Cover image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Cup thriller goes to Forever Young
By Alan Carasso, TDN USA
The eleventh-hour defection of horses like Sierra Leone (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}), reigning G1 Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) and GI Pegasus World Cup victor White Abarrio (USA) (Race Day {USA}) deprived the 2025 G1 Saudi Cup of its pre-race lustre. Remaining in the field of 14, however, were two of the world's top horses, having achieved their success heretofore in diametrically opposite ways.
The Arabic announcer at King Abdulaziz Racetrack whipped the crowd into a literal frenzy as the Saudi Cup field circled the starting stalls midway up the chute. The 109 seconds that followed the springing of the stalls nearly defies explanation.
Drawn widest in gate 14, Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) broke well and was angled down to the inside by Ryusei Sakai, already victorious aboard Shin Forever (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) for the same connections in the G2 Neom Turf Cup a few hours prior. The JRHA Select Sale grad was part of a four-way scrum for the early lead with anticipated front-runners, G1 Al Maktoum Challenge winner Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to his inside and Al Musmak (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) to his right.
Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), customarily away quickly, bounced nicely from his low draw in three and James McDonald tucked the 7-year-old just in behind the leading group of four, showing no early signs that he might be struggling with the new surface.
Positions were mostly unchanged approaching the end of the back straight, and at that point, McDonald rolled the dice, angling out and around longshot Defunded (USA) (Dialed In {USA}) with fully half the distance yet to cover, and was therefore consigned to a five-wide run around the turn.
Romantic Warrior nevertheless continued to travel like a seasoned veteran and on the bridle, and he quickly moved up to the line of four and swept in front, looking every ounce a winner with Sakai and Forever Young left a bit flat-footed one off the fence turning in.
Romantic Warrior opened up on his rivals and they were partying in Wan Chai, but as he displayed when blousing out Book'em Danno (USA) (Bucchero {USA}) at the finish of last year's Saudi Derby, Forever Young loves a fight, and he began pegging back the margin with time ticking away. James McDonald was hard at work on Romantic Warrior and said post-race that his mount 'was not stopping', but Forever Young was kept after and proved narrowly better on the day in a race that won't soon be forgotten.
Previous Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who was chinned on the wire last year, trailed down the back but closed off well for third–albeit a very distant one–picking up more Saudi prizemoney after just losing his own heartbreaker 12 months ago.
The final time for the 1800 metres was 1:49.12, which breaks the previous record of 1:49.50 set by Senor Buscador (USA) (Mineshaft {USA}) last year. Japanese runners swept the last four races on the card and now own multiple victories in each of the six group races on Saudi Cup night since the inception of the event in 2020.
Winner of the 2016 GII Santa Ynez Stakes, Forever Young’s dam Forever Darling (USA) (Congrats {USA}) is the dam of four winners from five to race, including Forever Young's 2-year-old half-sister Brown Ratchet (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who carried the Sunday Racing colours to a victory in last year's G3 Artemis Stakes on the turf.
Given her female family, it is not entirely surprising that Forever Darling might end up in Japan. Her stakes-winning and multiple Grade-I placed dam Darling My Darling (USA) (Deputy Minister {Can}) is responsible for 2017 GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes victress Heavenly Love (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}), the dam of aforementioned Sierra Leone, and Darling My Darling is a half-sister to Japanese Horse of the Year and G1 Japan Cup hero Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn).
No Disgrace for Romantic Warrior
Romantic Warrior's US$3.5-million (AU$5.5 million) payday takes his career earnings to a staggering US$26.3 million (AU$41.4 million). Connections were certainly feeling the sting of a difficult defeat but expressed their pride in their horse.
“It's a good run for his first time on the dirt, only beaten by Forever Young. He is a top dirt horse, and he was only beaten by a head–it's a good run,” trainer Danny Shum told the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Declan Schuster. “We all did our best. I hope to win every time, but racing is racing. As long as he tries his best and it's a really good race–I think most of the people enjoyed the race.
“It's a good run for his (Romantic Warrior) first time on the dirt, only beaten by Forever Young. He is a top dirt horse, and he was only beaten by a head–it's a good run,” - Danny Shum
“James said it was a good run. James is happy and I am happy. It was a great run and he beat the third horse by lengths. It was a good run, and we will run in the [$6-million G1 Dubai Turf [back at Meydan Apr. 5].”
