Horse racing news 2025: James McDonald 'gutted' as Romantic ...

Superstar jockey James McDonald has been "gutted" in an epic finish to the Saudi Cup, with Forever Young kicking back to defeat Romantic Warrior on Sunday (AEDT).

The world's richest horse race, which is worth $31.5 million AUD, was decided in the final few strides as Forever Young lunged ahead of McDonald's mount.

It looked as though the former Cox Plate winner had the race locked up down the straight, but the Japanese three-year-old showed plenty of fight to surge ahead.

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It marked the first loss for Romantic Warrior since the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in 2023 during his time racing in Australia.

"I'm incredibly proud of him, he's a great horse. I'm gutted he's been defeated but saying that, he was gallant in defeat," McDonald said post-race.

"The race played out perfectly for us, we had a great pitch in behind. He got a little bit of kickback and I thought 'get him in the clear' and he sidled round beautifully.

"He went through his paces really nicely, he kept building all the way.

"It just shows was a great horse Forever Young is and what a race it was."

Rated the world's best horse, Romantic Warrior had been in electric form leading into the race in Riyadh and appeared to handle the dirt track well despite the loss.