RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Japanese superstar Forever Young made horse racing history at King Abdulaziz Racetrack on Saturday, February 14, 2026, becoming the first-ever dual winner of the Group 1 Saudi Cup. The five-year-old, trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Ryusei Sakai, successfully defended his title in the world’s richest race, claiming the $10 million winner’s share of the $20 million total purse.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Japanese equestrianism on the global stage. Forever Young, the 4/6 betting favorite, broke cleanly from stall six and maintained a stalking position behind early pace-setter Nysos, trained by Bob Baffert. Entering the final 200 meters of the 1,800-meter dirt contest, Sakai surged past the American challenger to win by a length and a half, silencing a strong international field that included top-rated contenders from the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
According to official figures from the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA), the 2026 Saudi Cup weekend saw a record-breaking total prize purse of $39.6 million across two days of racing. The event also served as the centerpiece for the 41st Asian Racing Conference, hosted in Riyadh, drawing thousands of international delegates and racing fans.
“This horse is a true global champion,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi stated following the race. “To win here twice, against this level of competition, proves his status as the best dirt horse in the world.”
The victory follows Forever Young’s 2025 campaign, which included a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, solidifying his position as the 2025 Japanese Horse of the Year. With this win, connections confirmed the horse’s next target will be the Dubai World Cup in March, where he will attempt to complete a historic Middle Eastern double.