Japan’s Forever Young confirmed his status as the world’s top-ranked dirt horse, and a globetrotting legend, by successfully defending his title in Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1).

Forever Young is chasing Romantic Warrior’s bankroll as the world’s all-time leading earner, and a second Saudi Cup (G1) windfall would push him nearer to the $30-million threshold.

The richest race in the world became a race for the ages on Saturday, as Forever Young and Romantic Warrior fulfilled hopes of an epic clash in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1).

Odds-on favorite Shin Emperor wired Saturday’s Neom Turf Cup (G2), kicking off a clean sweep of the Saudi Cup Day turf stakes for Japan.

Forever Young, Remake, Spirit Dancer, Tower of London, and Annaf won on the Saudi Cup undercard.

As a deep-closing, one-turn specialist, Joe Peacock Jr.’s homebred Senor Buscador has been frustrated time and again in the most prestigious races stateside. But Saturday’s Saudi Cup (G1) proved to be exactly the right stage.

The world’s richest race is shaping to be something of a reboot of the biggest raceday in the United States – with a few extras thrown in for good measure.

Breeders’ Cup-winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi added the world’s richest race to his expanding resume, when his front runner Panthalassa scored a $34.10 upset in Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1).

Frankie Dettori nearly pulled a stakes double aboard American favorites on Saturday’s Saudi Cup (G1) undercard.

Bob Baffert’s dynamic duo of Taiba and Country Grammer will try to have the angles covered between them in Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1).

Elite campaigners from the world over descended upon Riyadh for the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), but the trophy stayed home thanks to 113-1 longshot Emblem Road.

The Bob Baffert-trained Pinehurst prevailed in the Saudi Derby (G3), and Christophe Lemaire capped a four-win Saudi Cup Day with yet another Japanese shipper, Dancing Prince, in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3).

Jockey Christophe Lemaire opened Saudi Cup Day with a triple aboard Japanese shippers in the turf races. Neom Turf Cup favorite Authority and Red Sea Turf H. outsider Stay Foolish benefited from enterprising frontrunning rides, while Songline rallied with a perfectly-timed move in the 1351 Turf Sprint.

Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) field includes defending champion Mishriff; Mandaloun and familiar foe Midnight Bourbon; fellow U.S. shippers Art Collector and Country Grammer; the Japanese duo of Breeders’ Cup shocker Marche Lorraine and champion T O Keynes; and the outstanding European turfistes Sealiway and Real World.

The rich Saudi Cup program includes three turf stakes, all upgraded to international Group 3 status for Saturday. The 1351 Turf Sprint caters to the speed brigade, the Neom Turf Cup suits the middle-distance types, and the Red Sea Turf H. is a prize for stayers.

Southern California shipper Pinehurst bids to move forward in an eclectic Saudi Derby (G3) on Saudi Cup Day. Ginobili was set to shorten up for the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3), but he is now reportedly scratched.