Japanese Star Forever Young Repeats in Saudi Cup

Superstar defeats American Nysos in world's richest race

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Japanese superstar Forever Young repeated as the winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), defeating American horse Nysos at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Forever Young, a 5-year-old son of Real Steel trained by Yoshito Yahagi, enjoyed a dream trip under jockey Ryusei Sakai and was able to pull away from Nysos in the stretch to claim his second consecutive victory in the world's richest race.

Why it matters

The Saudi Cup is one of the most prestigious and lucrative horse races in the world, attracting top talent from around the globe. Forever Young's repeat victory cements his status as a global superstar and further solidifies Japan's standing as a major force in international horse racing.

The details

Racing for the first time since taking the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar, Forever Young stalked the pace in traffic before darting through an opening on the inside to quickly collar the pace-pressing Nysos. He then gradually pulled away to win the 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8-mile) contest.

  • Forever Young won the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 1, 2025.
  • The 2026 Saudi Cup was held on February 14, 2026.

The players

Forever Young

A 5-year-old Japanese superstar racehorse by the sire Real Steel, trained by Yoshito Yahagi and owned by Susumu Fujita. He has now earned nearly $30 million in career prize money.

Nysos

An American racehorse who finished second in the 2026 Saudi Cup. Nysos won the 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Tumbarumba

A former American-trained racehorse now based in Dubai who finished third in the 2026 Saudi Cup.

Ryusei Sakai

The jockey who rode Forever Young to victory in the 2026 Saudi Cup.

Yoshito Yahagi

The trainer of Forever Young.

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What they’re saying

“Forever Young is a true global superstar. His repeat victory in the Saudi Cup is a testament to his class and consistency at the highest level.”

— Bob Kieckhefer, Bloodhorse.com reporter (Bloodhorse.com)

What’s next

Forever Young's victory in the Saudi Cup has earned him an automatic berth into the 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland this fall.

The takeaway

Japan's dominance in international horse racing continues, as Forever Young becomes the first horse to win the prestigious Saudi Cup two years in a row. This victory cements his status as one of the best racehorses in the world and sets him up for a potential championship season in 2026.