(28th Apr 26)

Three titans in the FWD Champions Day

Three Group 1 races were staged at Sha Tin Racecourse in the FWD Champions Day on April 26th, with a strong international field that included several top-level contenders from overseas. Japan sent six runners to compete, but none were able to secure victory, as Hong Kong’s home team dominated all three.
The Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) saw Ka Ying Rising justify overwhelming favoritism in both Japan and Hong Kong, going off at odds of 1.0 and capturing his ninth Group 1 title. The win extended his unbeaten streak to 20 races. Although jockey Zac Purton was briefly seen urging him in the straight, Ka Ying Rising quickly and easily accelerated from the 200-meter mark and drew clear to win by 4¼ lengths. He stopped the clock at 1:07.10, breaking his own record and securing a second consecutive Hong Kong Speed Series Triple Crown. The 2019 JRHA Select Sale Foal session graduate Satono Reve, the back-to-back victor of the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, tracked the leader from fourth position but finished second for the second year in succession, even his high performance reflected his consistency.
The Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) featured three Japanese contenders, Masquerade Ball, runner-up in the Japan Cup, Giovanni, fourth in last year’s G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and June Take, winner of this year’s G2 Kyoto Kinen. However, the heavily favored Romantic Warrior proved dominant, claiming a fourth consecutive victory in the race.
In the Champions Mile (1600m), Japan was represented by Jantar Mantar, last year’s JRA Award winner for Best Miler, and Strauss, winner of the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup in February. The race was won by Hong Kong trainer Mark Newnham’s My Wish, who had taken the Hong Kong Classic Mile, the opening leg of last year’s Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Classic Series, and came into this contest off a second-place finish in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy.

(24th Apr 26)

SATONO REVE looks to avenge last year’s runner-up in the FWD Champions Day

The FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on April 26 will feature six Japanese runners across three Group 1 races, with the final declarations and barrier draws confirmed on the 23rd. Among them, Satono Reve will line up in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize over 1200m for the second consecutive year. Now a seven-year-old, the son of Lord Kanaloa has not only maintained his form but continued to improve.
In his most recent outing, he successfully defended his title in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, becoming just the second horse in history to win back-to-back renewals after Kinshasa no Kiseki (2010 & 11). Settled in midfield, he produced a sharp turn of foot in the straight for the last 200meters before pulling clear to score by two lengths. He comes into this race on a three-week turnaround. Sha Tin will mark his fourth visit, having previously finished third in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint in 2024, second in last year’s Chairman’s Sprint Prize, and ninth in the Hong Kong Sprint. Now fully accustomed to travel, he shows no signs of being unsettled in the different surroundings. He has already faced Ka Ying Rising, currently ranked world No.1 sprinter on ratings, on three occasions, and will be aiming to be competitive and beat him on the big stage.
Satono Reve is bred by Shirai Stud Farm, owned by Hajime Satomi and trained by Noriyuki Hori. He was sold at 2019 JRHA Select Sale Foal session for 54,000,000yen. Awarded the 2025 JRA Best Sprinter.
　In the G1 FWD Champions Mile, Japan’s top miler Jantar Mantar (5-year-old, by Palace Malice) and Strauss (5-year-old, by Maurice) who won the Listed Abu Dhabi Gold Cup (1600m) impressively last time will be lined up.
In the feature race, the FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2000m, Japan will represent three horses, one of the Japanese leading middle-distant horses Masquerade Ball (4-year-old, by Duramente), the G2 Kinko Sho (2000m) runner-up Giovanni (4-year-old, by Epiphaneia) and this year’s G2 Kyoto Kinen (2200m) winner June Take (5-year-old, by Kizuna).

(31st Mar 26)

FOREVER YOUNG fell short of redemption, finishing second in the Dubai World Cup

The 5-year-old Forever Young, who had drawn overwhelming attention after winning back-to-back Saudi Cups and aiming to avenge last year’s third-place finish, chased hard from second under his regular rider Ryusei Sakai but ultimately finished second, beaten by 0.98 lengths (as officially recorded locally). Breaking well, he was urged forward early to secure position and settled in second, tracking the pacesetter Magnitude. Asked for an effort relatively early, he began to close the gap, but Magnitude still had plenty in reserve. Although he responded gamely to his rider’s urging in the stretch and reduced the margin, he was unable to reel in the leader and had to settle for second.
The Yoshito Yahagi trainee and the 2022 JRHA Select Sale graduate will depart Dubai with his stablemate American Stage. According to Yahagi, there are no changes to the plan to give him time off until the autumn campaign.
In Dubai Turf, the 2019 JRHA Select Sale graduate Gaia Force broke sharply from the outside gate, took the lead and set the pace for the field. The 7-year-old horse by Kitasan Black maintained his advantage into the home straight, but Ombudsman—who had drawn overwhelming attention—produced a strong late run down the outside to get up and win, securing his third G1 title. Gaia Force, though headed early in the stretch, showed determination to the end and finished sixth. The gray horse had also received the Best Turned-Out award prior to the race.

