Warrior is a worry but Yahagi sanguine
RIYADH Top Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi has identified Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior as the biggest danger to Forever Young, in the US$20 million (S$27 million) Group 1 Saudi Cup (1,800m) at the King Abdulaziz racecourse on Feb 22.
Yahagi is one of the most successful trainers at the Saudi Cup meeting. He has four wins that included a Saudi Cup strike with the now-retired Panthalassa in 2023, while Forever Young won the 2024 Group 3 Saudi Derby (1,600m).
After his Saudi Derby success, the four-year-old son of Real Steel went on to post agonisingly narrow defeats in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in 2024.
Now, he comes up against dirt debutant and 10-time Group 1 winner, Romantic Warrior, on his return to Riyadh.
"Romantic Warrior should be the biggest danger, but he is not the only rival to us," said the globetrotting champion trainer.
Forever Young touched down at Saudi Arabia overnight on Feb 13. His stablemates Shin Emperor and Mistress will head into the newly upgraded US$2 million Group 2 Neom Turf Cup (2,100m) and the US$1.5 million Saudi Derby respectively.
"All the three horses had nice gallops for the final preparation before they left for Riyadh and I am very satisfied with how healthy they are at the moment," said Yahagi.
The man who has broken new ground for Japan with wins in Australia's Group 1 Cox Plate, US' Grade 1 Breeders' Cup and multiple hits in both Saudi Arabia and Dubai added: "Of course, my goal is to win all three races."
Organised by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) and held on Feb 21 and 22, the sixth renewal of the Saudi Cup night meeting is a two-day celebration of international racing headlined by the Saudi Cup – the world's most valuable race over 1,800m on the dirt.
The greatly anticipated weekend is further enhanced by an undercard of four Group 2 races and one Group 3 race for thoroughbreds, as well as two Group 1 contests for purebred Arabians.
The meeting on Feb 22 also features the US$500,000 Saudi International Handicap (2,100m).
The Saudi Cup meeting race cards carry a total prize purse of US$38.1 million and feature dirt and turf races opened to the highest calibre of racehorses in the world.
It is the JCSA's marquee event and aims to raise awareness of horse racing in the country, encouraging participation among men and women in all areas of the sport from riding and training to administration and regulation.
It also serves to promote Saudi Arabian racing at international level.
Besides the Saudi Cup highlight on Feb 22, the other event set to capture the attention of international racing fans is the Diriyah International Jockeys' Challenge.
The Challenge will see seven female and seven male jockeys compete for the champion title across four races on Feb 21. JOCKEY CLUB OF SAUDI ARABIA
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