Forever Young re-enables Tinder passport mode following Japanese double-flop at Ascot

Japan's poor showing in Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes has had an unexpected knock-on effect, with reigning Japanese Horse of the Year Forever Young privately vowing to restore Japanese pride on the international stage.

It was announced in June that Forever Young would conclude his glittering career with a two-start United States campaign, kicking off with the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on September 18 and culminating in a Breeders' Cup defence at Keeneland on October 31.

But this masthead understands that Forever Young himself had expressed reluctance around yet another bout of world domination, with the stallion the subject of a rigorous global travel schedule since his three-year-old season, and already having one eye on the less-demanding breeding barn duties slated for the all-conquering son of Real Steel in 2027.

Confirmation that the Breeders' Cup trip is on in earnest however came from Tinder users in the United States, who reportedly saw Forever Young's profile suddenly appear in multiple US locations including California, Kentucky and even Alaska in the direct aftermath of the running of the King George in Great Britain, where Japanese duo Masquerade Ball (seventh) and Wurrtemberg (ninth) managed to beat just runner home between them.

Currently located at his Ritto training base in Japan's Shiga Prefecture, sources close to Forever Young — who spoke to this masthead on condition of anonymity — stated that the dirt superstar had also been uncharacteristically upset by Deep Monster's rough defeat at the hands of Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior in the G1 Champions & Chater Cup in May, but would have considered cancelling his Breeders' Cup trip should Masquerade Ball or Wurrtemberg have prevailed on British soil.

This masthead has since viewed Forever Young's Tinder profile and can confirm that the experienced traveller is keeping things simple when it comes to his bio, spurning clever quips or innuendo in favour of listing his height, weight and career prize money earnings, and nominating ‘Cardio’ as one of his interests.

More to follow.