Nov. 3 (UPI) — The Breeders’ Cup World Championships are in the rearview mirror, but the results point toward some fascinating competition in the coming year all around the world.
Front and center is February’s $20 million Group 1 Saudi Cup, where it seems a sure thing that Saturday’s $7 million Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Japanese star Forever Young, will seek a repeat win.
And he could have familiar company from Del Mar, in addition to a rematch of his 2025 Saudi Cup victory over Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior.
“He will stay in training in 2026 as long as he stays in sound condition,” Trainer Yoshito Yahagi, “the man in the hat,” said Sunday morning of Forever Young. “His next race will be the Saudi Cup [Feb. 14], followed by the Dubai World Cup [March 28] as his spring campaign.”
Also with at least an eye on the Saudi Cup, pending retirement and other decisions, are Classic fourth and Preakness Stakes winner Journalism; Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato; Antiquarian, who was eased in the Classic after winning the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup; and potential U.S. Horse of the Year Sovereignty, who missed Saturday’s race with an infection.
Trainer Bill Mott said Sunday that Sovereignty, winner of two-thirds of the Triple Crown, is recovering from the ill-timed malady, but no decision has been taken about his future.
And then there’s Nysos, winner of Saturday’s scratch-plagued Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Trainer Bob Baffert had wanted him in the Classic, but backed off when the colt missed some training. Now, he’s looking at the Saudi Cup — if he stays in training.
“I don’t think we’ll know for another month,” Baffert said about a retirement decision. “He looks sound and healthy. We were talking maybe Saudi Cup with him, and I think he would be a perfect for that race. That is one race I desperately want to win.”
Baffert-trained horses have finished second in the Saudi Cup three times.
Then there’s the 2026 Kentucky Derby picture. Ted Noffey heads into that scene undefeated, winner of Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and on top of the Churchill Downs “Road to the Kentucky” leaderboard. And trainer Todd Pletcher said the colt looks capable of handling the Triple Crown distances.
“I would think most likely that we would be pointing in the Florida Derby direction with the prep race before that,” Pletcher said. “We will get him back to our winter base and go from there. … I think we definitely go into the fall and winter with, hopefully, a Classic campaign in mind.”
Similarly among the 3-year-old fillies, trainer John Sadler said Juvenile Fillies winner Super Corredora exited the race in good order and likely is done for the year, with a hopeful eye on 2026.
“We’re excited for next year. She’s well-suited for the distance races,” Sadler said.
Gstaad’s victory in the Juvenile Turf not only gave trainer Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore “lads” a rare bright spot on an otherwise disappointing weekend, but also provided more ammunition for the organization’s 2026 European Classics. Gstaad had been unlucky in top company all season and the breakthrough at Del Mar was encouraging.
“From his draw [post 14], it was difficult task,” O’Brien said. “But he won well and [is] one we can look forward to next season.”
More crystal ball gazing:
Ethical Diamond, surprise winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf, has been invited to the Longines Hong Kong Vase on Dec. 14, according to trainer Willie Mullins. And trainer Ralph Beckett said Amiloc, fourth in the Turf, could be considered for the same race.
Nine-year-old Khadeem, third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, is a candidate for the Longines Hong Kong Sprint, which would be quite the progression from Kentucky Downs to Keeneland to the Breeders’ Cup to Hong Kong — especially for such a senior citizen.
Godolphin’s 7-year-old Rebel’s Romance, an unlucky second in Saturday’s Turf, is nearing retirement, but his Godolphin connections have not ruled out another Group 1 swing in Hong Kong.
And Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby said Diamond Rain, third in the Filly & Mare Turf, and El Cordobes, third in the Turf, will return in 2026 and are expected to compete again in North America.
Around the world, around the clock
Japan
A pair of 3-year-olds, Masquerade Ball and Museum Mile, took on older rivals for the first time in Sunday’s Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo Racecourse and finished first and second, respectively.
And while they were putting their elders in their place, jockey Christophe Lemaire won his third Grade 1 event in as many weeks on the Japanese circuit.
Masquerade Ball, a Duramente colt, relaxed well for Lemaire early in the 2,000-meter contest, found room between horse in the stretch to take the lead and won by 3/4 length over Museum Mile, who was running best late. Justin Palace, a 6-year-old son of Deep Impact, finished third.
The Tenno Sho was the first Grade 1 win for Masquerade Ball, who finished third in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Meters-G1) in April and then was idle since reporting second in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby-G1) on June 1.
Lemaire said the colt is moving in the right direction, adding he was “probably still green in the Derby … but he’s matured and become stronger coming into the fall season and maybe could go for another Grade 1 this year. If not, he will definitely be among the top horses next season.”
Do Deuce (JPN) won the 2024 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and went on to win the Japan Cup and Horse of the Year honors.
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