Big plans for Japanese dirt star after G1 win in Tokyo, invitations issued for Pegasus card, Dylan Davis wins NYRA tilte – all this and more in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Forever Young set for Saudi after G1 win
Japan: Forever Young will be aimed at the Saudi Cup after a powerful victory over a field full of Japan’s top dirt horses in the Tokyo Daishoten at Ohi on Sunday [Dec 29].
The Dubai World Cup is also on the agenda for the Yoshito Yahagi-trained colt, who was third in both the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2024.
Sent off odds-on under Ryusei Sakai, Forever Young finished with purpose to beat Wilson Tesoro by a length and three-quarters in the Tokyo Daishoten, an internationally recognised G1 event over 2,000 metres (1m2f). Further behind were the likes of Ushba Tesoro, Derma Sotogake and Crown Pride.
“We had a race with top dirt horses in Japan today,” said Yahagi. “But we are looking to be number one in the world, therefore, we cannot lose here in Japan. I continue to aim to be number one with this horse next year when we will train him for the Saudi Cup.” More here
Forever Young moved up to #14 (from #30, +134pt) on Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings.
Mystik Dan heads Pegasus invitations
USA: Invitations have been issued for the principal races on the Pegasus World Cup card at Gulfstream Park on Jan 25 – with Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan the biggest name on a card featuring ten stakes.
Also set to run in the $3m main event is Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador plus fellow G1 scorers White Abarrio, Saudi Crown and Stronghold. More here
Heading the Pegasus Turf is Godolphin’s four-time G1 winner Nations Pride and Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up Johannes, who returned to winning ways in the G2 San Gabriel at Santa Anita on Dec 26. More here
American Oaks winner She Feels Pretty is joined by G1 winners from South Africa and Chile in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf. More here
• Gulfstream nominations at Equibase
Dylan Davis secures first New York jockeys’ title
USA: Dylan Davis ended a career-best year with a significant achievement as leading rider on the New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit.
Davis, 30, secured the New York riding title with 209 victories over the circuit’s six meets in 2024. He won meet titles at both the Aqueduct winter (with 54 wins) and Belmont at the Big A (44 wins).
Among Davis’s 23 stakes wins were 10 Graded events, led by a G1 win on Carson’s Run in the Saratoga Derby. “It was my first Grade 1 win in the states and with Saratoga being my hometown it's definitely one I won't forget,” said Davis, the son of multiple G1-winning jockey Robbie Davis.
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown continued his dominance on the NYRA circuit to secure his ninth year-end training title with 146 wins. More here
Shock 2020 Derby winner Serpentine retired
Australia: Serpentine, the shock Epsom Derby winner of 2020 during the Covid pandemic, has been retired from racing at the age of eight.
The son of Galileo produced one of the most stunning performances in the history of Britain’s premier Classic with a front-running 5½-length victory under Emmet McNamara for trainer Aidan O’Brien.
However, Serpentine failed to reproduce that level of form and was sold to owner Lloyd Williams in Australia, where he gained notoriety as the first Derby winner to be gelded since at least 1900.
Although he ran with credit in several major races, Serpentine’s biggest success among three wins in Australia came in the G3 Neville Sellwood Stakes at Rosehill in March last year. He won five of 34 career starts altogether, and beat only one horse home in his final start in the Perth Cup on Wednesday [Jan 1]. More here
• Blue Diamond stakes winner Hayasugi euthanized. More here
South African star Quid Pro Quo joins Team Valor
South Africa: Last season’s champion two-year-old filly Quid Pro Quo has been purchased by Team Valor International with a view to being trained in Europe ahead of a Dubai Carnival campaign in 2026. Trained by Barend Botes, Quid Pro Quo won a pair of G1 races at two and was last seen winning the G2 Dingaans at Turffontein.
“South African racing has always been special to me, and I’ve made significant investments there,” said Team Valor principal Barry Irwin.
“Quid Pro Quo will carry the torch for Team Valor over the coming years and even possibly in South Africa if she isn't exported in time early next year.” More here
Bahrain Turf Series: Rocket Rodney out for repeat for George Scott
Bahrain: The Bahrain Turf Series continues on Friday [Jan 3], when trainer George Scott is bidding to build on the good work on the opening day card a fortnight ago, when he saddled two winners and a second.
Rocket Rodney is the Newmarket trainer’s big hope as he bids to repeat last year’s success in the $80,000 Al Riffa Cup, round two in the sprint division of the series at the Bahrain Turf Club. Friday’s card also features the $80,000 Al Dana Cup, second round in the middle-distance division. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Equine fatalities rise in California in 2024 More here
USA: Kentucky Derby hopefuls clash at Santa Anita More here
Japan: Seventh JRA jockeys’ title for Christophe Lemaire More here
New Zealand: Opie Bosson announces retirement from the saddle More here
Germany: Thore Hammer Hansen crowned champion jockey More here
Dubai: Tuz back in action at Meydan More here
Hong Kong: Zac Purton six-timer – and then he hits 1,800-win milestone More here
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