RIYADH: Forever Young cemented his place in Saudi Cup history with a second consecutive victory in the $20 million race on Saturday night.

Ridden by Ryusei Sakai and trained by Yoshito Yahagi for owner Susumu Fujita, the Japanese thoroughbred defeated Bob Baffert’s Nysos by a length to claim the $10 million winner’s share over 1,800 metres on dirt at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Sakai, backed by a travelling Japanese fanbase, expressed pride after the race: “Forever Young is an amazing horse. I’m really proud of him and I trust him.” Asked about defending his title, he added: “I felt no pressure — this is my job.”

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who had saddled two runners in the main event — Nysos and Nevada Beach — had to settle for second. Despite aiming for a Saudi Cup win, he had previously tasted success in Riyadh with Pinehurst in the 2022 Saudi Derby and Imagination in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint earlier on Saturday, guided by Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat.

The Saudi Cup once again highlighted its global draw, with four of North America’s top 10 jockeys of 2025 in the field: Irad Ortiz Jr. (Nevada Beach), Flavien Prat (Nysos), Junior Alvarado (Bishops Bay), and Joel Rosario (Rattle N Roll).

Earlier races on the card also saw notable victories for local and international contenders. Saudi Arabia’s Tahzeem claimed the $900,000 Asian Federation Cup Local Handicap under Prat, following a December win in the JCSA Board of Directors Cup. In the Obaiyah Racing Classic, First Classs returned to the top level with Connor Beasley aboard, ahead of Vizhir and Nadem Al Molwk Al Khalediah.

Saudi success continued in the Tuwaiq Cup, where Saad Aljenade’s Gran Descans led Michael Scofield to victory, marking the fourth win of the weekend for owners King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Sons. In the Saudi Derby, Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah celebrated victory with Al Haram, a year after finishing third with Mhally.

International stars also shone: Ortiz Jr. notched his first Saudi win aboard Reef Runner in the 1351 Turf Sprint, while Oisin Murphy guided Royal Champion to triumph in the Neom Turf Cup, adding to a successful 2025 season that included victory in the Bahrain International Trophy.

Attention ultimately turned to the main event. With packed grandstands and tension building along the final stretch, Forever Young surged past Tumbarumba and Nysos to make history as the first horse to defend the Saudi Cup title in consecutive editions.