Hello everyone.
With the Japan Derby over, the maiden races begin this week. Young horses that owners, ranches, and stables have high hopes for are making their debuts one after another, and the story of next year's classic races is already underway. When you're in the world of horse racing, a year really does fly by.
Let's take a look back at the recent Japan Derby. The Museum Mile, which won the first of the male classic races, was a favorite. Croix du Nord, who came in second, was the favorite again, following his appearance in the Satsuki Sho. Shohei, ridden by Christophe, won his previous race, the Kyoto Shimbun Hai. As I previously commented in this column, "He kept his composure despite the slow pace and showed strong acceleration in the straight," he was one to watch. Houou Artman led the race, followed closely by Satono Shining, Shohei, and Croix du Nord. Croix du Nord took the lead early at the start of the straight and drove to victory in a commanding race. Masquerade Ball made a strong charge from the outside, while Shohei finished in third place.
After the race, Christophe reflected, "Since I was starting from the second position in the first gate, I gave it my all from the start to avoid getting mixed up in the pack. With jockey Yutaka Take in front of me, I was able to follow behind the horses in the lead with confidence. Looking out to the side at the home stretch, I saw Croix du Nord, so I thought, 'If I just hang in there, I'll be fine.'" Regarding the battle in the straight, he continued, "I followed Croix du Nord closely until the very end. This was his first 2,400-meter race, so I thought he might not be able to handle the distance, but I didn't give up, and although he came in third, my horse ran at full speed. After the finish, I was the first to congratulate jockey Tomokazu Kitamura for his victory. Many jockeys knew that Kitamura had returned from a year of injury to win this big event, and we all called out to him. Even though we're rivals during the race, once it's over, we respect each other." Watching the spectacle on TV, I was also moved.
Firstly, the photo shoot for the new collection took place at Kyoto Racecourse. This time, the shoot focused on the launch of the "Rey de Oro Collection," a collaboration with Carrot Farm, with jockeys Matsuyama Kohei and Iwata Nozomi participating as models. "With the cooperation of the JRA, the shoot at Kyoto Racecourse was made possible. With the 2025 Derby over, a new story has been born. I still remember the excitement of winning the Derby with Rey de Oro in 2017, and I hope he will be successful as a stallion," said Christophe.
The event will run from June 18th to 24th. This annual event has previously been held in Tokyo and Osaka, but this year, due to the desire of Brand and jockey Lemaire to "interact with fans from as many regions as possible," it has been decided to hold it in Fukuoka for the first time. "Last year, we held a fan meeting in Sapporo at the same time as the World All-Star Jockey event, and many people enjoyed it. This will be the first time we are holding an event in Fukuoka. This is a chance to meet local people who usually enjoy horse racing on TV, so please come and visit!"
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藤井勘一郎
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