Japan: Forever Young preps for Breeders’ Cup Classic in Nippon TV Hai Stakes

Forever Young, third in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2024 and the winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia in February, will start for the first time since April as a massive favorite in Wednesday’s $457,700 Nippon TV Hai Stakes at Funabashi Racecourse in Tokyo, Japan.

The Nippon TV Hai Stakes is a prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar for Forever Young, who has won 8 of 11 starts.

A 4-year-old Japanese-bred colt by Real Steel, Forever Young is a standout in a field of 10 in the Nippon TV Hai. This will be his first start since a third behind Hit Show in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in April.

Forever Young, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, will be ridden by Ryusei Sakai and will start from post 7. Forever Young, who has earned a remarkable $15,448,207 in his global career, tends to run as a stalker.

In the 2024 BC Classic at Del Mar, Forever Young was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Sierra Leone as the 4-1 third choice in a field of 14, racing third or fourth to the final furlong. In the 2024 Kentucky Derby, Forever Young overcame a slow start to finish a head behind Mystik Dan and a nose behind second-place Sierra Leone.

In the Nippon TV Hai Stakes, Forever Young’s rivals include the eight-time winner King’s Sword, who won the Teio Sho at 1 1/4 miles at Oi Racecourse on June 26 in his last start; and Revontulet, a winner of 4 of 8 starts, who was third in the Grade 3 Heaian Stakes at 1 3/16 miles at Kyoto Racecourse on May 24 and third in the listed BSN Sho at 1 1/8 miles at Niigata on Aug. 23.

Post time for the Nippon TV Hai Stakes is 7:05 a.m. Eastern.

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