Jockey James McDonald “gutted” as Romantic Warrior falls in Saudi Cup

Japanese star Forever Young denied the James McDonald-ridden Romantic Warrior a memorable win in Saudi Arabia.

Forever Young (L) edged out Romantic Warrior in the Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Picture: Francois Nel-Getty Images.

Champion jockey James McDonald was left “gutted” after a brave Romantic Warrior was gunned down by Japanese star Forever Young in an epic US$20 million Saudi Cup (1800m) showdown in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Danny Shum-trained Romantic Warrior lost no admirers in his first start on dirt but found one better in the world’s richest race at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

It will undoubtedly go down as one of racing’s best contests this year after two of the world’s best gallopers went head-to-head in the straight and gapped the rest of the field.

McDonald pulled Romantic Warrior off the fence and five-wide on the home turn and looked destined to add another feature success to his name.

But the Yoshito Yahagi-trained Forever Young ($2.60) relished the challenge of having something to catch, wearing down Romantic Warrior ($2.50) over the concluding stages to score.

“I can safely say I wasn’t stopping,” McDonald said.

“I did not alter my stride pace at all.

“I thought even at the furlong, I wasn’t slowing so I was still quite surprised but it just shows what a great horse Forever Young is and what a race it was.”

*Devil Night makes inroads on $1.4m price with Blue Diamond success

FOREVER YOUNG #フォーエバーヤング!!!

He let Romantic Warrior go by and then ran him down late in the $20,000.000 @TheSaudiCup (G1)! The Real Steel colt takes the #WAYI@BreedersCup Classic race for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Jockey Ryusei Sakai brings the big one home for Japan! pic.twitter.com/cEBhyw8g5Z

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 22, 2025

Romantic Warrior is already thoroughbred racing's highest ever earner and boasts Group 1 victories in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Dubai.

The Hong Kong-based superstar claimed the won the Group 1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) in course record time in the lead up to the Saudi Cup before was denied a second victory in the Middle East in thrilling circumstances.

“He delivers every time and he delivered (on Saturday night) as well,” McDonald said.

“I am gutted he got beaten but he went down on his side, he went down fighting.

“He made one hell of a race out of it.”

Forever Young and Romantic Warrior are set for a blockbuster rematch in the US$12 million Dubai World Cup (2000m) at Meydan Racecourse in April.

Originally published as Jockey James McDonald “gutted” as Romantic Warrior falls in Saudi Cup