UAE Derby: Post 13 for Japan’s unbeaten Forever Young

Mar 25, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Forever Young wins Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun

Forever Young will try to book his Kentucky Derby ticket in the UAE Derby (Photo by Katsumi Saito)

Forever Young could have stayed on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, but internationally-minded trainer Yoshito Yahagi preferred to earn his way in via Saturday’s $1 million UAE Derby (G2) on Dubai World Cup (G1) night. His undefeated colt is likely to go off as the clear favorite in the about 1 3/16-mile affair, despite drawing the far outside post 13 at Meydan.

By Yahagi’s first big winner abroad, 2016 Dubai Turf (G1) star Real Steel, Forever Young is from the immediate family of early Kentucky Derby favorite Sierra Leone. He brings a perfect 4-for-4 mark into the UAE Derby, most recently just getting up in a whirlwind charge in the one-turn Saudi Derby (G3). His prior start, a seven-length rout of the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun on the Japan Road, is arguably a more informative pointer as a two-turn stakes. Regular pilot Ryusei Sakai will work out the right trip for Forever Young, who’s eligible to appreciate being outside, away from the kickback in a big field.

U.S. interests focus on Pandagate, a son of 2017 World Cup champion Arrogate. The Christophe Clement pupil comes off a five-length conquest of the Gander S. versus New York-breds at Aqueduct. Jockey Dylan Davis makes the trek to ride him back.

Three-time UAE Derby winner Aidan O’Brien has a pair of hopefuls in Henry Adams and Navy Seal, but both would need to step up to win this first try on dirt. Ryan Moore is on Henry Adams, signaling that he’s the better fancied of the Ballydoyle duo.

Henry Adams missed his intended prep, the March 1 Patton at Dundalk, and might be a little ring-rusty in his seasonal reappearance, especially at this distance. The winner of last summer’s Tyros (G3), he has since finished fourth in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) and Dewhurst (G1), all at seven furlongs. Navy Seal is the likelier stayer, having competed exclusively at a mile or so, yet he must improve markedly from his trailing third in the Patton.

O’Brien’s latest UAE Derby star, track record-setter Mendelssohn (2018), has a son in Saturday’s renewal – Mendelssohn Bay, who rolled in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) here, beating stablemate Killer Collect over the metric mile. Killer Collect has since scored a hard-fought decision in the next classic, the Al Bastakiya, at this trip. Their trainer, Bhupat Seemar, has a third contender in the Gun Runner colt Guns and Glory, a 12-length course-and-distance winner of a conditions race on March 8.

The Japanese contingent includes three more in addition to Forever Young, all nominated to the Triple Crown. Ballon d’Or, a close third in the Jan. 17 Bluebird Cup at Funabashi, was seventh in the Japan Road’s Hyacinth S. last time out. But the added distance should help the son of New Year’s Day, who is also the sire of champion Maximum Security. George Tesoro, second in the Japan Road’s opening Cattleya S., has continued to perform well in allowance company at home. Satono Phoenix, a troubled fifth behind Forever Young in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, was beaten farther in 10th in the Saudi Derby.

The UAE Derby is also open to Southern Hemisphere-bred three-year-olds, who are technically four-year-olds in the Northern Hemisphere and therefore too old for the Kentucky Derby. Because of their greater physical development, the Southern Hemisphere-breds must carry 10 more pounds.

Three South American imports from the yard of Julio Olascoaga will take on their younger cohort. Rock Walk, a Group 1 winner in his native Uruguay, makes his Dubai debut here with “Magic Man” Joao Moreira aboard. Auto Bahn, by UAE Triple Crown sweeper Asiatic Boy, was just outdueled by Killer Collect in the aforementioned Al Bastakiya. Another son of Asiatic Boy, Oasis Boy, was fifth in the UAE 2000 Guineas and eighth in the Saudi Derby.

The UAE Derby’s points, awarded on the 100-50-25-15-10 format to the top five, are applicable to the main Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Only the Northern Hemisphere-breds can earn points, since the Southern Hemisphere-breds are ineligible for the Kentucky Derby.

You can watch and wager on the Dubai World Cup card Saturday morning on TwinSpires.com.

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