History for Japan as Forever Young fends off fast-finishing Sierra Leone to claim Breeders' Cup Classic

The Breeders’ Cup Classic went to Japan for the first time as Forever Young went two places better than his third in the race last year for trainer Yoshito Yahagi.

The four-year-old led the field turning for home and the post came in time with the fast-finishing Sierra Leone bearing down on the leader.

Forever Young was ridden by Ryusei Sakai, who was part of the winning Team Asia in this year’s Shergar Cup. He told NBC: “It’s amazing. I had a lot of confidence; this horse is very good. He’s number one, this horse.”

The race had an open-looking feel after ante-post favourite Sovereignty – successful in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes this year – was withdrawn earlier this week.

Last year's runner-up Fierceness was boxed in on the turn and had to wait for the straight to pounce but could only finish third.

Connections of Forever Young following his Breeders' Cup Classic winCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Yahagi said: “This is like if the Japanese team won the World Cup. The Japanese racing industry never expected us to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic. We appreciate the horse and we got to number one in America. Yes, he will be back next year.

"I feel like I've created a new page for Japanese horse racing," added owner Susumu Fujita in the winner's enclosure.

• Recap all of the action on a blockbuster Breeders' Cup Saturday

Forever Young has now amassed over £15 million in prize-money having won ten of his 13 career starts. 

Journalism, who won the Preakness Stakes earlier this year, was also among the contenders as they turned for home but didn’t have enough gas in the tank to put pressure on the three in front of him, settling for fourth.

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