Japanese galloper out to give trainer a second Saudi Cup victory.
It is not often that a dirt race in Japan, let alone a race run at a local government circuit, has a significant presence in a feature race abroad but with four runners coming out of one such event, the Japanese influence is strong in the Saudi Cup on Saturday.
With 22 wins at the highest level to his name – among them the 2019 Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) with Lys Gracieux – Yoshito Yahagi is in Riyadh not only hoping to snare the world’s richest race for the second time after Panthalasa did so in 2023, but also to continue his perfect record when running horses in Saudi Arabia.
Four wins from four starters is nothing to glance by and with three runners across the card, Yahagi’s main hopes with be with last start Group 1 Tokyo Daishoten winner (2000m) and three-year-old colt Forever Young in a victory that notched a Racing and Sports rating of 121.
From that race run on December 29 – seven weeks ago – the first four across the line in that event run on the dirt at Ohi, commonly known as Tokyo City Keiba, will line up in the upcoming 1800-metre event.
Second-placed Wilson Tesoro, third-placed Ramjet, and fourth-placed Ushba Tesoro join Forever Young in the Group 1 Saudi Cup field.
Jockey Ryusei Sakai has been aboard the son of Japanese sire Real Steel in all seven of his victories and takes the ride again this time.
“He travelled to Riyadh very well,” Sakai said of Forever Young.
“He has been very relaxed and looked confident since he has arrived.
“I have no worries about him. He is a very versatile type of horse and can handle any type of track condition.”
Drawing 14 in the field of 14, Yahagi’s immediate reaction was one of ambivalence to inner or wider gates but said he preferred to be wider, which is a view shared by his jockey.
“The wide gate is not a big concern and distance-wise there is no issue either.”
