Romantic Warrior may have been defeated by top dirt performer Forever Young in an epic battle for the Saudi Cup on Saturday [Feb 22] – but if anything the Hong Kong superstar enhanced his massive reputation on alien terrain in Riyadh.
Making his debut on dirt, the world’s #1 racehorse looked sure to win as he took the lead in the long Riyadh straight only for the Japanese star to wear him down in the last 50 yards and prevail by a neck in a titanic encounter.
Placed last year in both the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, Forever Young (#3 from #14, +218pt) is clearly a dirt horse of the highest order and duly moves into the world’s Top 3 according to Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s exclusive global rankings.
However, a pair of Hong Kong-based horses continue to dominate, with the remarkable Romantic Warrior (stays at #1, -15pt) retaining the #1 position for the 32nd week.
In a race for the ages at King Abdulaziz racecourse, Romantic Warrior made a breathtaking move five wide to hit the front soon after turning for home. However, Forever Young stayed in close attendance with the world’s all-time record prize-money earner and had enough to claim the $20m contest in the final strides as the pair powered away from the remainder, led by last year’s second Ushba Tesoro, 10½ lengths adrift. A final time of 1m49.09s was a stakes record.
Romantic Warrior lost little in defeat here. “We all did our best – I hope to win every time, but racing is racing,” said trainer Danny Shum. “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 first time on the dirt, only beaten by Forever Young. He is a top dirt horse, and he was only beaten by a head (sic) – it’s a good run.”
Jockey James McDonald added: “He was gallant in defeat. The race worked out perfectly for us, he got a little bit of kickback, sidled round just beautifully. I can safely say I wasn’t stopping, I didn’t alter my stride pace at all. It just shows what a great horse Forever Young is and what a race it was.”
Doubtless on account of the surface – plus his previous experience of the track in last year’s Saudi Derby – Forever Young was sent off favourite ahead of his rival. On the other hand, he had to overcome a wide draw on the outside in a 14-runner field.
“He jumped very well from the wide gate in 14 and got into a nice position without a problem,” said jockey Ryusei Sakai (#14 from #16, +64pt). "It was my tactics to be in that situation. I believe in Forever Young, I never thought I’d lose the race. This is the best moment in my life.”
Celebrated trainer Yoshito Yahagi was winning the world’s richest race for the second time, having scored in 2023 with Panthalassa.
“No matter how many wins you have in the Saudi Cup, it is still a great feeling,” he said. “But I didn’t just have confidence – I believed in him.
“You know when he came here to run in the Saudi Derby, he was not in the best condition and he still won. Since that time, he has improved a lot and was in better condition today.”
Both Saudi Cup principals now head for Meydan on April 5, though they won’t meet again as Forever Young stays on dirt in the Dubai World Cup, whereas Romantic Warrior will bid for his 11th G1 success in the Dubai Turf.
Forever Young was one of four Japanese-trained winners on a card they once again dominated, with the team of Yahagi, Sakei and owner Susumu Fujita also claiming the $2m Neom Turf Cup with Shin Emperor (#101 from #438, +224pt).
Straight No Chaser wins with authority
Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Straight No Chaser (#11 from #29, +156pt) was a big mover from the Saudi Cup card, where he posted a totally dominant 3¾-length success as odds-on favourite for the G2 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 trainer Dan Blacker. The Dubai Golden Shaheen beckons, with a defence of his Breeders’ Cup title doubtless the primary aim for 2025; the Riyadh race was a newly minted ‘win and You’re In’ contest.
Hong Kong: Ka Ying Rising imperious
Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s current domination of the rankings was emphasised on home turf at Sha Tin on Sunday [Feb 23] as the world-leading sprinter Ka Ying Rising (stays at #2, +72pt) took the step up to 1,400 metres (7f) in his stride to complete a G1 hat-trick in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.
With Karis Teetan (#63 from #78, +44pt) taking over from the sidelined Zac Purton, this was another superb display from the brilliant four-year-old, who has now won ten in a row. Having already landed the Centenary Sprint Cup, Ka Ying Rising will now attempt to secure a HK$5m bonus by landing the Chairman’s Sprint Prize on April 27.
“He’s a very special horse,” said trainer David Hayes (#29 from #35, +54pt). “There should be a lot more to come. I have always said he’s a miler but he’s just such a good sprinter that I’m a bit loath to change.”
Voyage Bubble enters Top 5
With so many luminaries in Hong Kong, the notable exploits of top miler Voyage Bubble (#5 from #7, +40pt) have tended to be overshadowed. Having won the HK Derby as a four-year-old, he landed his fourth G1 success in the HK Gold Cup under Romantic Warrior’s jockey James McDonald (stays at #2, +9pt), who continues to press Ryan Moore at the top of the jockeys’ list. Trainer Ricky Yiu (#30 from #37, +51pt) also gets a bump.
This was a smart performance, given that Voyage Bubble stumbled at the break, appeared to clip heels on the final bend and then had to be switched before what was in the end a comfortable victory.
Japan: Major landmark for Rachel King
Leading expat rider Rachel King (#105 from #135, +29pt) achieved a notable landmark success on Sunday when she became the first female to win a G1 race on the Flat on the Japan Racing Association circuit.
Riding under a short-term JRA licence, Aussie-based King partnered Costa Nova (#38 from #307, +284pt) to his sixth win in as many starts on the dirt at Tokyo racecourse when he landed the prestigious February Stakes, so often a major trial for the Dubai World Cup.
“I’m very proud to be the first female jockey but also proud that Japan has welcomed me as a jockey and not just a ‘female’ jockey,” said King. “That’s something that I’ve always strive to be – I’m one of everyone and we’re treated the same, so I’m always thankful to the Japan and all the supporters for welcoming me like that.”
In Australia, the admirable Mr Brightside (stays at #16, +23pt) recorded his ninth G1 success in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield for the next generation of the Hayes family firm of Ben. Will & JD Hayes (#48 from #64, +29pt). Next up is the All-Star Mile before a trip to Hong Kong.
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‘He’s just a superstar’ – Romantic Warrior confirms world-leading status with tenth G1 win in Dubai
‘Quite freakish’: Hong Kong sensation Ka Ying Rising sprints to #2 on world rankings
• Unlike traditional methods of racehorse rankings, TRC Global Rankings are a measure of an individual’s level of achievement over a rolling three-year period, providing a principled hierarchy of the leading horses, jockeys, trainers, owners and sires using statistical learning techniques. Racehorse rankings can be compared to similar exercises in other sports, like the golf’s world rankings or the ATP rankings in tennis.
They are formulated from the last three years of races we consider Group or Graded class all over the world and update automatically each week according to the quality of a horse’s performances and their recency, taking into account how races work out.