2025 JRA Awards

BEST TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT

Cavallerizzo (JPN)

Video (Cavallerizzo)
Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1 - English) Video

Age (Date of Foaling)	2 (February 28, 2023)
Sex / Color	Colt / Bay
Sire	Saturnalia
Dam (Sire of Dam)	Balladist (Heart's Cry)
Owner	Silk Racing Co., Ltd.
Breeder	Northern Farm
Trainer	Tatsuya Yoshioka
Jockey	Cristian Demuro
Season Record / Earnings	3 starts: 2 wins & 1 second / ¥ 93,624,000 (US$ 596,200)
Principal Wins in 2025	Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1)

Cavallerizzo was named Best Two-Year-Old Colt, amassing 190 votes to deliver a crushing defeat to Hopeful Stakes-winner Lovcen (56 votes), based on his victory in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and runner-up effort in the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes. The bay colt is set to run in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) on April 19 after kicking off his three-year-old campaign in either the Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen (G2, 2,000m) on March 8 or the Spring Stakes (G2, 1,800m) a week later.

The son of Saturnalia made a stunning debut in late August. Racing from around eighth, he split his rivals to take command 300 meters out and then pulled away with the fastest late drive for a dominant five-length victory. In the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes in November, Cavallerizzo was positioned around third, from where he dueled with the leader in the stretch but lost by a head to his rival’s the record-breaking performance.

In the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes on yielding ground, second favorite Cavallerizzo settled in midfield earlier and surged through traffic on the rails to reach the pacesetter by the 200-meter pole. From that point, he closed powerfully with the fastest late kick to overtake the stubborn leader for a 3/4-length victory.

BEST TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY

Star Anise (JPN)

Video (Star Anise)
Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1 - English) Video

Age (Date of Foaling)	2 (February 4, 2023)
Sex / Color	Filly / Chestnut
Sire	Drefong
Dam (Sire of Dam)	Epice Arome (Daiwa Major)
Owner	Katsumi Yoshida
Breeder	Northern Farm
Trainer	Tomokazu Takano
Jockey	Kohei Matsuyama
Season Record / Earnings	4 starts: 2 wins & 1 second / ¥ 84,768,000 (US$ 539,800)
Principal Wins in 2025	Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1)

Star Anise earned 247 votes out of 248 to secure the 2025 Best Two-Year-Old Filly title by winning the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. The Drefong filly, who concluded her debut season with two wins and a second in four starts, has the first spring classic, the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) on April 12, as her primary target in 2026.

Foaled out of two-time graded winner Epice Arome, Star Anise was fifth in her debut in June. She broke her maiden in July, racing close to the pace before launching the fastest late kick to dominate the field by an overwhelming seven lengths. In a mixed field in the Chukyo Nisai Stakes, the chestnut filly sat wide around sixth and took command at the 200-meter pole, but finished second by a neck to the fast-closing Candide even though she was credited with the same race-record time as the winner.

Posted second favorite in her first start in three and a half months in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Star Anise broke sharply but was eased back to around eighth in a brisk pace. Shifting outside for a clear path approaching the third corner, she circled wide into the stretch and immediately picked up speed outside to take command passing the 200-meter pole, then strongly fended off challenges from the inside and stretched beautifully in the last strides for a 1-1/4-length victory.

BEST THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT

Museum Mile (JPN)

Video (Museum Mile)
Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) (G1 - English)Video
Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (G1 - English)Video

Age (Date of Foaling)	3 (January 10, 2022)
Sex / Color	Colt / Dark Bay
Sire	Leontes
Dam (Sire of Dam)	Museum Hill (Heart's Cry)
Owner	Sunday Racing Co., Ltd.
Breeder	Northern Farm
Trainer	Daisuke Takayanagi
Jockey	Cristian Demuro
Season Record / Earnings	6 starts: 3 wins & 1 second / ¥ 915,264,000 (US$ 5.8 M)
Career Record / Earnings	10 starts: 5 wins, 2 seconds & 1 third / ¥ 961,799,000 (US$ 6.1 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) (G1) Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (G1) ASAHI HAI ST. LITE KINEN (Japanese St. Leger Trial) (G2)

Museum Mile was voted Best Three-Year-Old Colt with 213 of 248 total votes, thoroughly outpolling Masquerade Ball (27) and Croix du Nord (8). The dark bay was recognized for his outstanding accomplishments in two G1 victories: the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the Arima Kinen. He is entered to run in the Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m), the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m) or the Dubai World Cup (G1, dirt, 2,000m) on March 28.

