(31st Mar 26)

FOREVER YOUNG fell short of redemption, finishing second in the Dubai World Cup

The 5-year-old Forever Young, who had drawn overwhelming attention after winning back-to-back Saudi Cups and aiming to avenge last year’s third-place finish, chased hard from second under his regular rider Ryusei Sakai but ultimately finished second, beaten by 0.98 lengths (as officially recorded locally). Breaking well, he was urged forward early to secure position and settled in second, tracking the pacesetter Magnitude. Asked for an effort relatively early, he began to close the gap, but Magnitude still had plenty in reserve. Although he responded gamely to his rider’s urging in the stretch and reduced the margin, he was unable to reel in the leader and had to settle for second.
The Yoshito Yahagi trainee and the 2022 JRHA Select Sale graduate will depart Dubai with his stablemate American Stage. According to Yahagi, there are no changes to the plan to give him time off until the autumn campaign.
In Dubai Turf, the 2019 JRHA Select Sale graduate Gaia Force broke sharply from the outside gate, took the lead and set the pace for the field. The 7-year-old horse by Kitasan Black maintained his advantage into the home straight, but Ombudsman—who had drawn overwhelming attention—produced a strong late run down the outside to get up and win, securing his third G1 title. Gaia Force, though headed early in the stretch, showed determination to the end and finished sixth. The gray horse had also received the Best Turned-Out award prior to the race.

(25th Mar 26)

FOREVER YOUNG, seeking redemption of last year’s defeat in Dubai

Running the 30th Dubai World Cup is set to take place on the 28th at Meydan Racecourse. While there are concerns about the impact of the Iran conflict, the races are scheduled to proceed as planned. This year’s main attraction is Forever Young, a 5-year-old horse by Real Steel, who will compete in the Dubai World Cup (dirt, 2000 meters). In last year’s race, he finished third without showing his full ability. However, he has since gone on a three-race winning streak, including a victory in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic—the first ever by a Japan-trained horse—and most recently the G1 Saudi Cup, which he won for a historic second consecutive year. His main rivals in the lineup are expected to include the American horse Hit Show, aiming for back-to-back wins, and Bhupat Seemar trained Imperial Emperor, who comes off a win in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge.
With a favorable draw in gate six, Forever Young appears fully prepared to achieve a double triumph in Middle East. Bred by Northern Farm, Forever Young was graduated from the 2022 JRHA Select Sale Yearling session. He was purchased by Susumu Fujita for 98,000,000yen. He has recorded 11 wins from 14 starts to date, with total career earnings of 4,560,834,500yen, the second-highest in world history. A victory in the Dubai World Cup would see him overtake the current leader and the Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior.
In Dubai Turf over 1800m, the 7-year-old Gaia Force will aim to secure his long-awaited first G1 victory. Last year, he finished second in both the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m, turf) in the spring and the G1 Mile Championship in the autumn. In 2024, he also narrowly finished second in the G1 February Stakes (1600m) on dirt. A two-way performer on both turf and dirt, he will be partnered with jockey Ryusei Sakai for the first time. Gaia Force is bred by Oiwake Farm and trained by Haruki Sugiyama, and he was sold at 2019 JRHA Select Sale Foal session for 30,000,000yen by KR Japan.

(16th Feb 26)

FOREVER YOUNG Achieves Historic Back-to-Back Victory

The USD$20M G1 Saudi Cup (1800 meters, dirt) was held at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Saudi Arabia, was won by the JRHA Select Sale graduate in 2021, Forever Young, ridden by Ryusei Sakai. Positioned on the inside just behind the leaders during the race, he advanced along the rail in the home stretch, took the lead, and held off the American star Nysos to become the first horse in the race’s history to win consecutive titles. The winning time was 1:51.02. Hiroyuki Hori’s trainee Luxor Cafe finished fifth, while Sunrise Zipangu, who was also sold at JRHA Select Sale in 2022 and is trained by the first JRA’s female trainer Kyoko Maekawa, came home sixth.
Forever Young, by Real Steel out of Forever Darling (by Congrats), secured a memorable victory in last year’s Saudi Cup in a much-anticipated duel with Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior. He later won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic　at Del Mar and was subsequently named U.S. Champion Older Dirt Male and JRA’s Horse of the Year. This race marked his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Facing Nysos, the winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile n 2025, Forever Young delivered a commanding performance to claim victory and this victory provided strong momentum heading into the G1 Dubai World Cup.
In Race 7, G1 Neom Turf Cup, ridden by Oishin Murphy, the British-trained Royal Champion pulled clear in dominant fashion to claim victory. Japanese trio, Shin Emperor, who traveled from Japan in pursuit of back-to-back victories, stayed on strongly to finish fourth. Yamanin Bouclier, who set a bold early pace, finished fifth, while Alohi Alii, who raced from the rear, came home seventh. Purchased at 2022 JRHA Select Sale Foal session, the 4-year-old trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka, Alohi Alii was unable to settled in the gate and did not jump well, he stayed near the rear and never threatened in the stretch.

(13th Feb 26)

JRA Horse of the Year FOREVER YOUNG will make a history with a defend title in the Saudi Cup

The Japanese star stands out as the clear headline act as he bids to become the first horse ever to win the race twice in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Twelve months ago, Forever Young emerged victorious from a fierce battle with a Hong Kong legend Romantic Warrior to secure his first overseas G1 victory in the G1 USD$20M Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. He then took a major step forward, becoming the first Japan-trained horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November 2025. His achievements did not stop there. Forever Young became the first dirt specialist to be named JRA Horse of the Year and also the Eclipse Award Older Dirt Male, which was another first for a Japan-trained horse. Now a fully matured five-year-old at the height of his powers, he returns to the world’s richest race seeking to reach the summit once again. Owned by Susumu Fujita and bred by Northern Farm, Forever Young was bought at 2022 JRHA Select Sale Yearling session for 98,000,000yen. Now the 5-year-old horse by Real Steel has been prepared well going into the race.

Another JRHA Select Sale graduate, Sunrise Zipangu, a 5-year-old horse by Kizuna, is also set for the world’s richest race. Trained by Kyoko Maekawa, the first female to hold a training license on the JRA division, Sunrise Zipangu who finished a brave 5th in the G1 Grand Prix Arima Kinen last December will be paired by Oishin Murphy for the first time. Purchased at 2022 Yearling session by Life House Co Ltd, Sunrise Zipangu is a tactical versatile type of horse, handling both turf on dirt. He did not taste any success in the autumn campaign last year, however he shifted to turf again and showed a solid turn of foot in the Arima Kinen, only 0.3 seconds behind the winner Museum Mile.
Trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka’s Alohi Alii attempt to secure his second overseas group race success in the G1 Neom Turf (2100m, turf). The final crop of Duramente who passed away at young age was hammered down by Tsuyoshi Suzuki for 60,000,000yen in 2022 JRHA Select Sale Foal session. He took his first graded race in the G2 Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville in August last year before a disappointing 16th in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Paris Longchamp Racecourse in October. Has not raced since, Alohi Alii has been traveled to Riyadh and settled in well.