News that Bill Mott would scratch Sovereignty from the Breeders’ Cup Classic was well-worn by the time Forever Young breezed the Del Mar main track at around 8:15am Wednesday morning, his chances of success already enhanced by the race favourite’s unfortunate withdrawal.
Mott had earlier explained that Sovereignty, America’s standout three-year-old, had “re-spiked another fever” at about 3pm Tuesday afternoon and had been treated with a course of antibiotics.
“He seems to be doing well now, his (temperature is) down to just one tick above normal and he looks bright and looks pretty good, but he’s definitely out of the Breeders’ Cup. He’ll be scratched,” the trainer said.
That meant a rejig of the morning line odds and a new favourite, Fierceness, ahead of Forever Young and Sierra Leone: last year’s second, third and winner, respectively.
If jockey Ryusei Sakai’s words are indicative of the thinking in the Yahagi camp, then there is a knowledge that if Forever Young is to avenge his defeats in last year’s Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, this is the time to do it, with Sierra Leone and Fierceness set for stallion duties next year.
“We’ve got a chance to race against the top two from this race last year and I believe this will be the last chance to do that. I want to let my horse play to his full strength and become the best in the world,” Sakai said after partnering the four-year-old through a breeze of the main track.
“I don’t think there is much difference in their abilities,” Sakai continued. “I just have to ride well and hopefully we can get some luck, too.”
Forever Young’s team has already had a dose of good fortune drawing gate five, the spot Sakai wanted most of all, he said, and so far the preparation appears to be going to plan, from the colt’s lead-up win at Funabashi last month through his travel to California and his work on the track.
That was emphasised when Forever Young stepped on to the Del Mar dirt this morning in company with stablemate American Stage as the sun’s early rays warmed the brisk air. The pair walked around the turn from the backstretch and up the home straight before eventually turning back and breaking into a lope, then building momentum along the back.
Forever Young joined his G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint-bound stablemate down the home run and quickened smoothly to get his head in front.
“We went after American Stage at the five-furlong marker,” Sakai said. “It is important for him to go around the turn with enough speed at such a tight track, so we mainly wanted to see how he fared with the turn. It was perfect.”
His main rivals Fierceness, Sierra Leone and Journalism were out at around the same time and each looked strong and moved fluidly as they cantered the circuit. But the Forever Young camp is pleased with where their horse is at and determined to show he can get to where they want him to be at end of play Saturday.
“Everything is going well at the moment,” Sakai said. “I think he is in great condition right now… The work was very good this morning and we don’t have any concerns at the moment.
“He has gained more power overall,” the jockey added, “I think he has got one step closer to perfection.” ∎
