The Desert Double: Forever Young's Quest For History
Chasing History Across Middle East Sands
The weight board tells its own story. Standing at nearly 580 kilograms in mid-January at Ritto Training Center, Forever Young resembles a gladiator in training rather than a racehorse on hiatus. Yet for Yoshito Yahagi, this robust condition represents precisely the foundation required for an assault on racing immortality across two Middle East classics within six weeks.
"We plan to start this year in the same way," Yahagi confirms, his methodology unchanged: meticulous preparation, strategic weight management, and unwavering commitment to presenting his champion in optimal condition.
Building The Champion's Return
"After returning to Japan, Forever Young quarantined, then went on a break to recover. We had decided early on that his first race of the year would be The Saudi Cup. So, we worked backwards and brought him back to the stable in time to prepare for his trip to Riyadh," Yahagi explains. The timeline was dictated by international racing's most prestigious dirt contests rather than convenience.
"I brought him back to my stable at Ritto Training Center at the beginning of January. He had three fast workouts in January. As of mid-January, he weighed nearly 580kg," Yahagi reports. The 5YO Forever Young debuted carrying approximately 520 kilograms, matured to 551 kilograms for his Nippon Television Hai appearance, and now stands where power meets athleticism.
The Saudi Cup beckons in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, offering US$20 million and an opportunity to defend his 2025 crown.
Historic Campaign Foundations
Forever Young arrives carrying remarkable credentials. His 2024 Tokyo Daishoten triumph established domestic dominance, whilst his 2025 Saudi Cup victory over Romantic Warrior, decided by a neck in an epic stretch duel, announced his global arrival. Third place in the 2025 Dubai World Cup followed, before autumn's historic Breeders' Cup Classic conquest at Del Mar completed Japanese racing's most successful international season. The 2025 Japanese Horse of the Year award recognised Forever Young as the first dirt specialist to receive this honour.
Like Father, Like Son: A Meydan Legacy
Forever Young's pedigree tells its own Dubai story. His sire Real Steel, also trained by Yahagi, conquered the 2016 Dubai Turf on World Cup night, battling from post fourteen to defeat Euro Charline under Ryan Moore. Eight years later, Forever Young would replicate his father's Meydan glory, capturing the UAE Derby on the same prestigious card.
Though separated by surface—Real Steel's triumph came on turf whilst Forever Young dominated dirt—both victories showcase the Deep Impact line's versatility through Yahagi's training genius. Real Steel, now standing at Breeders' Stallion Station, has established Forever Young as his flagship stallion-maker from just his second crop.
The dam Forever Darling brings American dirt pedigree and championship bloodlines. The bargain US$8,000 yearling defied expectations to capture the Gr.2 2016 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita before Northern Farm's Katsumi Yoshida acquired her for Japan's broodmare band. Her dam Darling My Darling connects Forever Young to Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy, whilst half-sister Heavenly Love produced Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone—making the American champion Forever Young's cousin.
This potent cross of Japanese stamina through Real Steel with American speed through Forever Darling has produced a champion capable of dominating from 1,600 to 2,000 meters, equally formidable whether conquering Riyadh's single turn or navigating Del Mar's two-turn configuration.
The Breeders' Cup Masterclass
"The biggest thing was that he was in such good condition heading into the race," Yahagi recalls. Geography proved fortuitous. "Last year's Breeders' Cup was held at Del Mar Racecourse on the West Coast, just like the previous year. It is much closer to Japan than the East Coast, so the air transport was no problem. Plus, since we had competed there the previous year, we were able to get him ready for most of the race according to plan."
Yet Forever Young's reliability extends beyond venue familiarity. "He's a horse, so there are going to be some ups and downs. There are times when he doesn't seem to be in great shape. But Forever Young is a really tough horse, and he has never been in such bad condition that he couldn't be run. Being able to use him more or less as planned is one of his strengths," Yahagi emphasises.
Transportation logistics received equal attention. "It was obviously great that we were able to transport him with many other Japanese horses, not just my stablemates. If he had traveled alone, he might have felt lonely and suffered psychological damage," Yahagi acknowledges.
However, sometimes even optimal circumstances do not guarantee success. "Forever Young seems to let his guard down a little when turning the corners, and the other horses seem to leave him behind. I was a little worried about that," Yahagi admits.
