FOREVER YOUNG denied Romantic Warrior in a battle for the ages in the world’s richest horse race, the Saudi Cup.
It was a two-horse race on paper and the £16 million duel in the desert went all the way to the line.
The race was won, or lost, on the final bend, where James McDonald made a sweeping five-wide move to take the lead into the straight.
Ryusei Sakai and Forever Young were left trailing, and it looked as though 10-time Group 1 superstar Romantic Warrior would prove the naysayers wrong on his first dirt start.
But Sakai never panicked and galvanised Forever Young to motor down the outside of Romantic Warrior, getting up in the final strides.
It was heartbreak for Hong Kong’s hero but for Japan’s leading light, he got his deserved day in the sun after sickening places in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Kentucky Derby.
Forever Young’s trainer Yoshito Yahagi said: “This is my second win in The Saudi Cup, but no matter how many wins you have in The Saudi Cup, it is still a great feeling.
“I didn’t have confidence; I believed in him.”
Jockey Sakai added: “He jumped very well from the wide gate in 14 and got into a nice position without a problem. 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.”
For Romantic Warrior, it’ll be back on the turf for the Dubai Turf at Meydan, though this run proved a World Cup run wouldn’t be misplaced.
McDonald said: “”He ran incredibly well. I was very proud of him. He flowed into the race well and used his momentum nicely, so it was a terrific effort.
“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 great horse Forever Young is and what a race was.”
It was a remarkable day for Japan, who won all four big races.
Shin Emperor won the Neom Turf Cup, beating Sir Alex Ferguson’s Spirit Dancer into sixth, before Ascoli Piceno beat countryman Win Marvel in the 1351 Turf Sprint.
Byzantine Dream, ridden by Oisin Murphy, got the third leg up easily, beating David O’Meara’s Epic Poet in the process.
