Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: gift-wrapped Equinox

Adrian Webber sees the Takarazuka Kinen as a perfect summer gift, Lemaire and leading sire Lord Kanaloa maintain their hot form, and Imamura returns with a win.

Takarazuka Kinen G1 Guide

The Takarazuka Kinen is a fan-voted all-star race named for the city of Takarazuka, where Hanshin racecourse is located. It was first run in 1960.

Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: Lane bows out as Takarazuka Kinen comes into view

Adrian Webber shares his latest observations from the JRA as Damian Lane’s bitter-sweet stint ends, Equinox readies for a return, and a jockey with pedigree catches the eye.

Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: typhoon trouble but not for Songline

Adrian Webber reflects on a stormy lead-up to the Yasuda Kinen and looks ahead to the irresistible force of Equinox as he brings together the latest happenings in Japanese racing.

Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: triumph and tragedy in Derby

Adrian Webber reflects on the Tokyo Yushun, casts his eye over a deep Yasuda Kinen and looks forward to the summer season up north in the charming seaside city of Hakodate.

Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: Liberty Island next after the thrills of Sodashi week

Adrian Webber looks ahead to the Oaks at Tokyo on Sunday and beyond that the Derby and the Yasuda Kinen, after the excitement of last weekend’s Victoria Mile

David Morgan

Songline steals Sodashi’s thunder

Sodashi held the crowd in awe from the moment she stepped into the Tokyo parade ring, but ultimately it was to be Songline’s day.

Homan Ho

JRA Blackbook: Victor’s Nikkei Sho backers left asking for more

Last year's Kikuka Sho 'Victor' is asking for forgiveness after nothing went right in the G2 Nikkei Sho at Nakayama, while yet another classy son of Deep Impact put his best foot forward when stretched out in trip at Hanshin.

Takamatsunomiya Kinen G1 Guide

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo is one of only two Grade 1 sprint races in Japan, and is the only JRA Grade 1 not held at one of the 'big four' tracks Tokyo, Nakayama, Kyoto or Hanshin.

Arima Kinen G1 Guide

The fan-voted G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama has surged to prominence as Japan's best race in recent years, and could make a compelling case for being the best race in the world.

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.