Forever Young Preps in Japan for Breeders' Cup Classic

Forever Young (JPN) is expected to face nine rivals in the Nippon TV Hai Oct. 1 at Funabashi Racecourse as he readies for another assault on the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8 miles) race will be his first race since he finished third in the Dubai World Cup (G1) April 5. The Real Steel (JPN) colt has provided some of international racing's biggest thrills in the past two years—notably his third-place finish in the dramatic, three-way photo that determined the outcome of the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1). After winning his first three starts in Japan, Forever Young burst on the global scene with a last-ditch rally that caught Book'em Danno at the finish of the 2024 Saudi Derby (G3). He went from that race to a win in the UAE Derby (G2) a month later, earning his spot in the Churchill Downs lineup. He then was idle for five months before winning the Japan Dirt Classic and then shipping to Del Mar where he finished third in the Classic and wound up his 2024 campaign with a win in the Tokyo Daishoten (G2) Dec. 29. More fireworks in Saudi Arabia started the 2025 season as Forever Young won a showdown with Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior (IRE) in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1). His subsequent third in Dubai was cloaked in controversy as trainer Yoshito Yahagi said he was mishandled during the pre-race testing procedure. Most of his nine rivals in the Nippon TV Hai are regulars on the National Association of Racing circuit, administered by local jurisdictions in Japan. None has a resume approaching that of Forever Young and his record of running well off long layoffs is another positive for his return.