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Forever Young
Forever Young winning the Japan Dirt Classic in 2024
Sire	Real Steel
Grandsire	Deep Impact
Dam	Forever Darling
Damsire	Congrats
Sex	Colt
Foaled	February 24, 2021
Country	Japan
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Northern Farm
Owner	Susumu Fujita
Trainer	Yoshito Yahagi
Record	8: 6–0–2
Earnings	523,262,000 JPY JPN: 154,200,000 JPY （JRA）: 7,200,000 JPY （NAR）: 147,000,000 JPY KSA: 900,000 USD UAE: 580,000 USD US: 1,130,000 USD
Major wins
JBC Nisai Yushun (2023) Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (2023) Saudi Derby (2024) UAE Derby (2024) Japan Dirt Classic (2024)
Last updated on November 3, 2024

Forever Young (Japanese: フォーエバーヤング, foaled February 24, 2021) is a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse, who won his maiden race, the JBC Nisai Yushun and the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun in 2023, as well as the Saudi Derby and the UAE Derby in 2024, and remained undefeated until a third-place three-horse photo finish at the 150th Kentucky Derby, losing to Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone by a nose.

Background

Forever Young was bred at Northern Farm stud in Hokkaido, Japan, and was foaled on February 24, 2021. In 2022, he was consigned as a foal to the JRHA Select Sale and was bought for ¥98,000,000 (US$892,938.5) gross by Susumu Fujita. Afterwards, he was trained by Yoshito Yahagi.

His sire, Real Steel, was a champion horse which won the Dubai Turf in 2016. His dam, Forever Darling, who was an American racehorse, won the Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes in 2016.

His owner, Susumu Fujita [ja], is the founder and president of CyberAgent, whose subsidiaries include Abema and Cygames. Forever Young is named after a song of the same name by AK-69 featuring UVERworld. The song is the theme song of Abema's drama series Kaisha wa Gakkou janen da yo [ja]. In an interview, Fujita said Forever Young can be a popular uma musume ("horse girl") in Uma Musume Pretty Derby, a multimedia franchise created by Cygames, if it wins the Kentucky Derby.

Racing career

2023: Two-year-old season

Forever Young began his racing career in a contest for previously unraced juveniles over 1,800 metres on good ground at Kyoto Racecourse on October 14, 2023. Ridden by Ryusei Sakai, he started the 16/5 second choice and won by four lengths.

Sakai was again in the saddle when the colt was stepped up in domestic Group 3 class to contest the JBC Nisai Yushun [ja] over the same distance at Monbetsu Racecourse [ja] in the following month on November 3, 2023. He started the 6/5 favourite and prevailed by one-and-a-half lengths.

On December 13 at Kawasaki Racecourse, Forever Young stepped up to Domestic Group 1 class to contest Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun over 1,600 metres. He started the 11/10 favourite in the betting and won by seven lengths from Aigle Noir [ja]. This is the first time Fujita had a horse that won a Group 1 race. Forever Young is from the second crop of foals sired by Real Steel, and became the first Group 1 race winner among Real Steel's progeny.

For his performance in 2023, he received a rating of 113 from JPN Thoroughbred Ranking [ja], which is the highest rating of two-year-old dirt racing horses in the history of the ranking system. Among the five two-year-olds with a rating of 113 or above, Shin Emperor [ja], whose rating was 113, is also owned by Fujita.

2024: Three-year-old season

On his first run as a three-year-old, Forever Young went to Saudi Arabia to run in the Group III Saudi Derby over 1,600 metres on February 24, 2024. He started the 8/13 odds-on favourite with British bookmakers and won by only a nose. In the race, he had a rough start and had to make up for the four-to-five-length difference from the leading horse, Book'em Danno, in the middle of the final straight. He finished the race in 1:36.17, about two seconds faster than the track record for the distance. This is the first time a horse of Fujita won an overseas graded race. After the race, his trainer, Yahagi, said the next race would be the UAE Derby to obtain Kentucky Derby points for taking part in the Kentucky Derby. By February, he ranked second on Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, trailing behind Ramjet [ja], the winner of the Hyacinth Stakes.

On March 30, Forever Young ran in the 1,900-meter Group II UAE Derby held at Meydan Racecourse dirt in Dubai, with jockey Ryusei Sakai. Forever Young was assigned to the outside, in gate 11. He came out of the gate well, took a position outside and behind the leaders. Moving into the stretch, the field straightened. South American Auto Bahn went to the front but could not withstand Forever Young, who came up strongly to win by two lengths in a time of 1:57.89. Trainer Yahagi commented after the race, "It will be very difficult to go from Dubai to Kentucky. But I believe my team will do everything to be in good order to go to Kentucky." Jockey Sakai also added that Forever Young "very much improved" after the Saudi Derby, adding, "That's why I have confidence in him. I really trust this horse." Forever Young collected 100 qualification points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby and entered the event undefeated.

In the early morning hours of April 13, Forever Young arrived at Churchill Downs, having been conditioned by Yahagi. The following morning rider Yusaku Oka took the colt out for about 20 minutes of jogging in the course's one-mile chute, followed by a 1+1⁄8-mile gallop.

Statistics

Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Forever Young was the post-time favourite.

1. The distance of the 2YO Newcomer is approximately 1+1⁄8 miles
2. The distance of the JBC Nisai Yushun is approximately 1+1⁄8 miles.
3. The JBC Nisai Yushun is classified as a local, Japanese Group 3 event. Internationally as a Listed event.
4. The distance of the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun is approximately one mile.
5. The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun is classified as a local, Japanese Group 1 event. Internationally as a Listed event.
6. The distance of the Saudi Derby is approximately one mile.
7. Forever Young's final odds with British bookmakers were 8/13 odds-on since gambling is prohibited in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
8. The distance of the UAE Derby is approximately 1+3⁄16 miles.
9. Forever Young's final odds with British bookmakers were 8/11 odds-on since gambling is prohibited in the United Arab Emirates.
10. The distance of the Kentucky Derby is approximately 2,000 meters.
11. The distance of the Japan Dirt Classic is approximately 1+1⁄4 miles.
12. The Japan Dirt Classic is classified as a local, Japanese Group 1 event. Internationally as a Listed event.
13. The distance of the Breeders' Cup Classic is approximately 2,000 meters.

Pedigree

* Forever Young is inbred 4S x 4D to the stallion Mr Prospector, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

See also

• Kentucky Derby top four finishers

External sites

• Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association – Forever Young race record

• Netkeiba – Forever Young race record

Footnotes

Notes

1. Earnings earned overseas are converted to JPY using the formula provided by JRA.
2. For 2023, Jantar Mantar, the winner of the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, received a rating of 115 from JPN Thoroughbred Ranking, which was the highest among all two-year-olds. Four other two-years-olds received a rating of 113, including Ascoli Piceno, Regaleira, Shin Emperor and Forever Young.

References

1. ^ "Forever Young(JPN)". JBIS Search. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
2. ^ "Pedigree of Forever Young". Equineline. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
3. フォーエバーヤング. JRA (in Japanese). Retrieved April 11, 2024.
4. 外国の競馬の競走における本賞金の換算について（2024 年）(Foreign Horseracing Prize Money Conversion 2024) – Page 8 (PDF). JRA (in Japanese). Retrieved March 12, 2024.
5. Ackerman, Nathan (May 4, 2024). "Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby in photo finish". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
6. セレクトセール出身馬【フォーエバーヤング(Forever Young)】が「JBC2歳優駿(2歳Jpn3)」を優勝. Umaichi.com (in Japanese). Retrieved March 9, 2024.
7. "Real Steel(JPN)". JBIS Search. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
8. "Forever Darling(USA)". JBIS Search. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
9. ^ AbemaTV藤田晋社長の著書をベースにオリジナルドラマ 主演は三浦翔平. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. February 16, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
10. 競走馬情報 フォーエバーヤング Forever Young（JPN） (in Japanese). Japan Racing Association. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
11. Fujita, Susumu (February 23, 2024). サウジダービー 日本時間明日24日23時、フォーエバーヤング出走予定。 馬名の由来、これを聴いて奮えて待つ。 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved March 9, 2024 – via Twitter.
12. 【藤田晋オーナー語る（上）】ケンタッキーD　フォーエバーヤングで日本馬初快挙へ「将来ウマ娘で…」. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). May 3, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
13. 【京都４Ｒ・２歳新馬】フォーエバーヤングが快勝　坂井瑠星騎手「色々勉強しながら、その中で勝てたのは良かった」. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). October 14, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
14. ^ "Forever Young(JPN)" 全競走成績｜競走成績｜フォーエバーヤング. JBIS Search (English). Retrieved March 12, 2024.
15. 【ＪＢＣ２歳優駿】フォーエバーヤングがデビュー２連勝でＶ！　矢作師「かなりの大物」. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). November 3, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
16. ^ 【全日本２歳優駿】圧勝フォーエバーヤングの藤田晋オーナー、初Ｇ１制覇は”休肝日”で目撃「ダート３冠、サウジやケンタッキーもある」. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). December 13, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
17. 「大躍進」のスワーヴリチャードに引けを取らない名種牡馬!?「海外制覇」フォーエバーヤングの活躍から見えるリアルスティール産駒の可能性. GJ (in Japanese). February 28, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
18. "Forever Young Faces International Foes in Saudi Derby". BloodHorse. February 18, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
19. ^ 3歳芝トップはリバティアイランドでレーティング121 2023年度JPNサラブレッドランキング発表. Netkeiba (in Japanese). January 24, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
20. "Shin Emperor(FR)" シンエンペラー(FR). JBIS Search. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
21. 【サウジダービー】無傷４連勝でＶのフォーエバーヤング　矢作師の視線は「ＵＡＥからケンタッキーへ」. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). February 25, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
22. "Forever Young Edges Book'em Danno in Saudi Derby". BloodHorse. February 24, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
23. リアルスティール産駒フォーエバーヤングがサウジダービー-G3で海外重賞制覇！. Thoroughbred Breeders Club (in Japanese). February 26, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
24. "Ramjet Grabs Lead in "Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby"". BloodHorse. February 18, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
25. Kieckhefer, Bob (March 30, 2024). "UAE Derby Score Propels Forever Young Into KY Derby; The colt earned 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and is set to go". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
26. "Forever Young Takes First Churchill Gallop, Honor Marie Breezes". Thoroughbred Daily News. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
27. "Chart for 2YO Newcomer at Kyoto Racetrack October 14, 2023 – race 4". umanity.com. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
28. "JBC NISAI YUSHUN Listed". JBIS. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
29. "2023 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (race 11)". netkeiba. 13 December 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
30. "2024 Boutique Group Saudi Derby (Group 3) (3yo) (Outer Track) (Dirt)". Racing Post. February 24, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
31. "2024 UAE Derby (Group 2) (Dirt)". Racing Post. March 30, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
32. "150th Kentucky Derby". Equibase. May 4, 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
33. "JAPAN DIRT CLASSIC". JBIS Search. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
34. "Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. November 2, 2024. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
35. "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – SQUIRREL MARE (GB) – Family 2-b". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
36. "Forever Young" フォーエバーヤング (Forever Young)の競走成績. Netkeiba (English). Retrieved March 12, 2024.

• Thoroughbred racehorses
• Racehorses bred in Japan
• Racehorses trained in Japan
• 2021 racehorse births
• Thoroughbred family 2-b