Last Updated on August 15, 2026
Forever Young was bred with high goals in mind. Foaled on 24 February 2021 at Northern Farm in Hokkaido, he was sold for ¥98,000,000 to tech billionaire Susumu Fujita.
His sire Real Steel excelled from a mile to middle distances on the global scene. His dam Forever Darling, a top-level winner in the United States, passed on speed and toughness. The mix gave the colt balance, range, and the qualities needed for top competition over 1,800 to 2,000 metres.
Fujita wanted the horse to have cultural meaning too. The name was taken from a track by rapper AK-69, linking the colt with younger fans and the owner’s media background. Forever Young was planned as a new type of flagbearer for Japanese racing, one shaped for global success.
Early Training and First Steps on the Track
Forever Young joined the stable of Yoshito Yahagi, already respected worldwide. From early on, the colt moved smoothly, behaved well, and showed natural ability without needing hard pushes at home.
He made his debut at Kyoto in October 2023 over 1,800 metres and won by four lengths with ease. His next run took him to Kawasaki for the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, a major two-year-old race. Sent off favourite, he cruised home by seven lengths. It was a clear sign he had the class and mindset for a wider campaign.
His short juvenile season proved he could travel, absorb pressure, and improve as the tests increased. With that, plans for a global path in 2024 began to take shape.
Breakout Wins at Three
His three-year-old season began abroad. He opened in Saudi Arabia and surged late to win the Saudi Derby, keeping his unbeaten record intact. From there he went to Dubai and captured the UAE Derby at Meydan. The back-to-back wins showed he could adapt to new countries, climates, and track styles.
Kentucky Derby Run
The two wins booked his place in the 150th Kentucky Derby. Japan had long chased a breakthrough in this famous race. Forever Young ran a huge race at Churchill Downs, finishing third in a tight finish behind Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone. It was a narrow defeat that underlined his place among the best of his generation.
Return to Japan
Later that season he returned home and picked up where he left off. He won the Japan Dirt Classic at Ohi after recovering from an early stumble, then added the Tokyo Daishoten, his first JRA Grade 1. He ended the year unbeaten in Japan and firmly established as a rising international force.
The Four-Year-Old Season and Global Goals
In 2025 he returned to Saudi Arabia and won the Saudi Cup. He then ran a strong third in the Dubai World Cup. These results pushed his earnings to remarkable levels and confirmed his status as one of the top runners on the world stage.
Aiming for the Breeders’ Cup Classic
The season’s long-term aim was the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. No Japanese-born and Japanese-trained horse had ever won it. Forever Young had already come close in America earlier in his career, and this was the chance to finish the job.
He faced a deep field that included Sierra Leone again. With Ryusei Sakai in the saddle, he sat just behind the pace, moved into the clear turning for home, and lengthened his stride. He swept past the leaders and won in 2:00.19 on fast ground. It was a landmark moment for Japan and the culmination of a long national push toward the top of American racing.
For many watching in the early hours back home, the win felt historic, a moment that had been building across several generations of Japanese runners.
Legacy and Influence
By the end of his four-year-old season he had 10 wins from 13 starts and more than US$19 million in prize money. His major wins included the Saudi Derby, UAE Derby, Japan Dirt Classic, Tokyo Daishoten, Saudi Cup, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. His few defeats came only in the toughest company.
His impact stretches beyond results. Forever Young has become a symbol of Japan’s push to compete with the strongest runners on the world stage. His owner’s media and gaming links have also introduced him to new audiences, with plans to add him to the Umamusume universe and reach millions of younger fans.
What Comes Next
His connections do not plan to retire him yet. The goal is to continue racing at five, aiming for another Saudi Cup and a fresh attempt at the Dubai World Cup. It goes against the trend of sending valuable colts to stud early and gives the public more chances to watch a proven world-level horse in action.
Forever Young will one day sit alongside names like Sunday Silence and Deep Impact, not for winning local classics but for breaking barriers abroad. He started as a high-priced colt with bold expectations and grew into the runner who delivered a breakthrough result for his country.
