David Morgan

Japan’s stallions in 2023: freshman sires to watch, new North American influences and the Deep Impact dilemma

This week's Asian Bloodstock Report analyses Japan’s stallion landscape as the freshman sires that entered the breeding sheds in the immediate wake of Deep Impact’s passing will soon have their first runners in Japan.

Homan

JRA Blackbook: Sol Oriens dominant in Keisei Hai, stakes Satsuki Sho claim

The Takahisa Tezuka-trained Sol Oriens emerged as a G1 Satsuki Sho chance with a Group 3 victory at Nakayama, while a "more mature" middle-distance dirt performer continued on his winning ways.

Hopeful Stakes G1 Guide

Upgraded to elite status in 2017, the 2000-metre Hopeful Stakes for two-year-olds is one of only three juvenile Group 1 races in the JRA.

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.

Michael Cox

From the saddle straight to the trainer’s stand, Yuichi Fukunaga will walk away in top form

Only three jockeys have won more than two-time champion rider Yuichi Fukunaga and he now has his sights on training after completing the tough JRA exam process

Bren O’Brien

Champions of the track and breeding barn – Top Five mares who shone as racehorses and as broodmares

With Gentildonna becoming a Group 1-winning producer thanks to her daughter Geraldina, we have ranked the Top Five champion racehorses across the world who went on to become star broodmares.

David Morgan

Christophe Lemaire recounts epic Tenno Sho win on Equinox

When Panthalassa stole a long march on his rivals in Sunday’s Tenno Sho, Japan’s champion jockey thought he had him covered, but then a doubt flicked across his mind.

Bren O’Brien

Equinox edges runaway Panthalassa in thrilling Tenno Sho finish

Equinox’s late surge proved too much for tearaway leader Panthalassa, with a perfectly timed Christophe Lemaire ride delivering the Tetsuya Kimura trained 3-year-old a deserved first Group 1 victory in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).

Bren O’Brien

Ask Victor More triumphant in Kikuka Sho

Ask Victor More has emulated his sire Deep Impact, holding off Boldog Hos in a photo finish to win a thrilling edition of the G1 Kikuka Sho at Hanshin.

Kikuka Sho G1 Guide

The closest thing horse racing has to finding the Holy Grail is winning a Triple Crown but in Japan the coveted feat of winning the three senior Classics has already been achieved three times this century.

Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: Kikuka Sho provides a classic puzzle

A look at an intriguing G1 Kikuka Sho, the retirement of two dirt stars and a firm date for the re-opening of Kyoto Racecourse all form part of this week's Keiba Diary.