28 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 840 Thursday 4th April 2024 REVIEW / UAE DERBY adiyat racing plus.com adiyat racing plus.com By Suleiman Altaf Now unbeaten in five starts, Japan’s Forever Young has surely secured a guaranteed place in May’s Kentucky Derby following success in the Group 2 UAE Derby for legendary trainer Yoshito Yahagi and jockey Ryusei Sakai. The decisive victory ensured Forever Young became the Land of the Rising Sun’s latest candidate for America’s premium three-yearold race. “Of course, it will be very difficult to manage the horse's condition (travelling) from Dubai to Kentucky, but I really believe my team will be able to get him in good order,” Yahagi said. Forever Young came into the race with a big reputation and equally high expectations after an eye-catching victory in the Saudi Derby where many things went wrong. “He did not travel well from Japan to Saudi Arabia, so he was not in great condition, but he still performed very well. After travelling from Riyadh to Dubai he improved and he has so much potential, I always have a lot of confidence in him.” LITTLE FUSS In contrast, Saturday’s success came without much fuss. Sakai hustled the winner soon after the break settling in just behind Julio Olascoaga’s pair of Oasis Boy (Christophe Soumillon) and Auto Bahn, ridden by Mickael Barzalona. Facing a four-wide trip throughout brought no inconvenience as the son of 2016 Dubai Turf Real Steel could be short of many things but not stamina. As Oasis Boy gave way, Barzalona committed for home on Auto Bahn with Forever Young perched right behind his quarters looking ominous. From that point, Auto Bahn fought on bravely but Forever Young always looked the likely winner. Sakai also partnered Bathrat Leon to success in the 2022 Godolphin Mile, and he is keen to venture abroad with Forever Young. The 26-year-old said: “His condition improved from the Saudi Derby and so I was very confident that the horse would perform for me. I really trust the horse and it was a great performance. This horse is yet to be beaten and I feel he is YAHAGI’S UNBEATEN JAPANESE STAR FOREVER YOUNG HAS KENTUCKY DERBY ON HIS RADAR NOW FOREVER YOUNG CAME INTO THE RACE WITH A BIG REPUTATION AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
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