2025 News
Forever Young forever rides into history with Japan's maiden Breeders' Cup Classic win
All good things to those who wait, so the saying goes. That good thing finally arrived for Forever Young and team on Saturday (Nov. 1). Forever Young carved out a piece of Japanese racing history in the 42nd Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, becoming the first horse from the JRA to win the US$ 7 million spectacle at Del Mar, California. A year after finishing third in the race, the 4-year-old son of Real Steel held on for a half-length victory over defending champion Sierra Leone and a full length ahead of Fierceness - the two horses who finished above him in 2024. Forever Young, who covered the 2,000 meters in 2 minutes, 0.19 seconds, broke through for Japan 29 years after Taiki Blizzard first took a crack at the Breeders’ Cup Classic for the country (13th place). Forever Young is the 11th Japanese horse to enter the race. Naturally, his connections, everyone from trainer Yoshito Yahagi to jockey Ryusei Sakai to owner Susumu Fujita, erupted with emotion after their proud colt crossed the finish line first. Yahagi, the JRA’s winningest trainer overseas now with 10 Grade 1 victories, was in tears as he gave his post-race interview. “What just happened is unbelievable for Japanese horse racing,” a rheumy-eyed Yahagi told the crowd at Del Mar. “It’s like the Japanese football team winning the World Cup. “He could not have been in better shape today, to a point where if we had lost all hope would be lost for the future.” Added Sakai, who has partnered Forever Young - out of the Congrats dam Forever Darling - in all 13 of his career starts: “I can’t believe it. He’s an amazing horse. It’s a dream. I had big confidence. “He’s a superstar, No. 1 horse in the world. I want to say thank you to everyone - supporters, my boss, owner, groom and everyone.” It was the sweetest of revenge for Forever Young, who tasted bitter, stinging defeat last year not just in the Breeders’ Cup Classic but also in the Kentucky Derby in which he ended up third behind Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone following a three-way photo finish. In last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, Forever Young got sucked into a pace that picked up much faster than expected, leaving him to scrape the bottom of the barrel when it mattered - and it wasn’t enough. The team made sure to not fall into the same trap on Saturday, when Forever Young - who was in the form of his life - broke well and took second position among a pack of nine during the trip, right where Sakai wanted him. The jockey nudged his mount to the front on the back stretch and never looked back, as things turned out. Sierra Leone and Fierceness closed the gap from outside with a ferocious rush, but Forever Young did not give in on this afternoon to capture his second G1 championship following the Saudi Cup in February. The triumph made Forever Young the JRA’s highest-earning racehorse with almost 3 billion yen in career prize money, surpassing Ushba Tesoro who netted more than 2.6 billion yen. He has 10 wins from 13 starts. Yahagi credited Sakai for keeping the faith in their horse through thick and thin. “After we finished third here last year, trying to win this race has meant everything to us,” the trainer said, recalling the past year when they also had to settle for third in this year’s Dubai World Cup. “The horse was in perfect condition today. The only thing I said to Ryusei before the race was to go out there and trust him. That’s it. I thought he may have made his move a bit early but that says Ryusei believed in the horse even more than I did. “We came here to win but I never imagined what that would be like and I had no idea how to put it into words when it actually happened. Our stable, we have the backing of so many owners and so many fans, and I hope we can continue to meet all the expectations. “We did it. We finally did it. I could not be happier and we owe it to all the support. I’m so grateful to the horse.” Sakai said his confidence in Forever Young never wavered during the race. His highly anticipated next start remains to be seen - Yahagi did hint at turf racing earlier this year - although he is penciled in to defend the Saudi Cup crown next year. “I can’t begin to describe how happy I am that we ended up No. 1 in the world,” Sakai said. “I owe it to everyone on the team for bringing him in the best condition possible - from my mentor Mr. Yahagi, the owner Mr. Fujita and to anyone who has had a hand in helping us achieve what we have achieved. “He was in supreme form, absolutely perfect. I rode him with complete confidence. I know it was really early in Japan but I’m so thankful for all the support. Forever Young has managed to become the best in the world but there are still races we haven’t won. “I hope we can win every race from hereon, and I myself will work harder than ever to become a jockey worthy of riding him.” Forever Young was one of seven runners from the JRA who competed during Breeders’ Cup weekend but proved to be the lone winner. American Stage’s fourth place in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint was next best, followed by Argine who came in sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Invincible Papa was also sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, where Puro Magic placed 10th. Alice Verite was 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and Switch In Love was second bottom of a 12-horse field in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Fee Blanche never got off the ground as she was a last-minute scratch from the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. *The official results (Equibase) Please visit the following websites for more information.
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