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| Staff Writer |
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With a Timeform rating of 131 and the eyes of the racing world fixed firmly upon him, Forever Young stands on the cusp of achieving what no horse has done before. In the watchful shadow stands Yoshito Yahagi, the man orchestrating what could become one of racing's most extraordinary achievements.
Having already conquered February's US$20 million Saudi Cup in breathtaking fashion, Yahagi's dirt sensation now stands on the precipice of unprecedented glory in the US$12 million Dubai World Cup in April.
"No one has ever won both the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup back-to-back. I'm determined to make it happen," Yahagi states, his customary quiet tone masking the boldness of his ambition.
Last year, Yahagi came agonisingly close to this remarkable double when his charge, Panthalassa, triumphed in the 2023 Saudi Cup but could only manage 10th place in Dubai. Now, with arguably the world's highest-rated dirt performer at his disposal, the stars may finally be aligning for the hat-wearing mastermind.
Forever Young's Saudi Cup victory in February wasn't merely impressive—it was historically significant. Breaking from the outside gate under jockey Ryusei Sakai, the 4YO son of Real Steel engaged in what will be remembered as one of racing's most epic duels, running down Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior in the shadow of the wire to win by a neck.
The performance earned Forever Young a Timeform rating of 131, identifying him as the highest-rated dirt horse in the world—a distinction that Timeform handicapper Jake Price believes makes him "very much the one to beat" should he face defending champion Laurel River in Dubai.
What sets Forever Young apart, according to his trainer, is his remarkable versatility compared to previous champions.
"Panthalassa had no choice but to take the lead, and his performance depended greatly on the race pace and how his rivals moved," Yahagi explains. "In contrast, Forever Young can adapt to any race-style, and his raw ability is simply overwhelming. Naturally, our chances are high, but that also comes with pressure."
The pressure stems from Forever Young's near-perfect record. His only defeats came in America's most prestigious dirt races—the Gr.1 Kentucky Derby and the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Classic—where he finished third both times against elite local competition.
"Other than that, his record is flawless," Yahagi notes with justified pride. "I believe he fully deserves the highest rating, and from now on, every race is one we can't afford to lose."
"I now know for certain that this is the best horse I've ever worked with and I'm even surprised to realise how happy I am to have won, even though it's for the second time."
As Forever Young transitions from Saudi Arabia to Dubai, the race distance increases from 1,800 metres to 2,000 metres, and the dirt surface changes subtly. Far from viewing these modifications as challenges, Yahagi sees strategic advantages.
"Compared to a one-turn 1,800-meter race, an extended distance on an oval course is actually beneficial," he asserts confidently. The trainer's blueprint for Dubai seems to draw not only from last year's experience with Panthalassa but also from Forever Young's own history.
"That was something we were fully aware of the moment we decided to race in Dubai. In fact, last year, he transitioned from the Saudi Derby to the UAE Derby and won both. There's absolutely no reason to be worried about the surface now."
Despite this confidence, Yahagi admits there were initial concerns about Forever Young's dirt aptitude before his Saudi Cup triumph. "I was concerned," he admitted. "I didn't know how much he'd show on the dirt."
Those worries proved unfounded as Forever Young demonstrated complete comfort on the surface, confirming what his connections had long suspected about his versatility.
It's this methodical approach—accounting for every variable while leveraging past experiences—that has established Yahagi as one of racing's most formidable international operators. The Saudi Cup marked his ninth top-level win overseas and the first time any trainer had claimed the world's richest race twice.
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The relationship between Forever Young and his regular rider, 27-year-old Tokyo-born Sakai, represents a critical component of Yahagi's Dubai strategy. Having partnered the colt for all nine career starts, Sakai possesses an intimate understanding of his mount's evolution.
"Early in his career, Forever Young was slow to respond and sensitive to kickback," Yahagi reveals. "But he has overcome those weaknesses, and Ryusei, having ridden him throughout this journey, understands every aspect of his growth. This is a major asset for us."
For Sakai, who collected approximately US$11.27 million (nearly 1.69 billion yen) for his Saudi Cup day efforts, the partnership with Forever Young represents a career-defining relationship. "Forever Young is still only 4YO and I think he still has a lot to give," the jockey remarked after their Saudi triumph. "I would very much like to see myself mature and grow even more as a rider and be able to win the Dubai World Cup."
The third crucial component in this racing trinity is owner Susumu Fujita, CEO and president of CyberAgent, Inc., whose faith in both horse and trainer has been handsomely rewarded. Between Forever Young's Saudi Cup victory and the performances of his other runners at King Abdulaziz Racecourse—including Shin Emperor's win in the Gr.2 Neom Turf Cup—Fujita collected a staggering US$11.5 million in a single day.
"Mr Fujita has always respected the judgment of those on the ground," Yahagi acknowledges, "but with Forever Young's success, I feel that our trust has deepened even further."
"I could only keep believing in him down the stretch. And I was thinking that if he could manage to overtake Romantic Warrior, it would be more spectacular than any movie."
Just two days after his epic Saudi Cup victory, Forever Young was already en route to Dubai, commencing a carefully orchestrated preparation campaign that draws upon Yahagi's wealth of international experience. The trainer's meticulous approach extends to every aspect of race planning, from quarantine protocols to acclimatisation strategies.
"Last year, Forever Young showed some fatigue after the Saudi Derby, so once we arrived in Dubai, our priority was recovery," Yahagi explains, revealing the nuanced understanding that separates elite international campaigners from mere participants. "From there, we worked backwards from race day to fine-tune his condition. This year, we'll likely follow a similar approach."
Yahagi himself won't arrive in Dubai until approximately one week before the race, but his confidence in his team's capabilities reflects the well-oiled machinery that powers his global operation.
"I'll be arriving in Dubai about a week before the race, so until then, I'm leaving everything to my team. We communicate daily, and sometimes, they send me videos for review. But since my staff is highly experienced with overseas racing, I can rely on them completely."
This specific route—from Saudi Arabia to Dubai—is one the team has navigated successfully before, accumulating invaluable knowledge about everything from transportation logistics to training schedules. While Yahagi acknowledges that "racehorses are living creatures and no two years are the same," his scientific approach to preparation maximises Forever Young's chances of making history.
Should Forever Young conquer the Dubai World Cup, his achievement would transcend mere prize money. The victory would cement both horse and trainer in racing's pantheon of legends while opening doors to further international conquests, including a potential return to America for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in October, to which his Saudi Cup win has already secured him an invitation.
For Yahagi, whose international ambitions have long been expressed through both his horses' campaigns and his distinctive fashion sense, the Dubai World Cup represents another opportunity to showcase Japanese racing excellence on the global stage.
When asked which of his famous hats he might wear for the big occasion, Yahagi laughs. "Which hat will I bring? I haven't decided yet."
Many of his hats are gifts, though some are custom-made—much like the bespoke training programmes he designs for each of his champions. Whichever hat accompanies him to Meydan Racecourse, the racing world will be watching to see if Forever Young can cap an extraordinary campaign with an unprecedented achievement.
In a sport often defined by its unpredictability, Yahagi's scientific precision, combined with Forever Young's exceptional talent, offers perhaps the best chance yet of completing racing's newest and most lucrative double. As the trainer himself puts it with characteristic understatement, "Our chances are high."
The world awaits 5 April to discover whether racing's most stylish strategist can indeed make history.