Japan wins four races at Saudi Cup meeting
By Emma Berry, TDN Europe
Stop me if you've heard this one before. Japanese-trained runners dominated the Saudi Cup meeting, landing the big race itself and a clean sweep of the turf races, while peppering results elsewhere on the card with placed finishers.
A little sprinkling of European spice was added to the mix in the French breeding of the G2 Howden Neom Turf Cup winner Shin Emperor (Fr), whose heritage is shared by Christophe Lemaire, rider of the G2 1351 Turf Sprint winner Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) but now just as much a son of Japan as of France. Irish native and British champion jockey Oisin Murphy got in on the act, too, when delivering Byzantine Dream (Jpn) for the turf hat-trick in the G2 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap, but this was as much as the European raiders could claim credit for as Japan came out on top across the range of distances.
In six years of the Saudi Cup meeting, Japanese horses have now won 50 per cent of the runnings of the 1351 Turf Sprint, Red Sea Turf Handicap, Riyadh Dirt Sprint and Saudi Derby, while the Neom Turf Cup has gone Japan's way twice. Moreover, Forever Young (Jpn) and Panthalassa (Jpn) have struck gold in two of the last three runnings of the G1 Saudi Cup, making Yoshito Yahagi the outstanding trainer of the meeting with six victories to his credit.
The meeting had started well for Yahagi when he landed the Howden Neom Turf Cup for the first time with Shin Emperor. From first electing to buy the Siyouni (Fr) colt for a sale-topping €2.1 million (AU$3.5 million) at Arqana in August 2022, Yahagi, the most intrepid of all the Japanese trainers, hasn't shirked a battle with the perky chestnut. Expectations were high from the outset – after all, Shin Emperor is a full brother to the Arc and Prix du Jockey Club winner Sottsass (Fr) – and indeed this penultimate foal of the celebrated Ecurie des Monceaux matriarch Starlet's Sister (Ire) has delivered in each of his three seasons in training to date.
“Shin Emperor was definitely the best horse in the field,” he said. “With 200 metres remaining, I was convinced he would win.”
The trainer added that the Dubai Sheema Classic is next on his international wish list for Shin Emperor and it was no surprise to hear that Yahagi is also considering appearances at Ascot and York.
Yoshito Yahagi | Image courtesy of Horse Photos
Japan then landed the one-two in the 1351 Turf Sprint when the similarly tough filly Ascoli Piceno (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) outgunned long-time leader Win Marvel (Jpn) (I'll Have Another {USA}) in the dying strides.
Trained by Yoichi Kuroiwa, Ascoli Piceno, a granddaughter of the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Listen (Ire) (Sadler's Wells {USA}), was the class act of the field, having landed the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies before finishing second last year in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas).
“Today the track is very, very fast, so the horse in front was difficult to catch up with, but she battled bravely,” said Christophe Lemaire. “It was a shorter distance than she usually runs over, but she follows easily in a race and today, being fresh, she was straight into a good rhythm and I knew that she was going to produce a great performance.”
Oisin Murphy may not enjoy quite the same level of adulation as that given to Lemaire but he is nonetheless immensely popular with Japanese racing fans after several stints riding in the country and having won the Japan Cup in 2019 aboard Suave Richard (Jpn). His standing is now doubtless greater still after a perfect hold-up ride on Kazumi Yoshida's four-year-old Byzantine Dream (Jpn (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) for what was ultimately a bloodless victory over David O'Meara's fast-finishing Epic Poet (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and 2023 St Leger winner Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), who was the sole Ballydoyle representative at the meeting.
Like Ascoli Piceno, Byzantine Dream was bred by Northern Farm, while Forever Young was bred by the associated Northern Racing, ensuring a memorable day for Katsumi Yoshida's powerful operation.
It all sounds so easy really. Japan's four winners will take home roughly US$14 million (AU$22 million) between them, and with seven of the 17 Japanese-trained runners managing a top-three finish at King Abdulaziz racecourse on Saturday, it's little wonder that confidence continues to run so high.
Straight No Chaser wins Saudi Sprint for MyRacehorse
By Alan Carasso, TDN USA
For the second time in the last three runnings, America's reigning champion sprinter dominated in the desert, as MyRacehorse's Straight No Chaser (USA) (Speightster {USA}) asserted in the final furlong to prove a much-the-best winner of the Riyadh Dirt Sprint.
The 1200 metre dash was upgraded to Group 2 status for the first time, had its purse hiked to US$2 million (AU$3.15 million) and just this past Friday was named a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Champion Elite Power (USA) (Curlin {USA}) won the 2023 Riyadh Dirt Sprint.
