The japanese star defeated the outstanding Romantic Warrior; El Kodigo and Intense for Me finished at the back in forgettable performances
By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent) – The 2025 Saudi Cup (G1, 1800m, dirt, US$20 million purse) will be remembered for two key reasons, at least from our side of the racing world. On one hand, the spectacular finish between two of today’s biggest stars—Japan’s Forever Young (Real Steel) and Hong Kong’s pride Romantic Warrior (Acclamation)—will remain unforgettable. On the other, it marked the first time that Argentine-bred horses participated in the race.
Expectations were high for El Kodigo (Equal Stripes) and Intense for Me (Fortify), but circumstances proved too difficult for both.
For the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1) winner, finishing last and out of contention only confirmed the toll his body took after the demanding journey from Buenos Aires, not to mention the clear fact that turf is his preferred surface. There is no time for recovery when the body doesn’t respond—especially at this level of competition.
As for El Kodigo, who adapted well after arriving last week, trying to match the relentless early speed of a race like this turned into an impossible challenge. Running at such a high cruising speed drains energy, and unless a horse is accustomed to it, sustaining that effort is nearly impossible.
The Argentine star showed his frustration in the starting gate, breaking sharply and rushing into the early pace—only to feel the strain by the far turn, fading when the real acceleration began.
Once they straightened for home, neither El Kodigo nor Intense for Me ever looked like contenders, as Romantic Warrior and Forever Young took center stage in a tactically brilliant race.
Displaying sharp race sense, James MacDonald wasted no time sending Romantic Warrior forward, sweeping around rivals on the outside (while covering plenty of extra ground) and taking command from Forever Young, who had already secured a prominent position from the far outside post 14.
MacDonald drifted inward, momentarily tightening Forever Young’s space, but Ryusei Sakai reacted instantly, steering his mount to the middle of the track, regrouping, and launching another challenge. Unlike on turf, this time Romantic Warrior could not open daylight on his rival, and in the final furlong, the Japanese star surged past, prevailing by a neck.
The rest of the field was in a different race. Ushba Tesoro (Orfevre) finished third, 10 1/2 lengths behind, with Wilson Tesoro (Kitasan Black) completing an impressive 1-3-4 for Japan, another 1 3/4 lengths back. Rattle N Roll(Connected) finished fifth, while fellow Japanese runner Ramjet settled for sixth.
At the back of the pack, El Kodigo finished second-to-last, 38 lengths behind, while Intense for Me crossed the wire in last place, 64 1/2 lengths adrift. The final time was 1:49.099.
Jockey Gustavo Calvente, who rode El Kodigo, was filled with mixed emotions—frustration over the result but also sheer admiration for the pace and intensity of the race.
"I feel bad for the horse because we know what he’s capable of, but honestly, when they really started running, he just got tired and gave up. He broke sharply because he was anxious in the gate, maybe feeling out of place, and for a moment I got excited—when I asked him, he responded. But when they shifted into sixth gear, he just couldn’t keep up. He stopped out of exhaustion," he told Turf Diario.
A race from another planet, two magnificent horses, and another unforgettable edition of the Saudi Cup. For El Kodigo and Intense for Me, the honor of being the first-ever Argentine-breds to compete in the event is now part of history. Their performances, however, did not reflect their true talent. Now, the hope is for a swift recovery and a chance to prove their class—whether here or on another stage—once fully acclimated.
Comments