Saudi Cup

ONE of the most valuable races in the world goes under orders at 5.40pm today (Live on VirginTwo) when Forever Young defends his title, won in thrilling style last year when he beat Romantic Warrior by a neck to win the Group 1 Saudi Cup.

Though it is a full field of 14, the quality does not seem as high as last year. Forever Young was rated the joint-third best horse in the world last year, behind Calandagan and Ka Ying Rising and he finished the season on a high, winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. He also won the Saudi Derby here in 2024.

It is one of the American challengers who look the biggest danger, in the form of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos from the Bob Baffert stable.

Baffert commented on his chances this week (he also runs Nevada Beach) saying: “You are just hoping that when they turn for home that they are running and for me, hopefully it’s going to be Nysos, and Nevada Beach is right there too, with Forever Young - King Kong versus Godzilla. I have brought good horses here but I think Nysos, hopefully, is the best. Forever Young, he’s a unicorn. I have so much respect for that horse.”

Two more US trainers are having a go for big prize money; Brad Cox, with Grade 2 Cigar Mile winner Bishops Bay, and Kenny McPeek with the seven-year-old Rattle N Roll

Two other runners travel from Japan; Oisin Murphy comes in for the ride on Sunrise Zipangu, trained by Kyoko Maekawa, the first woman to be granted a licence to train in the country.

Joao Moreira partners Luxor Cafe for Noriyuki Hori, though his form leaves him with a bit to find. James Doyle on Wathnan Racing’s Tumbarumba could be the best of the home team.

SELECTION: Forever Young

Next Best: Tumbarumba

Rest of the card

Comanche Brave ran well last week in the valuable Abu Dhabi Gold Cup for Donnacha O’Brien and Ryan Moore, beaten two lengths by Struss and lines out again in the sprint at 3.35pm, but Jerome Reynier’s Royal Ascot winner Lazzat should be the stand out here, where Andrew Balding’s Marvelman and Mick Appleby’s Annaf complete the four European contenders. Japan’s Panja Tower is a big danger though.

In the Neom Turf Cup over and extended mile and two furlongs (4.10pm) Joseph O’Brien’s Galen has a tough task against Karl Burke’s Royal Champion, who beat him in the Bahrain International Trophy in November and Japan’s Shin Emperor and the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano winner Alohi Alii also in contention.

The best chance of Irish success comes in the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap over a mile and seven furlongs, with Joseph O’Brien, who trained his 1,500th winner yesterday at Dundalk, doubly represented with Sons And Lovers (Dylan Browne McMonagle) and Tennessee Stud (Ryan Moore). It looks a good chance for the 2025 Derby third to get off the mark in what could be a good season for the son of Wootton Bassett.

Doha today

The Group 2 The Amir Trophy (1.15pm) is the highlight on the Doha card and the Arc fourth and fifth Giavellotto (Pierre-Charles Boudot) and Byzantine Dream (Cristian Demuro) set the standard in the seven-runner, mile-and-a-half contest.

Goliath returns for Francis-Henri Graffard (Christophe Soumillon), following a third to Sosie and Giavellotto in the Longines Hong Kong Vase. The two British runners are Charlie Appleby’s El Cordobes, who was third last time to Ethical Diamond in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and Lion’s Pride, who won a listed winner at Newmarket for John and Thady Gosden. The popular gelding Quinault who was Group 1-placed over nine outings last season lines up against five rivals in the six furlong sprint at 4.20pm. The sole Irish-trained runner on the card is Joseph O’Brien’s Andab, the mount of Pierre-Charles Boudot in the Al Rayyan Mile Cup (a three-year-old local Group 2) at 3.45pm.