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SARGA.CO – A new chapter was written in the history of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic, one of the most prestigious horse races in the United States. After ten thrilling contests throughout the year, for the first time ever, a Japanese racehorse emerged as the champion.

That horse is Forever Young. Competing in the G1 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic, the four-year-old colt ridden by Ryusei Sakai crossed the finish line just ahead of rivals Sierra Leone and Fierceness, who finished second and third, respectively.

The victory earned Forever Young a total prize of US$7 million (Rp116 billion).
 

Forever Young’s victory also carried a hint of luck. Just before the race, his fiercest rival, Sovereignty — the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes champion — was forced to withdraw due to illness.

According to The Los Angeles Times, Forever Young nearly fell victim to a controversial “rabbit tactic” when trainer Chad Brown entered a pace-setting horse with slim odds to force a faster tempo in Saturday’s race.

But this time, Forever Young overcame every challenge. Running with tactical brilliance, he stayed near the front throughout the race, never dropping lower than third place.
 

His owner, Susumu Fujita, is the founder and president of CyberAgent, whose subsidiaries include Abema and Cygames. In 2022, Fujita purchased Forever Young for US$892,938 (approximately Rp14.88 billion) at the 2022 Select Yearling Sale.

After acquiring the colt, Fujita entrusted him to trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who molded him into a world-class racehorse.

Forever Young debuted on October 14, 2023, in a 1,800-meter maiden race at Kyoto Racecourse, winning emphatically by four lengths under Ryusei Sakai.

On March 30, 2024, Forever Young competed in the UAE Derby (Group II, 1,900m) at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Starting from gate 11, he triumphed by two lengths in 1 minute 57.89 seconds.

After his Middle Eastern campaign, Forever Young headed to America for the 150th Kentucky Derby. Despite a poor start, he fought valiantly and finished in a dramatic three-way photo finish behind Mystik Dan and Sierra Leone, officially placing third, beaten only by a nose and a head.
 

Later that year, Forever Young also ran in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, where luck again eluded him — finishing third behind Sierra Leone.

Although he didn’t win in the U.S. that year, 2024 was still a milestone season. Forever Young earned the JRA Special Award and received 103 votes for Best Three-Year-Old Colt, finishing just behind Danon Decile (141 votes). He also ranked second in voting for both Best Dirt Horse and Japanese Horse of the Year.