HISTORIC HONOUR FOR FOREVER YOUNG

By Graham Potter | Thursday, January 8, 2026

The reigning Saudi Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Forever Young will carry the title of the 2025 Japanese Horse of The Year in his defence of his Saudi Cup crown in February and his targeted follow-up run in the Dubai World Cup in March.

Forever Young made history by becoming the first dirt racing surface horse to win the JRA Horse Of The Year title.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi will be looking to orchestrate an improved result in the US$12 Dubai World Cup next time around … Forever Young finished third last year … but the opposition to the Forever Young camp, most notably the Hong Kong Champion Romantic Warrior, who has James McDonald as his regular pilot and who was only just beaten by Forever Young in last year’s Saudi Cup thriller, will be busy making plans of their own … which would have to include trying to plot the downfall of Forever Young, particularly in the much anticipated Forever Young / Romantic Warrior US$20 million Saudi Cup rematch.

A special award was made to Calandagan, the Japan Cup winner, who is currently the highest rated horse in the world according to the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings.