Forever Young has long been feted as the horse to beat in Saturday’s G1 Saudi Cup and he gave no reason for anyone to doubt his credentials when he worked around Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz Racecourse Wednesday morning. Ryusei Sakai, the colt’s ever-present jockey, was in the saddle when the Yoshito Yahagi-trained star stepped onto the sun-bathed dirt surface in company with stablemates American Stage and Shin Emperor. Forever Young has been here twice before – his Saudi Derby win in 2024 and last year’s epic Saudi Cup triumph – and he looked at home and in fine health as he walked a full circuit and more with American Stage before setting off at a canter, the champ giving the sprinter a start. But the Breeders’ Cup Classic hero made up that ground easily, breezing down the home straight, finished upside American Stage and put a thin smile of satisfaction on Sakai’s often impassive features.