BC Classic Defence Appears on Target

Japan's outstanding dirt champion Forever Young has taken another important step towards defending his Gr1 Breeders' Cup Classic crown, completing a sharp workout at Belmont Park on Sunday as trainer Yoshito Yahagi prepares the internationally acclaimed five-year-old for his latest American assignment. According to horseracingnation.com, the son of former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Real Steel breezed 800m in 51.8 seconds over the main track, marking his first official timed workout since capturing the $1 million Gr1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 18. With assistant trainer Yuki Araki aboard, Forever Young commenced his exercise at 6.45am, recording sectional times of 13.8 seconds and 38 seconds before completing a stronger piece of work than originally anticipated. Araki explained that an unfavourable weather forecast prompted the stable to increase the intensity of the exercise, although the horse responded comfortably and displayed the acceleration that has made him one of the world's most formidable dirt performers. The preparation represents a significant departure from last year's campaign, when Forever Young won the Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi in Japan before travelling to Del Mar and securing the Breeders' Cup Classic. This season, Yahagi has adopted a more extensive American programme, with the entire arriving in New York on September 7 ahead of his successful Jockey Club Gold Cup appearance, which followed his second placing in the Gr1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March. Araki has utilised several different training surfaces at Belmont Park, including the Tapeta pony track, dirt training track and inner Tapeta circuit, to maintain the champion's fitness and enthusiasm while gradually increasing his workload. Forever Young is scheduled to complete another workout at Belmont next Sunday before travelling to Kentucky on October 20, where his final preparations for the October 31 championship at Keeneland will include an anticipated exercise with regular jockey Ryusei Sakai. Stablemate American Stage, who is being prepared for the Breeders' Cup Sprint, could accompany him in that final serious workout, replicating a successful arrangement employed at Del Mar last year. Owned by Susumu Fujita, Forever Young has assembled an extraordinary international record of 12 victories, one second and three thirds from 16 appearances across ten racetracks in four countries, accumulating more than $32.3 million in earnings. His achievements include consecutive victories in the $20 million Gr1 Saudi Cup in 2025 and 2026, alongside the 2024 Tokyo Daishoten and an unbeaten six-start record in Japan. With his latest American preparation progressing smoothly, the Japanese superstar remains firmly on course for another defining performance on racing's international stage.