Forever Young Has His Day in the Desert Sun

When he won the 2024 U.A.E. Derby with consummate ease, the Japanese bred Forever Young was thought to have a legitimate chance to win the 2024 Kentucky Derby. He did not disappoint, putting in a valiant effort to finish 3rd by two heads behind winner Mystic Dan and runner-up Sierra Leone.

Forever Young, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, returned to Japan, where he won two Group 1 events in preparation for his return to the U.S. That return came on November 2, 2024, when he entered the gate for the Grade I Breeders Cup Classic. Again, he would put in a valiant effort to run 3rd behind winner Sierra Leone and runner-up Fierceness. As was the case in The Derby, Forever Young received plenty of respect from horseplayers who were beginning to realize this is a very gifted horse.

Photo by Hatomizinko, Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Forever Young Has His Day in the Desert Sun

With seven (7) wins from (9) starts, it is clear he might have a bit more to offer coming into the 2025 racing season. Trainer Yahagi plotted a course that would lead Forever Young to the $20 million Group 1 Saudi Cup at Riyadh Racecourse in Saudi Arabia.

His trek started on December 29th with an easy Group 1 win in Japan. The gun was loaded, and Forever Young was again read to try to make his mark on the World stage. While the race lost some of its luster when all of America's top dirt horses decided to stay home, one big name did show up to give Forever Young a battle. That one big name was Japan's Romantic Warrior, arguably one of the best grass horses of all time. Note the term "grass horses." The Saudi Cup would be his inaugural attempt to win a major race on dirt.

As the race unfolded, it was clear these two horse-racing behemoths from Japan were on a collision course for victory. Early in the street, Romantic Warrior took a two-length lead with Forever Young in close pursuit. Looking hopelessly defeated at the 300-meter mark, jockey Ryusei Sakai urged Forever Young to change leads. The result was a surge that put the 4-year-old bay colt on par with the 7-year-old Romantic Warrior. They battle the last 100 meters head-to-head, with Forever Young hitting the wire in front.

It was a classic race run by two classic equine heroes. It was Forever Young's day in the desert sun of Saudi Arabia. Moving forward, Yahagi has mentioned his trainee could show up in Dubai on April 5, 2025, for a run in the classic Group 1 Dubai World Cup. With several of America's top horses charting a course in the same direction, Forever Young will have a chance to stamp himself as the best thoroughbred racehorse in the world.

What a delight it would be for horseplayers and racing fans if both Sierra Leone and Forever Young both entered the starting gate for a rematch at Meyden Racecourse in Dubai. This is what horse racing is all about.