Romantic Warrior may have fallen short, but his class was undeniable in the Group 1 Saudi Cup (1800m). Trainer Yoshito Yahagi secured his second win in the prestigious race as Forever Young ($2.60) surged past Romantic Warrior ($2.50) in the final 200 meters, replicating Panthalasa’s triumph in 2023.
With Romantic Warrior boxed in on the dirt track, jockey James McDonald was forced to navigate wide, making his move around the final turn. Despite his best efforts, Forever Young, a last-start Group 1 Tokyo Diashoten (2000m) winner, proved too strong, edging out the Hong Kong star by a neck.
“It was a great race,” McDonald said. “Romantic Warrior had a smooth run early, but once wedged in, he hesitated slightly. When we found open space, he finished well, but Forever Young kept coming.”
Trainer Danny Shum remained positive despite the defeat. “It was his first time on dirt, and he did his best. Racing is unpredictable, but I’m happy with his performance,” he said, shifting his focus to an upcoming turf race in Dubai.
Yahagi praised Forever Young’s ability and even hinted that the four-year-old could be the best horse he has trained. “I imagined him passing Romantic Warrior—it felt like a romantic movie,” he said.
Although the Saudi Cup grants automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Yahagi remains undecided about that route. For now, his primary goal is making history by winning both the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup.
Japan dominated the event, securing three of the top four spots. Stablemates Ushba Tesoro ($34) and Wilson Tesoro ($19) rounded out the minor placings, while Yahagi and jockey Ryusai Sakai also teamed up for a Turf Cup victory with Shin Emperor.