Japanese star Shin Emperor will not contest the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), scheduled for September 26 at Belmont Park, after failing to show his best physical condition following his arrival in the United States.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi confirmed the decision to withdraw the five-year-old after evaluating his condition following the trip from Japan.
Shin Emperor, a son of Siyouni, arrived in the United States on September 8 alongside stablemate Forever Young, another of Yahagi’s internationally recognized stars.
The original plan called for Shin Emperor to pursue his first Grade 1 victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, a prestigious 2,400-meter turf event that was also expected to mark his highly anticipated first start in the United States.
Shin Emperor began his 2026 campaign in Saudi Arabia, finishing fourth in the Neom Turf Cup, before returning to Japan. He subsequently finished seventh in the Tenno Sho (Spring) and 11th in the Takarazuka Kinen.
Following those performances, his connections gave him a break with the second half of the season and another international campaign in mind. Those plans will now have to be reassessed as the priority shifts to his recovery.
Forever Young Remains on Course
While Shin Emperor has been withdrawn from his U.S. assignment, Forever Young continues preparations for the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), scheduled for September 18 over 2,000 meters on dirt at Belmont Park.
The son of Real Steel, also trained by Yahagi, remains part of the prominent Japanese trainer’s international campaign and is expected to move forward with his U.S. plans.
For Shin Emperor, the focus now turns to recovery and determining the next step in a campaign that has already taken him from Saudi Arabia to Japan and the United States, once again reflecting the global ambitions of Yoshito Yahagi’s operation.
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