During his two-year-old debut season, the son of Leontes registered two wins and concluded the year with a second-place finish in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m). After finishing fourth in his three-year-old season debut, the Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen, Museum Mile was posted third favorite in the Satsuki Sho. The dark bay colt traveled wide around eighth from the frontrunner, swung out turning for home and briefly rallied with Croix du Nord 150 meters out before pulling away with a powerful turn of foot to capture his first G1 title by 1-1/2-lengths.

After finishing sixth behind winner Croix du Nord in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), Museum Mile was given a summer break. He commenced his autumn campaign in the St. Lite Kinen, where he sat in eighth, gradually improved his position rounding the last corners and launched a strong late charge for a 3/4-length victory. In his next start, the Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Leontes colt was slow out of the gate and traveled off the rails toward the rear. Advancing along the outside approaching the final turn, he found another gear in the stretch to chase Masquerade Ball, but finished in second by a 3/4 length.

In the year-end Arima Kinen, Museum Mile was again slow out of the gate and settled toward the rear in around 11th or 12th. Shadowing Danon Decile for much of the trip, the dark bay colt swung wide around the final two corners and unleashed a powerful late kick, tied for the fastest last three furlongs. Passing his rivals one by one, he overtook the last two frontrunners, Danon Decile and then Cosmo Kuranda, in the final strides to hit the wire a half-length ahead.

BEST THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY

Embroidery (JPN)

Video (Embroidery)
Shuka Sho (G1 - English) Video
Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (G1 - English) Video

Age (Date of Foaling)	3 (February 1, 2022)
Sex / Color	Filly / Bay
Sire	Admire Mars
Dam (Sire of Dam)	Rottenmeier (Kurofune)
Owner	Silk Racing Co., Ltd.
Breeder	Tenei Horse Park Ltd
Trainer	Kazutomo Mori
Jockey	Christophe Lemaire
Season Record / Earnings	5 starts: 3 wins / ¥ 321,061,000 (US$ 2.0 M)
Career Record / Earnings	9 starts: 5 wins & 1 second / ¥ 338,331,000 (US$ 2.2 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	Shuka Sho (G1) Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (G1) DAILY HAI QUEEN CUP (G3)

Embroidery, only the fourth filly and first since Daiwa Scarlet in 2007 to win both the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and the Shuka Sho, secured the Best Three-Year-Old Filly title with 246 votes.

The daughter of 2019 Hong Kong Mile champion Admire Mars debuted at age two in June with a 1,600m challenge. One month later she quickly notched her first win in record time at 1,800m and then added another powerful win in November at 1,400m. The filly commenced her three-year-old season in the G3 Queen Cup, where she broke sharply to press the pace in second and pulled away after taking the lead at the 400-meter marker for a 2-1/2-length victory.

Posted third favorite in the Oka Sho, Embroidery settled off the rails in mid-division up to the final turn, waiting for an opening as the field straightened out. The bay filly was then guided outside to overtake the tiring pacesetter before the 200-meter pole, joined by the eventual runner-up from the outside, whom she outdueled for a neck victory. However, as first pick in her next race, the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), the Admire Mars filly raced in around sixth early and never found her stride in the straight, finishing ninth.

