getting better of Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior in an epic battle in the Saudi Cup 12 months ago. He should prove hard to beat on his first run since becoming the first Japanese horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar three months ago.

Bob Baffert saddles the chief threat, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hero Nysos and will be hoping the colt, winner of seven of his eight races, can finally give the legendary US trainer his first Saudi Cup, having sent out Country Grammar to finish second in both the 2022 and 2023 renewals, while Charlatan also ran second to Mishriff five years ago.

Nysos, the mount of Flavien Prat, will be suited by the conditions and enjoyed his first success at the highest level in Del Mar in November. He is a tough horse and has targeted the Saudi Cup and having only his ninth run of his career, he remains open to further improvement.
It would be foolish to discount Nevada Beach, Baffert’s second runner. Winner of the Goodwood Stakes (Grade 1), he is a strong stayer and will be aided if the pace is strong over a demanding track. 

Bishop’s Bay, winner of the Cigar Mile (Grade 2), represents Brad Cox and was bought by his Saudi Arabia-based owners for $1.3m at Keeneland in November. He is a useful miler and if he sees out 1800m in the Saudi Cup, he should go well at decent odds.

Race 7, the Neom Turf Cup, which has been upgraded to Group 1 level and seen prizemoney rise to $3m, has drawn a strong field, headed by last year’s winner Shin Emperor, trained in Japan by Yoshito Yahagi. A confirmed front-runner, he handled the sharp bends of King Abdulaziz racecourse 12 months ago and could be hard to peg back once again. 

Alohi Alii, winner of two of his six races, gives Japan a strong hand and is likely to be ridden prominently and challenge Shin Emperor for the lead. He impressed employing those tactics when winning the Prix Guillaume D’Ornane, Group 2, at Deauville last August. It is easy forgive his poor run in the Arc, failing to handle the very soft ground. I’d expect him to bounce back on his favoured quick ground. 

Royal Champion, trained by Karl Burke, has already enjoyed success in the Middle East, winning the Bahrain International Trophy three months ago. He warrants respect as he bids to emulate Spirit Dancer, who pulled off the same double two years ago. 

Japan has an excellent record in the Saudi Derby, winning three of the six renewals. They’re strongly represented in this year’s edition and have five of the 14 runners, with preference for Satono Voyage, unbeaten in three starts since finishing second on his racecourse debut. By top US sire Into Mischief, he is a progressive colt and in an open-looking race gets the vote in a competitive event. 

Champion French sprinter Lazzat, a two-time Group 1 winner in Europe for Wathnan Racing and trained by Jerome Reynier, sets the standard in the 1351 Turf Sprint, Race 6. The son of Territories was last seen finishing second behind shock 200/1 winner Powerful Glory at Ascot in the QIPCO British Champion Sprint. He has a good record fresh and is reported to be in great shape ahead of his trip to the Middle East. He pleased connections in a racecourse gallop at Cagnes-sur-Mer before flying to Riyadh. 

Japan has won the 1351 Turf Sprint three times and Panja Tower, the mount of Joao Moreira, leads their three-pronged assault. He can boast winning form at Grade 1 level in his homeland and on his only start overseas, he wasn’t disgraced when fifth in the Golden Eagle at Rosehill, in Australia. He possesses a sharp turn of foot and has leading claims of giving Japan back-to-back wins in the event.

Best Bet: Race 9 No 3 Forever Young

Best Value: Race 7 No 1 Alohi Alii

Best Swinger: Race 8: 3-Epic Poet and 5-Struve