Romantic Warrior (Ire)

Following his victory in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) has moved into third position in the second edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2025. Last year's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero raised his rating from 125 from 118 in winning at Meydan, producing a career-best performance to beat Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by over a length. The runner-up sits just outside of the top three with a rating of 123, while Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})...

Japanese raider Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) stunned the Meydan crowds as he denied Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the shadows of the post to double his Group 1 tally in the $5 million Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World. The race is a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile in November. Romantic Warrior, seeking an 11th top-level win of his illustrious career, raced in a share of second in the early stages as Meisho Tabaru (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) and Yutaka...

Previews by Alan Carasso, Brian Sheerin, Adam Houghton & Heather Anderson DUBAI, UAE -- After Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) overcame a torrid trip to take out the G2 UAE Derby some 373 days ago, big-spending Japanese owner Susumu Fujita boldly commented: "Looking forward, I would like to underline that I would like to win the Dubai World Cup." If ante-post markets are to be believed, those dreams are likely to become reality under the Saturday evening lights at Meydan Racecourse, as Forever Young is expected to jump a...

Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) is one of 35 individual Group/Grade 1 winners set for the 29th edition of the Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan on Apr. 5, as the likely fields were released on Wednesday. Worth a combined $30.5 million in prize-money, the nine races are anchored by the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup, which features Forever Young, a winner of the 2025 G1 Saudi Cup, facing off with Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who won the 2023 edition of the race. The $6-million G1 Longines Dubai...

Japan's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) anchors the first edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings with a mark of 128. The Yoshito Yahagi trainee closed to take the G1 Saudi Cup by a neck over the 127-rated Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). The latter had earlier won the G1 Jebel Hatta this year. Continuing the Hong Kong theme, star sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) is a co-third in the rankings alongside GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes winner White Abarrio (Race Day), as both are...

Forever Young (Jpn) earned a Timeform rating of 131 when winning Saturday's $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, identifying him as the highest-rated dirt horse in the world. Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, the son of Real Steel (Jpn) had shown very smart form as a three-year-old when he won the G2 UAE Derby and the G1 Tokyo Daishoten, as well as finishing placed in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic. However, Forever Young raised his game another notch and produced a top-class performance by Timeform's...

RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA -- The eleventh-hour defection of horses like 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), reigning G1 Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River (Into Mischief) and GI Pegasus World Cup victor White Abarrio (Race Day) deprived the 2025 G1 Saudi Cup of at least some of its pre-race lustre. Remaining in the field of 14, however, were two of the world's top horses, having achieved their success heretofore in diametrically opposite ways. Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) won the G3 Saudi Derby in 2024 in...

World Pool returns this weekend with 14 races across meetings in Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Hong Kong, with the world's richest race, the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup the jewel in the crown. Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) will be trying dirt for the first time in that 1800-metre affair. The globally commingled pools powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club will be in operation for the third time on Saudi Cup Day, with seven races set to be globally commingled. In 2024, a total...

Trainer Danny Shum has all but ruled out a tilt at the G1 Dubai World Cup with his Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), with the G1 Dubai Turf set to be the next port of call after his appearance in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday, February 22. The three-time G1 Hong Kong Cup winner arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday ahead of what will be his debut on dirt in the Saudi Cup, after gaining the tenth Group...

In one of the most intriguing international clashes of the year, Hong Kong Horse of the Year and recent G1 Jebel Hatta hero Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and 2024 G1 Dubai World Cup victor Laurel River (Into Mischief) will likely face off in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday, Feb. 22. Joining them will be Japanese Group 1 winner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who won the G3 Saudi Derby alongside placed runs in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders'...

The richest horse in the world just padded his earnings with a hefty check from the AED1,850,000 G1 Jebel Hatta over 1800 metres at Meydan on Friday. Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) delivered a strong final quarter in :22.80 to win going away, overwhelming frontrunner--and last year's winner--Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at the 100-metre mark to win as much the best. That Godolphin runner went fatally amiss 50 metres from home, tossing rider William Buick to the turf. Poker Face (Ire) (Fastnet Rock...

The two-day $38.1-million Saudi Cup meeting nominations at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Feb. 21-22 were released by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia on Friday. A total of 81 Grade/Group 1 winners are among the 1,123 entries from 21 countries that have stepped up, with Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) throwing his hat in the ring for the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup. (Click here for an in depth dive into the nominations for the Saudi Cup, G3 Saudi Derby, and G2 Riyadh...