Forever Young dominated the best of Japan’s dirt runners in the Tokyo Daishoten (JPN-1) in his 2024 finale Dec. 29, serving notice he’s ready to resume the international campaign that saw him finish an unlucky third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and third again in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
The Real Steel colt toyed with nine rivals in the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4 miles) Daishoten, run over the Oi Racecourse dirt. Jockey Ryusei Sakai, as instructed by trainer Yoshito Yahagi, kept him in second behind the breakaway longshot pacesetter through most of the running. He did require a bit of urging to get going when straightened out into the stretch but, once in stride, he quickly got clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths.
Wilson Tesoro was second, followed by Ramjet . Bigger names Ushba Tesoro , Derma Sotogake and Crown Pride , finished fourth, sixth, and seventh, respectively.
The victory was all the more impressive as both Sakai and Yahagi agreed the colt was only about 80% fit after recovering from the Breeders’ Cup trip.
“I think that is the proof that he is not at his best yet,” Sakai said. “And I think that is the issue he has to overcome in order to become No. 1 in the world … I was sure I would not lose. But I really did give him a ‘go’ sign, thinking of the big future ahead of him.
“We had a race with top dirt horses in Japan today. But we are looking to be No. 1 in the world. Therefore, we cannot lose here in Japan. I continue to aim to be No. 1 with this horse next year.”
Yahagi, known internationally as “the man in the hat” for his colorful race-day headgear and global successes, concurred with his rider’s assessment.
“I believe he had a good lesson in America as to running style. I talked with Ryusei, telling him we would stay second the whole way. To be honest, I did not think we would lose. Around the final turn, it looked to me he was not responding very well, and I think it is the issue we have to deal with.
“We will train him aiming to run him in the Saudi Cup next year. I am very happy we did not lose. I believe he will get stronger next year,” said Yahagi, sporting a yellowish fedora for the event.
Connections celebrate Forever Young’s victory in the Tokyo Daishoten at Oi Racecourse
A return to Riyadh for the Feb. 22 $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) could put him in a rematch with Sierra Leone , the rival who bumped down the stretch with Forever Young in the Kentucky Derby while Mystik Dan snuck up the rail to snatch the win. Sierra Leone then won the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Forever Young trailing in third in his only disappointing finish of a four-win season.
That campaign also included a dramatic, stretch-running move to take the Saudi Derby (G3) by a head over Book’em Danno , followed by a victory in the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai that earned his spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs.
Forever Young’s sire, Real Steel, is by Deep Impact , who in turn was sired by Sunday Silence. Those two dominated the Japanese standings for more than two decades. His dam, Forever Darling , was by Congrats out of the Deputy Minister mare Darling My Darling. Congrats was a son of A.P. Indy , in turn a son of Seattle Slew .
Forever Young was bred by Northern Racing and carries the silks of internet entrepreneur Susumu Fujita.
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