Global superstar and 2025 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Forever Young is set to make his final start before retirement in the Dec. 29 Tokyo Daishoten (G1) at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo, trainer Yoshito Yahagi announced Nov. 8.
Yahagi said the 2025 Japanese Horse of the Year is still in quarantine in Shiroi, Japan. Should he emerge in good condition, they will move forward to the Tokyo Daishoten, a race he won in 2024.
"While we will need to assess his condition once he is released, our goal is the Tokyo Daishoten. He will be retired after that race," Yahagi was quoted in Netkeiba. "If his condition fails to improve, or he shows even the slightest concern in his legs—something he hasn't shown before—we will retire him immediately.
"The owner (Susumu Fujita) wants to give Japanese fans a chance to see him run, and that sentiment is shared by us and the entire stable. Given how much he has already earned, this is clearly not about the money. If we are to race him again, the Tokyo Daishoten is the target."
Forever Young has earned $32,523,590 in a stellar career that has included two wins in the world's richest race: the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1). He was named the Eclipse Award's champion older male dirt horse in 2025.
The 5-year-old son of Real Steel finished a disappointing fifth as the favorite Oct. 31 when attempting to defend his Breeders' Cup Classic crown at Keeneland, his first off-the-board finish in 17 career starts. In comments published by Tospo-Keiba, Yahagi theorized the defeat was due to the horse's mental state.
"As a stable, we've analyzed the reasons for his defeat in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The primary factor was his mental state," Yahagi said. "Physically, there were no issues at all; it was more a matter of my own shortcomings in managing his mental side. Perhaps it was too much to ask of him to run two consecutive races overseas. It might have been easier if he'd had a prep race in Japan before heading to his target event. I realize now that I put a heavy burden on the horse."
Forever Young's quarantine will last three weeks at Northern Farm Shigaraki, after which he will be released to join Yahagi at Ritto Training Center. Yahagi admits the tight turnaround time to the Tokyo Daishoten will be difficult.
"As a stable, we’ve been weighing various strategies on how to approach this," Yahagi said. "The horse came out of the (Classic) with no issues—his legs and overall condition are fine—but he did put in a real effort, so he might be a bit fatigued. His breathing after the race was consistent with having run a full, competitive race.
"Regardless, nothing that happened diminishes what this horse has achieved so far. I truly hope we can give the Japanese fans one last chance to see him run."
Several options for Forever Young's final race were discussed, including a third attempt for the Saudi Cup. However, Yahagi expressed concern about the current state of the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
"I gave serious thought to the Saudi Cup—where a third consecutive win was on the line—but after looking into the current situation there, it seemed even riskier than Dubai was this year," Yahagi said. "I couldn't take that chance. Some suggested the Arima Kinen (on turf), but I was against that; while it might have boosted the excitement for horse racing, I didn't want to cause that much trouble or inconvenience."
