Forever Young is Japan’s Horse Of The Year
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.”
Itchintogo living up to his name
Tony Gollan-trained 2-year-old gelding Itchintogo (Sun City) won the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes last start, and will run in Saturday's Gold Nugget seven days out from the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. “I want to use this to try to take the edge off him a bit for the following week,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.
Itchintogo | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“He was a bit keen in his last win at the 1110 at Doomben and I jumped him out the other day and he was a bit keen in the jumpout again. He wasn't an expensive horse but he is a real little racehorse, he is just a little bit too racy at times. To get the 1200 metres strongly on Magic Millions day, he has just got to execute things a bit better.”
Inhabit needs to run top three to qualify
South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott will run 2-year-old filly Inhabit (Stay Inside) on Saturday with a top three finish required to qualify for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. “She’s excellent, I couldn’t be happier with her,” Hickmott told racing.com.
Michael Hickmott | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I’ve travelled a lot of horses to various parts of Australia in my time and rarely have I had one travel as straightforward as her. She’s well-hydrated, she hasn’t left an ounce of feed, she hasn’t taken a step sideways in her work… it’s been remarkable.
“Unfortunately, when she went around last start at $1.20 and had atrial fibrillation… that extra prizemoney would have been really handy. Realistically, I think she’d need to finish in top-three, maybe top-four to make the field.”
Foreign Press ready for Sunlight challenge
Trainer Tony Gollan is thrilled with last start Listed Mode Stakes winner Foreign Press (Invader) ahead of the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight slot race. “I think she is in the race for sure. She will be racing for the first time in five weeks, but she's had a jumpout and I'm very pleased with her,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Cejay Graham has got a really good record on her, I'm happy to keep her on because I think the horse and jockey combo is quite good. The filly jumped out a little bit fresh the other day which is what I wanted to see, her up and about. To be honest she looks better now than she did Mode Plate day.”
Hot weather changes for NSW
With 42 degrees forecast for Sydney on Saturday, Racing NSW have outlined several potential changes to the state’s programming over the next few days. Thursday’s Wagga Wagga meeting will run on Sunday, while Friday’s meetings will proceed with changes to times.
Saturday’s meeting at Wyong may shift.
“Forecast is for a sunny day and top of 40 degrees so with the current very high temperatures expected, the meeting is now considered in doubt for Saturday with Sunday the back-up option. A final decision will be made Thursday morning,” said the press release. The $500,000 The Lakes is the feature race at this meeting.
Another meeting to potentially move is Saturday’s Kembla Grange meeting. “Forecast is for a sunny day and top of 41 degrees with a thunderstorm likely in the evening. Pending an updated forecast, Goulburn, which presently has lower forecast temperatures is an alternative venue. A final decision will be made on Friday morning.”
Werribee moved from Friday to Monday
Forecast hot weather on Friday has impacted Victoria’s Werribee meeting which will now run on Monday. “Racing Victoria (RV) advises that the meeting scheduled at Picklebet Park Werribee this Friday, 9 January has been deferred to Monday, 12 January owing to forecast hot weather,” said a press release.
“The decision has been made in the interests of horse and participant welfare with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) predicting temperatures to reach 41 degrees in Werribee on Friday afternoon.”
Jokers Grin moves east to Waller
Bernie Miller-trained Jokers Grin (Maschino), who won the 2025 The Quokka, will transfer to the eastern stable of Chris Waller, according to racenet.com.au. Jokers Grin has won nine of his 13 starts and over $2.6 million. He was fifth in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes at his most recent start.
Jokers Grin | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Heinrich thrilled with The Wave chance
Gillian Heinrich has survived three bouts with cancer and along with training partner Ben Rodgers, will run 5-year-old entire Pasima (Pierro) in the $500,000 The Wave at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
“I've known and worked with Ben for around 12 years,” Heinrich told racingandsports.com.au.
Gillian Heinrich | Image courtesy of Racing QLD
“He started as my foreman and took over our training when we went into a training partnership after I was diagnosed with cancer the first time. I'm 65 now and he'll eventually take over training the stable when I retire. He's such a good bloke and a lovely person.
“Pasima can't do much more than what he's done so far this campaign and we're hoping he's up to it for The Wave. He's still a bull and has taken every step so far. It was a big effort to go from three provincials wins to winning in town last time and he's been running great times.
“If he goes well, we're keen to look at some better races as he's a stud proposition. He could go to Sydney in the autumn for a Listed or Group race or we may wait for the winter carnival here.”
Pasima is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Inkaruna (I Am Invincible). His dam Ravi (Redoute’s Choice) won the G3 Sheraco Stakes.
O’Keeffe’s Star heads to The Wave
Former test cricketer and current commentator Kerry 'Skull' O'Keeffe is a part-owner in Brett Robb-trained Gallant Star (Zoustar) who runs in this weekend’s The Lakes at Wyong. “The last couple of starts we've been happy with him and have been aiming for this one since. We've been looking to step him up to the mile and I think we've found the right race to do it,” Robb told racingandsports.com.au.
