Forever Young Favored in Saudi Cup for Repeat

Forever Young, the Japanese-bred standout who captured the Saudi Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic last year, returns to King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday as the favorite to become the first horse to win the world's richest race twice. The 5-year-old bay, trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Ryusei Sakai, drew post position six in a field of 14 for the $20 million Group 1 event, scheduled for 12:40 p.m. Eastern time in the approximately 1 1/8-mile dirt contest.

No horse has repeated in the seven-year history of the Saudi Cup, and Forever Young's connections aim to etch his name in racing lore with a victory that would also position him for a potential rematch in the Dubai World Cup later this spring. The horse has won 10 of 13 career starts, including last year's thrilling stretch duel with Hong Kong's Romantic Warrior to claim the Saudi Cup purse and a dominant performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 1. His only losses include a third-place finish in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, another third in the prior Breeders' Cup Classic, and a narrow defeat in the Dubai World Cup last April. With earnings nearing $20 million after logging extensive...