Well rested from a summer break, Embroidery headed directly to the Shuka Sho, the last leg of the fillies’ Triple Crown. The bay filly took a wide trip in mid-division, briefly stalked Yushun Himba victor Kamunyak and then moved briskly to second with 1,000 meters to go. Still two lengths behind in the straight, Embroidery changed gears in the last 100 meters to power past the pacesetter in the final strides, clinching victory by half a length. However, in the Hong Kong Mile, her first overseas endeavor, she raced wide in mid-pack but failed to produce a charge and was heavily beaten to 11th.

BEST OLDER FILLY OR MARE

Regaleira (JPN)

Video (Regaleira)
Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1-English) Video

Age (Date of Foaling)	4 (April 12, 2021)
Sex / Color	Filly / Bay
Sire	Suave Richard
Dam (Sire of Dam)	Roca (Harbinger)
Owner	Sunday Racing Co., Ltd.
Breeder	Northern Farm
Trainer	Tetsuya Kimura
Jockey	Keita Tosaki
Season Record / Earnings	4 starts: 2 wins / ¥ 276,256,000 (US$ 1.8 M)
Career Record / Earnings	12 starts: 5 wins & 1 third / ¥ 910,637,000 (US$ 5.8 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) SANKEI SHO ALL COMERS (G2)

Regaleira earned the Best Old Filly or Mare title with 176 votes, well ahead of the 64 votes garnered by Champions Cup victor W Heart Bond, after registering her third G1 victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

The Suave Richard filly marked two wins and a third from three starts as a two-year-old, highlighted by her inaugural G1 title in the Hopeful Stakes (2,000m) against male opponents. Regaleira continued to take on colts during her spring campaign the following season, finishing sixth in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) and fifth in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m). She commenced her autumn campaign with a fifth in the Rose Stakes (G2, 2,000m) and then another fifth in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup before capturing her second G1 title in the yearend all-star Arima Kinen.

After missing most of her four-year-old spring campaign due to a bone chip in her right foreleg, Regaleira launched her 2025 season in the Takarazuka Kinen in June but failed to handle the rain-softened track and finished 11th. Following a summer rest, the bay filly returned in the autumn with a victory in the All Comers, where she made headway from eighth position to close in on the frontrunners with the fastest late drive before pulling ahead of the field by 1-1/4 lengths.

In the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Regaleira traveled wide in mid-division around 10th, navigated the final turns wide and unleashed a powerful stretch run, tied for the fastest closing speed. She caught the leader 50 meters out and easily pulled away for a 1-3/4-length victory in race-record time. The four-year-old filly concluded the season by attempting to defend her title in the Arima Kinen, but a poor break left her around 14th. Despite her signature late kick, she was unable to catch the leaders and finished fourth.

BEST SPRINTER

Satono Reve (JPN)

Video (Satono Reve)
Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1 - English) Video

Age (Date of Foaling)	6 (March 22, 2019)
Sex / Color	Horse / Bay
Sire	Lord Kanaloa
Dam (Sire of Dam)	Ciliege (Sakura Bakushin O)
Owner	Hajime Satomi
Breeder	Shirai Stud Farm
Trainer	Noriyuki Hori
Jockey	Joao Moreira
Season Record / Earnings	5 starts: 1 win & 2 seconds / ¥ 335,572,700 (US$ 2.1 M)
Career Record / Earnings	16 starts: 8 wins, 3 seconds & 1 third / ¥ 560,169,000 (US$ 3.6 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1)

Satono Reve was chosen Best Sprinter with 198 votes following his victory in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and two runner-up efforts in Hong Kong and Great Britain last year. The seven-year-old will remain in training this year.

The son of Lord Kanaloa debuted in April of his three-year-old season and won three of four starts. Although he won his first start the following season, his four-year-old campaign ended with just that win, largely because he was sidelined for ten months due to health issues. Returning with a fourth-place finish in February 2024, the five-year-old then registered three consecutive wins, including the Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3, 1,200m) and the Keeneland Cup (G3, 1,200m). His first G1 attempt in the Sprinters Stakes resulted in seventh, but he concluded the season with a third in his first overseas outing, the Hong Kong Sprint.

Satono Reve captured his first G1 title in his six-year-old kickoff, the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. The bay broke smoothly before settling around ninth and turned the corners in mid-division. After encountering traffic entering the lane, he angled to the outside to launch his bid and unleashed an impressive late charge, taking the front 100 meters out and holding off a fast-closing runner-up by a 3/4 length at the wire.

Satono Reve then traveled to Hong Kong for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, where he sat in mid-division before closing on Ka Ying Rising in the stretch, but was unable to threaten the winner and finished 2-1/4-lengths in second. Moving to Great Britain for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, he unleashed the fastest late kick from mid-pack but was half a length short of the winner, finishing second again. In his first start back home, the Sprinters Stakes, he sat around eighth and turned the last two corners wide to launch his bid but was unable to nail the top two finishers and missed third place by a nose after a fierce rally. His final start of the 2025 season resulted in ninth in the Hong Kong Sprint.

BEST MILER

Jantar Mantar (JPN)

Video (Jantar Mantar)
Mile Championship (G1-English) Video
Yasuda Kinen (G1 - English) Video

Age (Date of Foaling)	4 (March 21, 2021)
Sex / Color	Colt / Dark Bay
Sire	Palace Malice
Dam (Sire of Dam)	India Mantuana (Wilburn)
Owner	Shadai Race Horse Co., Ltd.
Breeder	Shadai Farm
Trainer	Tomokazu Takano
Jockey	Yuga Kawada
Season Record / Earnings	3 starts: 2 wins & 1 second / ¥ 391,970,000 (US$ 2.5 M)
Career Record / Earnings	10 starts: 6 wins, 2 seconds & 1 third / ¥ 712,498,000 (US$ 4.5 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	Mile Championship (G1) Yasuda Kinen (G1)

Jantar Mantar, although lightly raced in 2025, became the ninth horse in JRA history to capture both G1 mile titles—the Yasuda Kinen and the Mile Championship—in the same year, earning him the Best Miler title with a unanimous 248 votes.

The son of Palace Malice recorded three wins from as many starts in his 2023 debut season, highlighted by a victory in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m), and was named Best Two-Year-Old Colt that year. Jantar Mantar commenced his three-year-old campaign with a second in the Kyodo News Hai (G3, 1,800m), followed by a third in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) and added another G1 victory in the NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m). The dark bay was withdrawn from his planned autumn kickoff start due to illness and then headed directly to the Hong Kong Mile (G1, 1,600m), where he finished a disappointing 13th.

Fully prepared for the spring G1 mile event after a six-month break, Jantar Mantar launched his 2025 season with a victory in the Yasuda Kinen. Quick out of the gate, the four-year-old settled in a prominent position around third. Given the green light to go after the 400-meter pole, the dark bay responded with a strong kick, took command just before the 100-meter marker and pulled away to win by a comfortable 1-1/2-length margin.

Fresh off a summer break, Jantar Mantar finished second in the Fuji Stakes and was then heavily favored in the following Mile Championship, where he faced a stellar field that included six G1 winners. The Palace Malice colt broke sharply from a wide gate and sat in third behind a rapid pace. As the leader began weakening from his early efforts, Jantar Mantar hit the stretch in a good striking position, easily snatched the lead 300 meters out and pulled away convincingly for a 1-3/4-length victory, renewing the race record by 0.2 seconds to 1:31.3.

BEST STEEPLECHASE HORSE

Ecoro Duel (JPN)

Video (Ecoro Duel)
Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1 - English) Video
Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1) Video

Age (Date of Foaling)	6 (May 4, 2019)
Sex / Color	Horse / Brown
Sire	Kitasan Black
Dam (Sire of Dam)	Clarinet (Giant’s Causeway)
Owner	Masatoshi Haramura
Breeder	Shimokobe Farm
Trainer	Takaki Iwato
Jockey	Taro Kusano
Season Record / Earnings*	4 starts: 2 wins & 1 second / ¥ 165,684,000 (US$ 1.1 M) *steeplechases only
Career Record / Earnings*	14 starts: 5 wins, 4 seconds & 1 third / ¥ 301,747,000 (US$ 1.9 M) *steeplechases only
Principal Wins in 2025	Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1) Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1)

Ecoro Duel dominated both the Nakayama Grand Jump and the Nakayama Daishogai to earn the Best Steeplechase Horse of 2025 title by unanimous choice. He is the third horse to win both J-G1 events in the same year, following Up to Date (2015) and Oju Chosan (2016 & 2017). The seven-year-old will focus on defending his Nakayama Grand Jump title on April 18 after prepping in the Hanshin Spring Jump on March 14.

Ecoro Duel began his racing career as a three-year-old and registered 1-1-1 out of 10 starts in flat racing before switching to steeplechase at the start of his four-year-old season. That year, the son of Kitasan Black notched his first graded title in the Kyoto Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,170m). Although winless until the spring of 2025, he was third and second respectively in the 2023 and 2024 Nakayama Daishogai, and fourth in the 2024 Nakayama Grand Jump.

Commencing his 2025 season with a fourth in the Hanshin Spring Jump, Ecoro Duel was sent off fifth favorite in his second Nakayama Grand Jump challenge. The six-year-old settled into third, moved up to second after the seventh jump (grand hedge) and made an early bid on the backstretch to overtake the leader before the 10th hurdle. From there, he stretched his lead and went unchallenged to the wire, dominating by eight lengths.

Coming off a runner-up effort in the Tokyo High-Jump in October, the heavily favored Ecoro Duel broke smoothly in the Nakayama Daishogai to race behind the pacesetter in around third. Choosing an economical route in the 4,100-meter trip, he closed the gap on the leader after landing the grand hedge (7th jump) and jumped the last fence side by side. Continuing to rally into the uphill stretch, the Nakayama Grand Jump champion pulled away strongly in the last 100 meters to win by a convincing five lengths.

SPECIAL AWARD

Calandagan (IRE)

Video (Calandagan)
Japan Cup (G1 - English) Video

Age (Date of Foaling)	4 (January 27, 2021)
Sex / Color	Gelding / Bay
Sire	Gleneagles
Dam (Sire of Dam)	Calayana (Sinndar)
Owner	Aga Khan Studs
Breeder	Haras De S. A. Aga Khan Scea
Trainer	Francis-Henri Graffard
Jockey	Mickael Barzalona
Season Record / Earnings	6 starts: 4 wins & 2 seconds
Career Record / Earnings	14 starts: 8 wins, 5 seconds & 1 third
Principal Wins in 2025	Japan Cup (G1) Champion Stakes (G1) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1)

Calandagan, the winner of the Cartier Racing Award for Horse of the Year in Europe, was presented the Special Award in Japan for becoming the first foreign-based horse to win the Japan Cup since Alkaased in 2005 and the second French-trained horse since Le Glorieux in 1987, in addition to lowering the track record to 2:20.3, surpassing the previous record of 2:20.6 set by Almond Eye in the 2018 Japan Cup. Calandagan is also the first foreign-trained horse to win a JRA Award.

The son of Gleneagles began his career in August as a two-year-old and, after being gelded, he broke his maiden in his next start in October. In his three-year-old season, Calandagan marked three group-race victories—the Prix Noailles (G3, 2,100m), the Prix Hocquart (G3, 2,200m) and the King Edward VII Stakes (G2, 2,390m). He followed up with runner-up G1 efforts in the International Stakes (2,050m) and the Champion Stakes (2,000m).

Kicking off the 2025 season in the Dubai Sheema Classic, Calandagan failed to catch Danon Decile and finished 1-1/4 lengths behind in second. Back in Europe, he was second in the Coronation Cup, but claimed his much-awaited G1 title in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. He then added two more victories in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Champion Stakes.

In the Japan Cup, the field broke off in front of the packed stands. Admire Terra unseated his jockey immediately after the break, while Seiun Hades rushed to the front and set a rapid pace. As the pacesetter gradually distanced himself from the rest of the field, fourth pick Calandagan traveled fifth from the rear, a couple of lengths behind Masquerade Ball and alongside Danon Decile. Entering the straight, the Gleneagles gelding drew even with Masquerade Ball and, after picking off other rivals, the two engaged in a thrilling duel over the last 150 meters. The world’s highest-rated horse emerged victorious, using the fastest finishing speed to beat the three-year-old favorite by a head at the wire.

BEST TRAINER (RACES WON) & (TRAINING TECHNIQUE)

Haruki Sugiyama

Age	44 (December 24, 1981)
License Issued	2016
First Race	October 22, 2016 (Pretty Queen; 8th)
First Win	October 29, 2016 (Zenno Susanoo)
Season Record	415 starts: 61 wins, 38 seconds & 42 thirds
Career Record	3,222 starts: 379 wins, 329 seconds & 276 thirds
Winning Average in 2025	0.147
Earnings in 2025	¥ 1,866,215,300 (US$ 11.9 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	Hopeful Stakes (G1, Lovcen) Hanshin Cup (G2, Lugal) Fuji Stakes (G2, Gaia Force) Kisaragi Sho (G3, Satono Shining) Fairy Stakes (G3, Erika Express)

Haruki Sugiyama was named 2025 Best Trainer (Races Won) for the second time after 2023 and Best Trainer (Training Technique) for the first time. A regular name on the trainers’ national leaderboard in recent years, he concluded the season with a career-high 61 wins, including five grade-race titles. He claimed his seventh JRA-G1 title in the Hopeful Stakes with Lovcen, and registered four runner-up efforts at the top level—the Yasuda Kinen and the Mile Championship with Gaia Force, the Shuka Sho with Erika Express, and the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies with Garavogue.

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture with no racing background, Sugiyama worked at a farm in Ishikawa Prefecture for four years after graduating high school. He enrolled in the JRA’s Horse Racing School in 2004, began his career as a groom and then became an assistant trainer at Kohei Take’s yard before moving to Yasuyuki Takahashi’s stable in 2014. He acquired his trainer’s license and opened his own yard in 2016, saddling three winners that same year.

In the following years, Sugiyama steadily accumulated more JRA wins, registering 18 in 2017, 19 in 2018, including his first graded title in the Meguro Kinen with Win Tenderness, and 30 wins in 2019. His big break came in 2020, when he won his first G1 and classic title with Daring Tact in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), who went on to sweep the fillies’ triple crown, helping Sugiyama to score 42 wins and rank seventh on the national leaderboard. He ranked 11th with 37 wins in 2021, fourth with 47 wins in 2022 and then became the JRA’s leading trainer with 55 wins in 2023. He was just two wins short of the title in 2024, but was third nationally with 53 wins, including another G1 title in the Sprinters Stakes with Lugal.

Other notable runners trained by Sugiyama include Daring Tact, who swept the 2020 fillies’ Triple Crown with wins in the Oka Sho, the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and the Shuka Sho, and Justin Palace, winner of the 2023 Tenno Sho (Spring).

BEST TRAINER (WINNING AVERAGE)

Tetsuya Kimura

Age	53 (November 16, 1972)
License Issued	2011
First Race	July 10, 2011 (Starry Bay; 14th)
First Win	August 13, 2011 (Red Planet)
Season Record	196 starts: 44 wins, 33 seconds & 12 thirds
Career Record	3,057 starts: 452 wins, 327 seconds & 303 thirds
Winning Average in 2025	0.224
Earnings in 2025	¥ 1,436,321,900 (US$ 9.1 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, Regaleira) Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, Redentor) February Stakes (G1, Costa Nova) Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, Peintre Naif) All Comers (G2, Regaleira) Diamond Stakes (G3, Redentor) Negishi Stakes (G3, Costa Nova)

Tetsuya Kimura took home the title of Best Trainer (Winning Average), which he also won in 2018 and 2023. Placed sixth on the JRA’s national leaderboard with 44 wins, Kimura’s seven graded titles include three G1 victories—the February Stakes with Costa Nova, the Tenno Sho (Spring) with Redentor and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Regaleira.