“I was talking to (O’Keeffe) the other day, and he'll definitely be making his way down.” Gallant Star has run a top four in all bar two of his 22 starts. “Every time I think he's just about found his level he steps up. Every time he goes out and comes back, he just keeps getting better and better with age. You look at his record and he's never gone out there and run a bad race.”
Pepper Tree Farm will present Gallant Star’s half-sister by Hitotsu as Lot 567 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Asva wins Devonport Cup
Trainer Glenn Stevenson quinellaed Wednesday’s Devonport Cup with Asva (NZ) (Capitalist) defying stablemate Ashy Boy (Star Witness)’s attempt to win the Cup for three successive years. The margin was one-third of a length. Asva was coming off a last start Brighton Cup victory and now has seven wins and 18 placings from 36 starts with earnings over $330,000.
Originally sold by Mapperley Stud at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$100,000 to Snowden Racing, Asva went through an Inglis Digital sale in January 2024 where E Sakareassen purchased him for $50,000.
He is the third foal of First Bloom (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) whose first two foals are stakes winners. Exoboom (Exosphere) won the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas and Fierce Flight (Flying Artie) won the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup. She has two Tarzino (NZ) geldings following Asva, but neither have made much impact and she died in 2021.
World Pool turnover grows by 20%
World Pool turnover on overseas races in 2025 totalled HK$9.3 billion (around AU$1.7 billion), representing a 20% increase on the 2024 figure of HK$7.8 billion (AU$1.48 billion).
In total, the Hong Kong Jockey Club-powered pools were active across 57 racedays staged outside of Hong Kong. Most notably, those racedays included the Randwick card on October 18 which saw Ka Ying Rising extend his winning sequence in The Everest.
Total turnover on The Everest reached a new record for a single race of HK$83 million (AU$15.7 million), smashing the previous high of HK$66.2 million (AU$12.6 million) wagered on the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2023.
The year saw 329 races run under the World Pool banner, 70 of which were positioned in the IFHA Top 100 within the last three years, across 10 jurisdictions. For the first time, all of Hong Kong's Group 1 contests were run as World Pool races, accounting for HK$1.6 billion (AU$303 million) and taking the total turnover for all World Pool races to HK$10.9 billion (AU$2.08 billion).
Following a public vote, Kevin Daffy – who trains, owns and leads up Australian galloper Oh Too Good (All Too Hard) – received the prize for World Pool Moment of the Year after the horse's triumph in the Jewellers Vase on the Might And Power Stakes undercard at Caulfield on October 11.
Andrew Harding | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “It's been a very positive year for World Pool. We've had more racedays and jurisdictions involved than ever before, and we've seen turnover records broken too.
“World Pool's growth over the past 12 months has played a key role in the globalisation of racing and all the benefits that come with that, not least the increased revenue streams for racecourses and rights holders which leads to greater prize-money.”
He added, “Heading into 2026, we're confident that World Pool will continue to act as a positive force for racing globally and we will be confirming an expansion of fixtures very soon, bringing World Pool to even more racing fans in the new year.”
Owners change jockeys for My Wish
Jockey Alexis Badel has been given an opportunity to ride My Wish (Flying Artie) in the G1 Steward’s Cup on January 25, with regular jockey Luke Ferraris taken off by the owners. “It was the owner’s choice – Luke has played a big part in the horse’s career and I will never downplay that,” trainer Mark Newnham told scmp.com.
My Wish | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He will continue to get good support from the stable in the future. Without Luke’s input, I don’t think the horse would have come as far as he has.” Ferraris has ridden My Wish in 13 of his 15 starts but was below par last start in a messy race.
Japanese 2025 category winners
With Horse Of The Year going to Forever Young, the other category winners for 2025 in Japan are as follows. 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 Three-Year-Old Filly 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.
Mayson moves to Norton Grove Stud
Mayson, who won the G1 July Cup and finished second in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye in an 18-race career for Richard Fahey, will return to North Yorkshire for the next phase of his stallion career at Norton Grove Stud. He will stand for a fee of £3,500 (AU$7000) in 2026.
Mayson | Standing at Norton Grove Stud
The sire of another July Cup hero in Oxted, in addition to the multiple Group-winning sprinter Rohaan, Mayson initially retired to Cheveley Park Stud for the 2013 breeding season. He remained in Newmarket until 2024 when he relocated to Oak Lodge Stud in Ireland, having been sold to his part-owner and breeder David Armstrong.
The son of Invincible Spirit joins Electrolyte – a new addition to the British stallion ranks for 2026 – Century Dream, Mattmu and Midnight Sands on the roster at the Lingwood family's Norton Grove Stud.
