Kentucky Derby Alumni: Saudi Cup update

Feb 12, 2025 Sara Dacus/TwinSpires.com

The world’s richest thoroughbred race—the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1)—is Feb. 22. Kentucky Derby alumni Sierra Leone, White Abarrio, and Forever Young were pointed towards it, but last week, the connections of Sierra Leone and White Abarrio both withdrew their horses.

Sierra Leone, a nose behind winner Mystik Dan in one of the closest finishes in Kentucky Derby history, recently developed an abscess on one of his feet. Although he has recovered, he missed an important workout and the opportunity to be fully prepared for the Saudi Cup. The dark bay, who has never finished outside the top three, ended his sophomore season with a victory in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), resulting in his recognition as the champion 3-year-old male at the Eclipse Awards.

Trainer Chad Brown said the $1.25 million Oaklawn H. (G2) on April 19 is likely his next start, and the Stephen Foster S. (G2) at Churchill Downs could follow. Sierra Leone is sired by 2016 Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Gun Runner, who went on to win six Grade 1 races including the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year. Sierra Leone was purchased for $2.3 million.

A few hours after Sierra Leone was removed from Saudi Cup contention, the connections of 2025 Pegasus World Cup and 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic champion White Abarrio— who is owned in part by Saudi Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud—said he would be staying at home. They felt asking the 6-year-old to ship 16 hours and run 30 days after the Pegasus was a big ask.

Co-owner Mark Cornett said White Abarrio will make his next start March 29 in the Ghostzapper S. (G3) at Gulfstream, which will serve as a prep for the June 7 Metropolitan H. (G1) at Saratoga. Other races the team is considering include the Whitney S. (G1), the California Crown (G1), and the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

The Japanese 🇯🇵 do it again in the UAE Derby!

FOREVER YOUNG overcomes a wide trip to earn 100 @KentuckyDerby points. 🌹

#フォーエバーヤング

Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/F3KWuCAruD

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 30, 2024

Forever Young is the Saudi Cup favorite in international futures betting. The leader of the Japanese contingent headed to Riyadh finished a nose behind Sierra Leone in the 2024 Kentucky Derby three-way photo finish. He prepped for the Run for the Roses with wins in the Saudi Derby (G3) on the Saudi Cup undercard and the U.A.E. Derby (G2). He is scheduled to fly to Riyadh Feb. 13.

Rattle N Roll, who won the Clark S. (G2) at Churchill Downs and then was victorious in Riyadh's local prep for the Saudi Cup in last month's Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques Cup (G3), is set to be the lone US runner. He is trained by Kenny McPeek, who swept the 2024 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby with Thorpedo Anna and Mystik Dan.