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| Sumita Pawar |
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A talented jockey from Japan, Ryusei Sakai, recently travelled to Louisville, Kentucky to ride Forever Young, the winner of Gr.2 UAE Derby, in one of his final practice runs before the Gr.1 Kentucky Derby on 4th May.
After a 20-minute warm-up session at Churchill Downs mile chute, the Yoshito Yahagi-trained horse completed a six-furlong workout in 1:19 3/5 on 24th April, marking his first recorded breeze over the track. Although many American racing fans may be surprised by the time, the trainers and owners were pleased with the results.
"We were able to do exactly the type of breeze that we needed to do this far out from the race," Sakai said in remarks translated by Churchill Downs Asia coordinator Kate Hunter.
At the beginning, the plan was to take it easy and he started off slowly, covering the opening quarter in :28 4/5. However, when Sakai urged him in the home stretch, Forever Young picked up the pace and completed the final quarter in just :23 3/5.
"He's a very fast closing horse," Sakai said. "He has that late kick."
Forever Young Surges Ahead In Training Session
During their workout, Forever Young had the company of Cuffed Candy, a 3YO colt trained by Dale Romans who had not yet raced. Cuffed Candy had been training with Forever Young daily, leading the Japanese horse and letting him experience the kickback while pursuing a target. However, on Wednesday, Forever Young outperformed Cuffed Candy by surging ahead in the stretch and then effortlessly drawing away.
"Having Dale's horse work with us every day helps the horse focus," Sakai said. "He's a pretty smart horse. When he sees the exit, he's going to want to go that way. It helps him focus on the job in front of him."
"If we can help them, we do," Romans said. "We want to welcome them to Kentucky. One of these days, they'll come here and win one."
According to Sakai, he strongly believes that a Japanese horse will one day don the garland of roses, and he remains hopeful that, given his horse's faultless record and earnings of over US$2 million for owner Susumu Fujita, his horse will be that very one.
"He's a very unique horse," Sakai said. "He's never been beaten, he's pretty special. Ever since he won the Zennippon Nisai Yushun in December we've been focusing on coming here for the Kentucky Derby. We've had that in mind all the way through. Between that, his experience this year, and his innate talent, I'm pretty hopeful."
Forever Young, after finishing his work, returned to the chute where he was schooled in the Derby starting gate.
According to Sakai, he handled it well. Tomorrow, the son of Real Steel will be taken for a hand walk before returning to the track to prepare for his final recorded breeze next week.
Sakai will have a busy week ahead of him, and exercise rider Yusaku Oka will be aboard for the final breeze. Sakai will leave for Japan on the morning of 25th April, where he will ride in Kyoto on 27th April. On the next day, he will ride at Sha Tin in Hong Kong before competing in a Group One in Japan on 1st May. After that, he will fly back to the United States.
On 3rd May, Sakai will have the opportunity to race on the track ahead of the Derby as he pilots T O Saint Denis, who is a stablemate of Japan's other Derby contender T O Password, in the Gr.2 Alysheba Stakes.
"It's a great chance to be able to ride the surface before the Kentucky Derby," Sakai said. "It's a unique opportunity."
A year ago, Sakai was all set to ride Continuar in the Kentucky Derby, but unfortunately, the horse scratched just a few days before the big race. Despite this setback, Sakai decided to make the most of his time and experience the Derby firsthand. He spent time studying the various elements that make the Kentucky Derby one of the most unique and exciting sporting events in the world.
"I saw the crowds and everything the horse has to go through and I feel more confident in myself to be able to deal with that," Sakai said. "I really wanted to come back. I didn't think I would be back quite this soon, so I was pleasantly surprised to end up back here again."
Hidemitsu Sakai, a former jockey on Japan's National Association of Racing circuit and now a trainer, will be in the grandstand, cheering his son on. His shoulders bear the weight of a nation yearning to win another marquee race.
"This is the biggest race in the United States and is one Japan hasn't won yet," Sakai said. "They're always very keen to see us come out on top and become a champion horse—not just in Japan, but in America as well."