Forever Young made short work of seven rivals Oct. 1 at Funabashi Racecourse in his dress rehearsal for a return engagement in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
In his first start since finishing third in the Dubai World Cup (G1) April 5, the 4-year-old Real Steel colt turned in a textbook warmup for jockey Ryusei Sakai and trainer Yoshito Yahagi in the Nippon TV Hai.
After a clean start from gate 7, Forever Young raced patiently within striking distance of the early pace and picked things up nearing the end of the Funabashi backstretch. Revontulet, also from Yahagi's yard, applied a bit of pressure at the head of the straight but Forever Young was in full command passing the 200-meter marker and won by a comfortable 2 1/2 lengths in a hand ride.
He finished 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on a track rated good in 1:52.2.
"I was relieved because I couldn't lose," Sakai said. "It was a race just as I imagined. He was in perfect shape after the break, and we needed this result and a good performance before heading to America. Yes, it was a good performance," he said with a smile to the packed stand. "I've come here to win in America."
An obviously relieved Yahagi added with a laugh, "I thought he would win because he didn't stumble at the gate. After that, I was just keeping my eyes on Revontulet."
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As for a return to the Breeders' Cup Nov. 1 at Del Mar, the trainer said, "The world's strongest members will probably be gathered there and it will be a battle to determine the world's strongest horse. I need to make his power up even more. I want to prepare with all my heart."
A year earlier, Forever Young prepped for the Breeders' Cup with a victory in the Japan Dirt Classic at Oi Racecourse Oct. 2, 2024. That race is set for Oct. 8 this season, leaving the Funabashi heat as a better-timed prep.
Forever Young has unfinished business in the United States after settling for third in a dramatic, three-horse photo at the end of the roughly run 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) and a fading to third in last autumn's Breeders' Cup Classic. Elsewhere, he has provided some of the highlights of global racing through most of two seasons.
After winning his first three starts at home, including one leg of the 2023-24 Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, Forever Young burst on the international scene at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh in the 2024 Saudi Derby (G3) on the Saudi Cup (G1) undercard. Racing at what Yahagi later said was less than 100% fitness, he needed every step of that race to catch American runner Book'em Danno, who looked home free.
With that victory in the books, Forever Young secured his Kentucky Derby spot with a win in the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai.
After the Derby fireworks and then his third in the Breeders' Cup to Sierra Leone, he returned to Japan and won the Tokyo Daishoten (G1) in December. Two months later, he hooked up with Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior in the $20 million Saudi Cup, winning another tight stretch battle in the shadow of the King Abdulaziz finish line.
His performance in the Dubai World Cup six weeks later, Yahagi said, was compromised by issues during prerace testing that left the colt stressed before the start. He had been idle since that race.
