Forever Young Makes History With Japanese Horse Of The Year Award

[Wandering Eyes]

International superstar Forever Young has been named the Japanese Horse of the Year after the selection committee for the 2025 Japan Racing Association (JRA) Awards met on Tuesday.

The son of Real Steel is the first dirt horse to be honoured with the Horse of the Year award. Racing in the silks of Susumu Fujita, he was also honoured as the Japanese Best Older Male and Japanese Best Dirt Horse. During 2025, Forever Young prevailed in an epic showdown with Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) in the G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh in February, before running a gallant third in the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan in April. Given some time off, he returned with a score in the Listed Nippon TV Hai in October, prior to his victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar later that autumn. He was third in both the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic and the GI Kentucky Derby.

“As an owner, I never dreamed that the day would come when I would win the Horse of the Year,” said Fujita, the chairman of CyberAgent, Inc.

“Thank you for choosing Forever Young. Thanks to the efforts of many people, including everyone at Yahagi Stable, jockey Rusei Sakai, and everyone at Northern Farm, I have not done anything, but I would like to be a horse owner worthy of Forever Young in the future.”

Forever Young is bound for a title defence of the G1 Saudi Cup next month, followed by another crack at the G1 Dubai World Cup in March.

Added trainer Yoshito Yahagi, “I am very honoured to receive this prestigious award. I am very happy to receive such an award while not running in the JRA, as it is proof of the greatness of what he has achieved.”

Aga Khan homebred and Francis-Henri Graffard's Calandagan (Gleneagles) picked up the JRA Special Award thanks to his victory in the G1 Japan Cup in November. It was the first victory in the race in 20 years for a foreign-trained horse. Forever Young was the 2024 JRA Special Award recipient.

In the Champion Two-Year-Old Male category, Saturnalia's Cavallerizzo took home the hardware. Second in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes, the Silk Racing colourbearer won the G1 Hopeful Stakes at the end of 2025. In the fillies' equivalent, Drefong's Star Anise claimed the gold medal for her efforts when second in the G3 Chukyo Nisai Stakes and G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. She races for Katsumi Yoshida.

Sunday Racing's Museum Mile (Leontes) was named the Champion Three-Year-Old Male on the back of wins in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), G2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen, and the G1 Arima Kinen. He was also second in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn).

Also a Classic scorer in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), Silk Racing's Embroidery (Admire Mars) also put her stamp on the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup. In October, she added the G1 Shuka Sho to seal her championship season.

Champion Older Mare went to Regaleira (Suave Richard) for Sunday Racing. The three-time Group 1 winner took the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers, prior to the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. The mare was fourth in the Arima Kinen.

Osamu Satomi's Satono Reve (Lord Kanaloa) won the Champion Sprinter title after taking the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March. Second in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize later that spring, the entire broke new ground when second in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was also fourth in the autumn's G1 Sprinters Stakes.

Palace Malice's Jantar Mantar was awarded the Champion Miler award. Campaigned by Shadai Race Horse, he made just three starts this year, but made them count. After a win in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in June, he was second in the G2 Fuji Stakes in October, before taking the G1 Mile Championship in November.

Ecoro Duel (Kitasan Black) was the Japanese Champion Steeplechaser.

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