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SARGA.CO - Forever Young opened a new chapter in Belmont Park history in familiar fashion: by winning on the biggest stage. The Japanese superstar emphatically won the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on 18 September 2026, becoming the first horse to win a G1 race at the newly rebuilt Belmont Park.

The $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup headlined Belmont Park's first day of racing since its three-year, $555 million redevelopment. It also served as a “Win and You’re In” race for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on October 31.

As a result, Forever Young has surpassed about 5 billion yen in total prize money, making him the highest-earning Japanese racehorse of all time, among the richest ever Thoroughbreds, and behind only the recently retired Romantic Warrior on the all-time earnings list cited by Idol Horse.

The son of Real Steel did not make the cleanest start from the outside gate, but Sakai quickly settled him behind Phileas Fogg, who established the early pace with fractions of 25.04 and 48.34 seconds. Forever Young remained comfortably down the backstretch before Sakai gradually moved him closer. 

Approaching the final turn, the Japanese star was asked to take control. By the mile mark, he had already established a clear advantage. Forever Young continued strongly down the centre of the track and crossed the finish line 3¼ lengths ahead of Stars and Stripes. The winning time was 2:01.23, with Baeza another distance behind in third.

One minor imperfection remained: Forever Young never switched from his left lead in the stretch, though it did little to prevent him from producing his decisive performance.

For Yahagi, however, the victory was not the finished product. The trainer was delighted with the result but believed Forever Young still had room to improve following his six-month break.

“I am 100% satisfied with winning, but performance-wise, I am only 50% satisfied,” Yahagi said, as quoted by Idol Horse.

Yahagi estimated that Forever Young was around 80% fit physically but felt his race performance had not yet reached the same level. He believed the horse's long spell from competition was partly responsible.

Sakai offered a similar assessment from the saddle. The jockey, who has partnered Forever Young for all 16 of his starts, felt that the relatively slow pace had prevented the horse from being fully tested.

The jockey explained that Forever Young responded immediately when asked to accelerate, particularly because the moderate tempo had left him with plenty of energy approaching the stretch.

Yahagi had deliberately instructed Sakai to stay close to the leader after Forever Young was caught behind a slow pace in Dubai. This time, there was no such problem.

“I really don’t want to see a frontrunner make all the way just like in Dubai,” Yahagi said, as quoted by Idol Horse.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup was Forever Young's 5th G1 win overall and his record-setting 4th G1 at the highest level outside Japan, according to netkeiba. His career record now stands at 12 wins in 16 starts.

The occasion also revealed just how far his international following has grown. Assistant trainer Yuki Araki, who also gallops Forever Young, said the horse has developed a following that stretches well beyond Japan.

“I realise he is not just a horse for Japan, but a horse for everyone,” Araki said, as quoted by NYRA. That sentiment was particularly visible at the reopened Belmont, where a crowd of around 6,000 gathered for the opening day.

More importantly, Forever Young now has another major opportunity ahead. His Jockey Club Gold Cup victory secured his automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic, where he will attempt to defend his 2025 title.

“Maybe,” Yahagi said when asked about a possible three-peat, as quoted by Daily Racing Form. And even after his dominant return at Belmont, his trainer believes there is still more to come. 

“I think he’s that type of horse that I can never encounter again in my whole life,” Yahagi said, as quoted by Idol Horse.