Forever Young (Jpn)

Following his victory in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) has moved into third position in the second edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2025. Last year's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero raised his rating from 125 from 118 in winning at Meydan, producing a career-best performance to beat Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by over a length. The runner-up sits just outside of the top three with a rating of 123, while Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) and Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})...

Previews by Alan Carasso, Brian Sheerin, Adam Houghton & Heather Anderson DUBAI, UAE -- After Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) overcame a torrid trip to take out the G2 UAE Derby some 373 days ago, big-spending Japanese owner Susumu Fujita boldly commented: "Looking forward, I would like to underline that I would like to win the Dubai World Cup." If ante-post markets are to be believed, those dreams are likely to become reality under the Saturday evening lights at Meydan Racecourse, as Forever Young is expected to jump a...

Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) is one of 35 individual Group/Grade 1 winners set for the 29th edition of the Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan on Apr. 5, as the likely fields were released on Wednesday. Worth a combined $30.5 million in prize-money, the nine races are anchored by the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup, which features Forever Young, a winner of the 2025 G1 Saudi Cup, facing off with Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who won the 2023 edition of the race. The $6-million G1 Longines Dubai...

Japan's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) anchors the first edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings with a mark of 128. The Yoshito Yahagi trainee closed to take the G1 Saudi Cup by a neck over the 127-rated Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). The latter had earlier won the G1 Jebel Hatta this year. Continuing the Hong Kong theme, star sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) is a co-third in the rankings alongside GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes winner White Abarrio (Race Day), as both are...

Forever Young (Jpn) earned a Timeform rating of 131 when winning Saturday's $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, identifying him as the highest-rated dirt horse in the world. Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, the son of Real Steel (Jpn) had shown very smart form as a three-year-old when he won the G2 UAE Derby and the G1 Tokyo Daishoten, as well as finishing placed in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic. However, Forever Young raised his game another notch and produced a top-class performance by Timeform's...

RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA -- The eleventh-hour defection of horses like 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), reigning G1 Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River (Into Mischief) and GI Pegasus World Cup victor White Abarrio (Race Day) deprived the 2025 G1 Saudi Cup of at least some of its pre-race lustre. Remaining in the field of 14, however, were two of the world's top horses, having achieved their success heretofore in diametrically opposite ways. Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) won the G3 Saudi Derby in 2024 in...

In one of the most intriguing international clashes of the year, Hong Kong Horse of the Year and recent G1 Jebel Hatta hero Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and 2024 G1 Dubai World Cup victor Laurel River (Into Mischief) will likely face off in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday, Feb. 22. Joining them will be Japanese Group 1 winner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who won the G3 Saudi Derby alongside placed runs in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders'...

Kieffers Company's Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) was named the 2024 Japanese Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) announced on Tuesday. The formal 2024 JRA Awards Ceremony will be held in a hotel in Tokyo at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27. The Yasuo Tomomichi trainee was poised for a big 2024 and duly delivered victories in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the G1 Japan Cup in October and November, respectfully. He received 236 of the 256 possible votes for Horse...

Multiple Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is now the highest rated filly or mare in the world at 127 on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released on Thursday. A winner of the G1 Turnbull Stakes and G1 Cox Plate in October, she added the G1 Champions Stakes in November and is equal to G1 Derby/G1 International Stakes/G1 Eclipse winner City Of Troy (Justify). The highest rated horse in the world is Laurel River (Into Mischief) at 128. Next in the rankings are the...

The number that best sums up this year's Breeders' Cup is :44.96. That's the sizzling opening half-mile split for the GI Classic, and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) utilized it to the utmost advantage on Saturday, propelling himself to the winner's circle with one of his customary, locomotive-like late kicks that had come up just shy of victory in three previous attempts at 10 furlongs. As a relentless long-strider with a penchant for leaning in and being a magnet for trip trouble during his stretch runs, Sierra Leone...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--In an intriguing GI Travers Stakes loaded with talent and questions, will anyone be surprised if 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) wins? Nope. Although it is unlikely that the colt trained by Chad Brown will be the betting favorite Saturday in the 155th running of the signature race at Saratoga Race Course--he is a narrow fourth at 7-2 on the morning line--Sierra Leone's record demands respect. He has never been worse than third in seven career starts. One of those victories came in the GI Blue...

Back on the hamster wheel, everybody. You know the drill. Usual freshman hype, please. Just remember to change the names--and not to dwell too unhelpfully on how things played out for those being talked up four or five years ago. But the legitimate, perennial challenge of the yearling circuit also abides, and likewise much of its color and character. Just not quite all. Not enough time has elapsed, certainly, to heal one aching void. For many of his compatriots, in particular, every barn we enter we still half-expect to hear...