Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: Japanese contingent sets sights on Saudi Arabia

Christophe Lemaire's new record, some Joao Moreira magic and a concerted Saudi Cup meeting raid all feature in Adrian Webber's run-down of JRA news from home and abroad.

Homan

JRA Blackbook: Graded races await impressive Hanshin winner Lord del Rey

Unbeaten colt Lord del Rey looks destined for bigger things after making it two from two in the Tsubaki Sho, while a late-blooming four-year-old is spinning his own stakes-level claim.

Homan

JRA Blackbook: Lemaire deems Phantom Thief worthy of ‘high level races’

Christophe Lemaire has endorsed Phantom Thief's Classic credentials following a strong Kyodo News Hai win, while Yasuo Tomomichi may have unearthed another exceptional miler in Justin Sky.

Homan

JRA Blackbook: another staying star for Kitasan Black?

A pair of well-bred three-year-olds signal future stardom following contrasting victories on the weekend, but both will need time.

Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: Lemaire’s big six, February attractions and the circle of life

Adrian Webber on the week in Japanese racing and what to look forward to in the month ahead, including a North American raider and the return of a fan favourite.

Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: Hard work brings awards for Kawada and Shibata

JRA broadcaster Adrian Webber returns with his weekly roundup and there is plenty to be positive about in the Year of the Rabbit.

David Morgan

Top 5 magic moments of 2022: Japan

After Equinox’s brilliant Arima Kinen victory emphasised the wonder of top-level racing in Japan, Asian Racing Report looks back on 2022 and ranks its five most memorable Japanese racing moments of the year.

Michael Cox

‘He was a machine’: Christophe Lemaire on the record-breaking Equinox

Star jockey Christophe Lemaire has witnessed the boy-to-man transformation of Equinox first hand this year, and he paid credit to trainer Tetsuya Kimura after the colt’s spectacular coming-of-age display in Sunday’s Arima Kinen.

Michael Cox

The Arc of the east: Arima Kinen looms as race of 2022

Japan’s racing media is abuzz ahead of a Christmas Day clash in which form lines converge for a classic edition of the country’s biggest race.

David Morgan

A champion jockey title is Yuga Kawada’s destiny

Yuga Kawada stands on the cusp of a first championship, a feat that continues his family’s long racing legacy and is important to the profile of Japanese jockeys on the world stage.

Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: All set for an Arima Kinen thriller

Adrian Webber takes a look at this weekend’s big feature at Nakayama as well as what else is happening in Japanese racing around the Christmas season.

David Morgan

Daisuke Fukumoto is one of a new ilk of Japanese jockeys abroad

The former ‘Jockey Baby’ with an international outlook is now an established rider at Woodbine where his compatriot Kazushi Kimura keeps on turning heads.

Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: Forget Hong Kong for a minute, the rising stars are out at Hanshin

Adrian Webber shares his observations from Japan with the juvenile fillies’ pecking order to be decided this weekend, a Saudi campaign on the agenda, and the latest on the upcoming Arima Kinen.