Japan's Forever Young created history on Saturday when becoming the first dual winner of the world’s most valuable horse race, the Saudi Cup.

Trained impeccably by Yoshito Yahagi, affectionately known on the world stage as ‘The Man in the Hat’, he has campaigned his five-year-old all over the world and has been rewarded for his endeavours in spades, including his epic battle here 12 months ago with Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior.

Jockey Ryusei Sakai would have briefly been worried as he was trapped behind Banishing on the rail, as Bob Baffert’s Nysos moved up menacingly on the turn for home.

But, Forever Young got a dream run up the inside and with Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos stepping up to 10 furlongs, it was the Japanese runner’s proven stamina that came to the fore once again in another thrilling finish. He went away without having a hard race to win by a length from the US raider with local hope, the outsider Tumbarumba running a great race for Wathan and James Doyle in third. The Dubai World Cup is next on the list for the great global traveller.

O'Brien/Browne McMonagle

It was a great weekend for Joseph O'Brien who trained his 1,500th winner at Dundalk on Friday and he combined again with stable jockey, Dylan Browne McMonagle back from Hong Kong, to win the Red Sea Turf Handicap Presented by Longines (Group 2), worth over £1million with the H O S Syndicate-owned Study Of Man gelding Sons And Lovers. They held on well to beat Tabletalk and Tarriance by a length and a half and a neck after hitting the front over a furlong and a half out as his stable companion Tennessee Stud faded.

Also on the card, Karl Burke's Royal Champion showed he is a legitimite Group 1 performer, even at eight, when he ran out an inmressive winner of the Group 1 Neom Turf Cup Presented by Howden, beating Facteur Cheval and Survie by over four lengths.

Donnacha O'Brien's Comanche Brave, running for the second time in a week, put up a great effort in the Turf Sprint Presented by Qiddiya City (Group 2) when he lost out by a neck and three-quarters to the US runner Reef Runner and last year's top sprinter Lazzat in the seven-furlong contest.