Japan claimed their first Group I Breeders Cup Classic when Forever Young proved too strong for last year’s winner, and close relation, Sierra Leone.
The race had lost one of its drawcards earlier in the week when Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty was ruled out which saw Forever Young go to the gate as favourite ahead of local hopes Sierra Leone and Fierceness.
Ryusei Sakai was strong from the gates, putting his mount right up on speed behind pacemaker Contrary Thinking, and outside Fierceness on the rails. Sierra Leone settled last.
Forever Young was allowed stride to the front at the 1000m mark and sustained a determined, and mightily impressive effort, to hold off the powerful finish of Sierra Leone, with Fierceness a brave third, although never looking likely to threaten for the win.
It was something of a turnaround in fortunes with Forever Young having finished third in the race last year behind Sierra Leone.
Forever Young is a four-year-old stallion by Real Steel (Jpn) from Group II winning US bred mare Forever Darling (Congrats).
And notably, Forever Darling is a half-sister to Heavenly Love – the dam of Sierra Leone.
The family also includes another Japanese Champion in Zenno Rob Roy.
Forever Young has now won 10 of his 13 starts, in four countries, and this was his third at Group I level having taken the Ohi Tokyo Daishoten (G1) and Saudi Cup (G1) when he beat Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior.
