Costa Rolfe

The ‘Shadow Roll Monster’ recast: Narita Brian thrills Japanese audiences anew

Anime phenomenon Uma Musume is ensuring that the feats of past champions like 1994 Triple Crown winner Narita Brian can be appreciated by a new generation of racing fans.

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.

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.

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.

Homan

JRA Blackbook: Ryan Moore full of praise for imposing new son of Duramente

A hulking youngster and a three-year-old future staying star 'Impress' in this week’s JRA Blackbook.

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.

Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: Tango time in Tokyo

JRA broadcaster Adrian Webber talks Derby form, dance moves in the parade ring, planting trees and JBC Day in this week’s edition of Keiba Diary.

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.

Adrian Webber

Keiba Diary: It’s Tenno Sho week and the overseas riders are flying in

JRA broadcaster Adrian Webber takes a look at the latest happenings in Japan including Group 1 observations and a worrying trend for the industry.

Homan

JRA blackbook: Epiphaneia colt justifies price-tag in Ivy Stakes

Chance The Roses cost Susumu Fujita 220 million Yen (USD$1.5m) as a yearling but despite some wayward tendencies, the colt looks set for a big future in his owner's colours.

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.