"During training, I had jockey Ryusei Sakai, who also rides him in races, ride him, and I made sure to give him a little more energy in the corners. The jockey seemed to have a good feeling about him at the time, so I thought if he could run in the same way in the race, he would put up a good fight."
The predicted favourite Sovereignty's late withdrawal might have altered calculations, but Yahagi maintained his perspective. "Even though Sovereignty was scratched, there were still many rivals with successful records in the United States, such as Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Journalism, so I didn't think it would be any easier."
Forever Young's performance vindicated every training session's emphasis on cornering alertness. Sakai's confident handling delivered a front-running display that contained America's strongest closers within the pack. The victory transcended sport, prompting Yahagi's memorable declaration: "Having a Japanese horse win the Breeders' Cup Classic feels like Japan winning the final of the FIFA World Cup. For me, it feels like a long-held dream has come true. I am extremely grateful to owner Susumu Fujita, all the people involved who supported us, and above all, to Forever Young."
The Desert Double Challenge
Now Forever Young pursues unprecedented territory. No horse has conquered both The Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup in the same year. Thunder Snow remains the only horse to win both the UAE Derby and Dubai World Cup, though those victories occurred in consecutive years.
Yahagi's approach distinguishes this campaign from typical Dubai World Cup preparations where trainers treat Saudi Arabia as a conditioning exercise. "I'm not thinking of using The Saudi Cup as a prep race and going all out in Dubai. I'm sure many good horses, like Nysos, will be competing for the world's highest prize money, so I intend to prepare him thoroughly and in top condition before competing in The Saudi Cup."
This strategy acknowledges formidable opposition. White Abarrio brings Breeders' Cup Classic credentials from 2023. Journalism arrives fresh from Preakness Stakes glory. Nysos captured the 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Saudi-based horses Sayyah and Star of Wonder command local support. The US$40 million total prize fund has attracted 57 individual Group One winners from 22 countries.
Last year's Saudi Cup victory provides course experience but no psychological advantage. "The opponents will be different, and since it's horse racing, the flow won't be exactly the same as last year. I won't let my guard down just because I won last year, and I want to prepare him properly."
The Dubai World Cup Redemption
Six weeks after Saudi Arabia, the 30th anniversary Dubai World Cup awaits at Meydan Racecourse on March 28. The US$12 million contest holds special significance in Japanese racing consciousness. Victoire Pisa's 2011 victory, arriving weeks after the devastating Tohoku earthquake, provided national catharsis during Japan's darkest modern hour. Forever Young's third-place finish in 2025 represents unfinished business.
The Resilient Champion
Forever Young's durability underpins these ambitious plans. Career earnings exceeding US$19,358,590 reflect consistent excellence, yet statistics inadequately capture his greatest asset.
"He is a very strong horse, and since his debut, we have never had any problems with his legs or internal organs. He has been able to run in all of the scheduled races. It's rare to find a horse like this," Yahagi emphasises, before outlining ambitions extending beyond the Middle East campaign. "I would like to head him to the United States again in the autumn, and after that I am also thinking of having him take on the Arima Kinen on turf in Japan. To that end, I will first give it my all in these two races in the Middle East!"
The trainer's words carry particular weight given the physical demands of international campaigning. That Forever Young traversed the trial without missing a scheduled engagement speaks to both genetic fortune and meticulous stable management.
Owner Susumu Fujita's patience has been rewarded beyond initial expectations. Forever Young, bred at Northern Farm in Hokkaido, has transcended commercial valuations to achieve cultural significance.
A Proven Warrior's Middle East Encore
Having conquered racetracks from Riyadh to Del Mar, Forever Young now returns to Middle East sands where his legend began. The seasoned globetrotter who has navigated quarantines, time zones, and climate shifts across three continents approaches this Saudi Cup defence and Dubai World Cup redemption mission with battle-tested maturity. Japanese dirt racing's greatest international ambassador has transformed from promising export to proven world-beater, yet the narrative extends beyond individual achievement.
Yahagi's training methods have produced consecutive Saudi Cup winners following Panthalassa's 2023 triumph, establishing Japanese stables as formidable forces on every surface. Forever Young embodies this evolution—no longer the upstart challenging Western dominance, but the champion others must dethrone. Asian racing has arrived, and the 580-kilogram warrior represents its standard-bearer.
What appears beyond question is Yahagi's commitment to testing these possibilities. For now, the Middle East classics command total focus, with history beckoning across Riyadh's and Dubai's pristine racing surfaces.