(25th Mar 26)

FOREVER YOUNG, seeking redemption of last year’s defeat in Dubai

Running the 30th Dubai World Cup is set to take place on the 28th at Meydan Racecourse. While there are concerns about the impact of the Iran conflict, the races are scheduled to proceed as planned. This year’s main attraction is Forever Young, a 5-year-old horse by Real Steel, who will compete in the Dubai World Cup (dirt, 2000 meters). In last year’s race, he finished third without showing his full ability. However, he has since gone on a three-race winning streak, including a victory in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic—the first ever by a Japan-trained horse—and most recently the G1 Saudi Cup, which he won for a historic second consecutive year. His main rivals in the lineup are expected to include the American horse Hit Show, aiming for back-to-back wins, and Bhupat Seemar trained Imperial Emperor, who comes off a win in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge.
With a favorable draw in gate six, Forever Young appears fully prepared to achieve a double triumph in Middle East. Bred by Northern Farm, Forever Young was graduated from the 2022 JRHA Select Sale Yearling session. He was purchased by Susumu Fujita for 98,000,000yen. He has recorded 11 wins from 14 starts to date, with total career earnings of 4,560,834,500yen, the second-highest in world history. A victory in the Dubai World Cup would see him overtake the current leader and the Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior.
In Dubai Turf over 1800m, the 7-year-old Gaia Force will aim to secure his long-awaited first G1 victory. Last year, he finished second in both the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m, turf) in the spring and the G1 Mile Championship in the autumn. In 2024, he also narrowly finished second in the G1 February Stakes (1600m) on dirt. A two-way performer on both turf and dirt, he will be partnered with jockey Ryusei Sakai for the first time. Gaia Force is bred by Oiwake Farm and trained by Haruki Sugiyama, and he was sold at 2019 JRHA Select Sale Foal session for 30,000,000yen by KR Japan.

(13th Feb 26)

JRA Horse of the Year FOREVER YOUNG will make a history with a defend title in the Saudi Cup

The Japanese star stands out as the clear headline act as he bids to become the first horse ever to win the race twice in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Twelve months ago, Forever Young emerged victorious from a fierce battle with a Hong Kong legend Romantic Warrior to secure his first overseas G1 victory in the G1 USD$20M Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. He then took a major step forward, becoming the first Japan-trained horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November 2025. His achievements did not stop there. Forever Young became the first dirt specialist to be named JRA Horse of the Year and also the Eclipse Award Older Dirt Male, which was another first for a Japan-trained horse. Now a fully matured five-year-old at the height of his powers, he returns to the world’s richest race seeking to reach the summit once again. Owned by Susumu Fujita and bred by Northern Farm, Forever Young was bought at 2022 JRHA Select Sale Yearling session for 98,000,000yen. Now the 5-year-old horse by Real Steel has been prepared well going into the race.

Another JRHA Select Sale graduate, Sunrise Zipangu, a 5-year-old horse by Kizuna, is also set for the world’s richest race. Trained by Kyoko Maekawa, the first female to hold a training license on the JRA division, Sunrise Zipangu who finished a brave 5th in the G1 Grand Prix Arima Kinen last December will be paired by Oishin Murphy for the first time. Purchased at 2022 Yearling session by Life House Co Ltd, Sunrise Zipangu is a tactical versatile type of horse, handling both turf on dirt. He did not taste any success in the autumn campaign last year, however he shifted to turf again and showed a solid turn of foot in the Arima Kinen, only 0.3 seconds behind the winner Museum Mile.
Trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka’s Alohi Alii attempt to secure his second overseas group race success in the G1 Neom Turf (2100m, turf). The final crop of Duramente who passed away at young age was hammered down by Tsuyoshi Suzuki for 60,000,000yen in 2022 JRHA Select Sale Foal session. He took his first graded race in the G2 Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville in August last year before a disappointing 16th in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Paris Longchamp Racecourse in October. Has not raced since, Alohi Alii has been traveled to Riyadh and settled in well.