Yoshito Yahagi

Forever Young (Real Steel) was a surprise name among a star-studded list of 24 entries for the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. The GI Breeders' Cup Classic and dual G1 Saudi Cup hero would be having his first start on turf if lining up at Ascot for trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who is now a regular presence on the world stage with victories in Dubai, America, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. Whilst Yahagi is still waiting for his first success in Britain and Ireland, he did...

Japanese and American champion Forever Young will target either the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on dirt in September or the G1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on turf that same month, according to connections. Depending on which path the son of Real Steel takes, his long-term goal is either an attempt to win the GI Breeders' Cup Classic for a second time and become the second dual winner after Tiznow, or take in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in early October. No Japanese horse...

Jockey Ryusei Sakai, who rode Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) to a narrow third-place effort in the 2024 GI Kentucky Derby and has since piloted him to four top-level victories, has picked up the ride on G2 UAE Derby winner Wonder Dean (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}) for this year's Run to the Roses on May 2, NetKeiba reported Saturday. Sakai, who turns 29 on May 31, will also renew his partnership with Forever Young owner Susumu Fujita's Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Darkness had long fallen over Riyadh but one star lit up the night sky as Forever Young (Real Steel) galloped into the history books as the first dual winner of the $20m G1 Saudi Cup. Last year he was forced to stalk Romantic Warrior all along the stretch for glory, but this time the tables were turned, with Nysos (Nyquist) locking sights on his prey in a determined effort to give Bob Baffert a longed-for victory in the world's richest race. Instead it once more went...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- It's what sport is all about, isn't it? Choosing your team and rooting for them, through good games and bad times.  The fleeting nature of the careers of some racehorses can make it harder to be a fan, but not if you pick Team Yahagi. For a start, there is a good chance that Yoshito Yahagi will turn up at a major meeting almost anywhere in the world with at least one horse. In Riyadh, a city which has become a happy hunting ground for the...

Recently crowned Eclipse champion older dirt male courtesy of his victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar Nov. 1. Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) turned in a strong piece of fast work Wednesday at the Ritto Training Center in advance of his title defense in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 14. The newly turned 5-year-old, trained by the globally successful Yoshito Yahagi, was partnered in a gallop over 1200 meters by his regular jockey Ryusei Sakai and covered...

International superstar Forever Young has been named the Japanese Horse of the Year after the selection committee for the 2025 Japan Racing Association (JRA) Awards met on Tuesday. The son of Real Steel is the first dirt horse to be honoured with the Horse of the Year award. Racing in the silks of Susumu Fujita, he was also honoured as the Japanese Best Older Male and Japanese Best Dirt Horse. During 2025, Forever Young prevailed in an epic showdown with Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) in the...

DEL MAR, Calif -- "I drank too much." Ever the professional, even when feeling a little worse for wear, Yoshito Yahagi was at a 7.30 a.m. press call with his Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young (Jpn). The latter was looking sparkier than his trainer, but then he hadn't been out late in a Mexican restaurant celebrating the LA Dodgers sealing back-to-back wins in the World Series. "I'm a bit hungover. The horse is in much better condition than me," Yahagi admitted. An avowed fan of baseball, he unzipped his...

DEL MAR, USA -- "I'm just glad Willie Mullins doesn't train too many Flat horses," said Charlie Appleby after his dual Breeders' Cup winner Rebel's Romance was relegated to the sidings by the runaway train that is Ethical Diamond. The five-year-old's jaw-dropping performance in the Turf, in partnership with Ireland's new champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, had even Mullins stunned as he attempted to take in the magnitude of this latest landmark in his extraordinary career.  Plenty of trainers will agree with Appleby - and the latter did at least...

DEL MAR, Calif. - That's why they're called the World Championships. The globe-trotting Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), third in the 2024 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, reversed form with last year's top two to bring home the $7-million centerpiece to Japan before a crowd of 35,173 at sunsplashed Del Mar Saturday. Off as the narrow second choice at 7-2, the Susumu Fujita colorbearer raced on top of a fast early pace and held last year's winner and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) safe by...

Yoshizawa Holding Co. Ltd's American Stage (Into Mischief), who returned from a six-month layoff to just miss in a 1200-meter allowance at Kyoto Racecourse on Oct. 5, is being pointed for an appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Saturday, Nov. 1, according to a report from the Netkeiba website in Japan. A $500,000 Keeneland September yearling, the Spendthift Farm-bred 3-year-old colt posted a record of 3-2-1 from six juvenile appearances, including a three-race winning streak that culminated with a 3 1/2-length victory in his lone...

Susumu Fujita's Shin Emperor has been ruled out of the upcoming G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe next month due to a respiratory illness, trainer Yoshito Yahagi posted on X. A Group 2 winner in Saudi Arabia and a Group 3 winner in Japan, the full-brother to 2020 Arc hero Sottsass will target the G1 Japan Cup in November, a race he finished second in last year. Third in the 2024 G1 Irish Champion Stakes, he ran sixth in the 2025 edition of the race. The post read, "Shin Emperor...