Forever Young finds support for his talent through his pedigree

On the paternal line of Sunday Silence and Deep Impact, the lower part of his pedigree features a notable American family, the same one that produced the champion Sierra Leone

Forever Young and the many reasons that explain his class on dirt tracks / JCSA / PAUL MCMILLAN

There are often curiosities in genetic matters, but when delving into the pedigrees of top horses, a strong foundation is usually found. Such is the case with Forever Young, who continues to astonish the world and has just added the Saudi Cup (G1) to his fantastic resume.

For many years, the Japanese racing and breeding scene has been fueled by remarkable horses acquired from different parts of the world, especially from the United States, where they found the cornerstone that transformed their horses into formidable competitors.

It’s rare that the name Sunday Silence doesn’t appear in the pedigree of a prominent Japanese horse, and Forever Young is no exception to the rule. However, he is the son of Real Steel, a top performer on the track but not one of the most prolific descendants of the mighty Halo line, which once battled Easy Goer (Alydar) for supremacy. Real Steel, winner of the Dubai Turf (G1) at Meydan, was one of the top 3-year-olds of his generation, competing well in many important races. His father is Deep Impact, and his addition as a stallion at Shadai Stallion Station starting in 2019 was no random decision.

The key lies in his third dam, the legendary Miesque (Nureyev), a crack of the Niarchos family who won the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) twice and later became the foundation of a family of impactful runners and top stallions like Kingmambo (Mr. Prospector).

This generosity from the Sunday Silence-Deep Impact line combined with Forever Young’s first-rate American maternal family, which had already made waves in Japan, producing Zenno Rob Roy (Sunday Silence), Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse in Japan, and a successful sire.

Forever Young’s pedigree is rich in dirt talent, with his dam, Forever Darling (Congrats), a winner of the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, who had previously produced G3 Brown Ratchet (Kizuna).

Forever Darling is the maternal sister of Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon), a winner of the Darley Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland, and now known as the dam of Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), fresh Champion 3-Year-Old Male in the United States, who beat Forever Young in the most recent Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). 

Darling My Darling (Deputy Minister), the granddam of the Saudi Cup hero, was a classic winner in the North, and Roamin Rachel(Mining), his third dam, boasts a win in the Ballerina Handicap (G1). Forever Young’s pedigree also has a link to South America, as his aunt Sky My Darling (Sky Mesa) produced the G3 winner Charles do Bronxs (Carrocel Encantado) in Brazil.

As seen, Forever Young’s talent is backed by genetics, with the inevitable presence of Sunday Silence and Deep Impact, which has allowed him to build a superb campaign and ensures his future place in the breeding shed, where he will likely continue to shine.