Susumu Fujita's Forever Young, a 4-year-old colt by Real Steel, returned to Yoshito Yahagi's barn at the Japan Racing Association's Ritto Training Center to resume full training Sept. 3.
Off since his trip to the Middle East earlier in the year, where he earned a victory in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February and third-place finish in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan Racecourse in April, Forever Young's ultimate goal is the $7 million Breeders Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Yahagi plans to prep the colt in the listed Nippon TV Hai over 1,800 meters (about 9 furlongs) at Funabashi Racecourse Oct. 1. He was breezed, with regular jockey Ryusei Sakai in the irons, 6 furlongs on Ritto's woodchip course in 1:26.5. He covered the final furlong in :11.2.
Forever Young has traveled to the United States twice. He was a narrowly beaten third in the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs and finished third again in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.
Forever Young has been undefeated through five starts so far in Japan, including the Tokyo Daishoten (G1) at Oi Racecourse in December 2024, which is a year-end championship race on dirt in Japan.
The fourth foal out of 2016 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) winner Forever Darling, who was bought by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm privately when she was in training, Forever Young was bought at the Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale in 2022 for ¥98 million (approx. US$725,926).