“I'm just really proud of the horse and I'm glad he gets to prove himself on the global stage against the fastest horses in the world,” said winning trainer Dan Blacker
Straight No Chaser will in all likelihood get to take his show on the road to Dubai, where a potentially mouthwatering clash looms with defending champion Tuz (USA) (Oxbow {USA}) in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on April 5.
The lone elite-level scorer for his sadly departed sire, Straight No Chaser is one of six winners from eight to race from his dam, Margarita Friday (USA) (Johannesburg {USA}) who is also responsible for the stakes-winning Hangover Saturday (USA). Third dam Desireux (USA) was a half-sister to champion sprinter Housebuster (USA) (Mt. Livermore {USA}).
Golden Vekoma wins G3 Saudi Derby
By Alan Carasso, TDN USA
Japanese-based horses had taken three of the first five renewals of the G3 Saudi Derby and went within a half-length of a fourth, and for the majority of Saturday's 1600 metre contest, it appeared they might add to that record. But although he required most of the long straight at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, Dubai raider Golden Vekoma (USA) (Vekoma {USA}) called on his class to grab Japan's dirt debutant Shin Forever (USA) (Complexity {USA}) with just under 100 metres to race and inched away to add to his prior success in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas across in Dubai January 24.
“He was a horse we thought a hell of a lot of from the beginning of the season,” said winning jockey Connor Beasley. “He has been progressing all the way. it's good for myself and good for the horse. We are up against the best here and for us to do it in the Derby, you know this is what dreams are made of.”
Out of stakes winner Sticks Wondergirl (USA) (Stevie Wonderboy {USA}), Golden Vekoma is a half-brother to Midshipman's Dance (USA) (Midshipman {USA}), winner of this year's Mockingbird Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Golden Vekoma hails from a third dam rich with Ramona Bass Stables black-type, including graded winner Goliad (USA) (War Front {USA}), Listed winners Dancing To Town (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) and Welcome Dance (USA) (Henny Hughes {USA}), stakes-placed Fredericksburg (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) and the latter's Grade II-placed full-sister Line Dancing (USA).
South Africa
Eight On Eighteen makes history in G1 Cape Derby
By Renee Geelen, TTR
Trainer Justin Snaith’s 3-year-old colt Eight On Eighteen (Saf) (Lancaster Bomber {USA}) became the first horse in 79 years to win the G1 Cape Met / G1 Cape Derby double with a 1.5l win for jockey Richard Fourie. Sat at the back of the field, Eight On Eighteen came roaring home to win from gallant stablemate Sail The Seas (Saf) (Vercingetorix {Saf}) with Garrix (Saf) (Vercingetorix {Saf}) 3.75l back in third.
“Eight On Eighteen is still immature – just a big baby, but with the nicest nature,” Snaith told caperacing.co.za. He has now won four of his eight starts.
Bred by Drakenstein Stud, Eight On Eighteen is the second foal of unraced mare Sempre Libre (Saf) (Captain Al {Saf}), whose dam, Mystic Spring (Ire) (Royal Academy {USA}) produced a remarkable seven stakes winners and has founded a dynasty in South Africa.
Champion 3YO Filly in South Africa and triple Group 1 winner Bela-Bela (Saf) (Dynasty {Saf}), dam of Group 2 winner Ciao Bella (Saf) (Gimmethegreenlight), and Joint Champion 3YO Colt in South Africa and dual Group 1 winner Rabiya (Saf) (Jallad {USA}) lead the collection along with G2 KZN Guineas winner Secret Captain (Saf) (Captain Al {Saf}).
Group 2 winner Secret Of Victoria (Saf) (Goldkeeper {USA}) has followed in her dam’s footsteps producing four stakes winner led by triple Group 1 winner and Champion 2YO Filly in South Africa All Is Secret (Saf) (Captain Al {Saf}) and G1 Allan Robertson Championship winner The Secret Is Out (Saf) (Captain Al {Saf}).
Group 3 winner Spring Lilac (Saf) (Joshua Dancer {USA}) is also the dam of four stakes winners including dual Group 1 winner Snow Dance (Saf) (Captain Al {Saf}), herself dam of G1 Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot (Saf) (Lancaster Bomber {USA}).
The other two stakes winners from Mystic Spring are Listed winners Touch The Sky (Saf) (Jet Master {Saf}) who was Group 1 placed, and Rafiya (Saf) (Jallad {USA}).