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture and raised in an environment alien to racing, Kimura went to Hokkaido to work on a farm after graduating from college and then traveled to Ireland to further his knowledge of the trade. Returning to Japan and graduating from JRA’s Horse Racing School, Kimura became an assistant trainer, first to Yutaka Takahashi (2001-04), followed by Kazuhiro Seishi (2004-07) and Tadashige Nakagawa (2007-11). He finally opened his own yard in 2011, notched his first win that August and then added another five victories by the end of the season.

After collecting 9, 16 and 14 wins respectively in the next three years in JRA, he nearly doubled his personal best to 31 in 2015, including his first graded victory in the Flower Cup (G3) with Albiano. He ranked ninth with 37 wins in 2016 but dropped to 17th with 33 the following year. In 2018, however, Kimura bounced back to seventh with 48 wins, including his first G1 title in the Mile Championship with Stelvio, to earn his first two JRA awards for Best Trainer (Winning Average) and (Training Technique). He then finished 15th (36 wins) in 2019, 16th (34 wins) in 2020, 34th (28 wins) in 2021, 19th (34 wins) in 2022, fourth (44 wins) in 2023 and 17th (36 wins) in 2024.

Kimura’s most outstanding horse to date is Equinox, who won six G1 titles in Japan and overseas—the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Arima Kinen in 2022, and the Dubai Sheema Classic, Takarazuka Kinen, Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Japan Cup in 2023. Equinox was named Horse of the Year in both 2022 and 2023 and even honored as the World’s Best Racehorse of 2023 with the top rating of 135. Kimura has pocketed 38 JRA-graded titles as of the end of the 2025 season, including the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) with Geoglyph in 2022, the Hopeful Stakes in 2023 and the Arima Kinen with Regaleira and Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and Shuka Sho with Cervinia in 2024.

BEST TRAINER (MONEY EARNED)

Yoshito Yahagi

Age	64 (March 20, 1961)
License Issued	2004
First Race	March 5, 2005 (Marutaka Queen; 9th)
First Win	March 26, 2005 (Tenzan Chief)
Season Record	536 starts: 49 wins, 42 seconds & 30 thirds
Career Record	9,869 starts: 1,005 wins, 884 seconds & 819 thirds
Winning Average in 2025	0.091
Earnings in 2025	¥ 3,616,918,600 (US$ 23.0 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	(Overseas) Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1, Forever Young) Saudi Cup (G1, Forever Young) Neom Turf Cup (G2, Shin Emperor) (NAR) Nippon TV Hai (Listed, Forever Young)

Yoshito Yahagi added another international accomplishment to his profile by winning both the Saudi Cup and the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Forever Young, earning him his sixth title for Money Earned. While he missed out on a JRA graded title in 2025, he registered 45 wins and was fourth on the JRA’s national leaderboard. Yahagi also reached a milestone 1,000 career wins (JRA, NAR and overseas wins combined) on November 9.

The son of Kazuto Yahagi, a former trainer at NAR’s Oi Racecourse, Yoshito Yahagi was around horses from an early age. His father initially did not approve of him becoming a horse trainer, but finally agreed on the condition that he strive to become a JRA trainer and first learn the art of training outside of Japan. He learned the basics in Australia at Randwick in New South Wales, Flemington in Victoria and Toowoomba in Queensland. Upon returning to Japan, he introduced interval training to help his father’s yard and then enrolled in the stable employee course at the JRA Horse Racing School before gaining further overseas experience in Great Britain.

Yahagi became an assistant trainer to a number of JRA trainers, including Sadataka Sugaya, from whom he learned the business side of running a successful training yard. Although it took him more than 10 years to obtain his license, it was not long before his unique training philosophy and personnel management proved effective. He reached the top 10 in the national rankings in his fourth season since opening his yard, rose to second place the following year and has remained in the top 10 since 2012. His titles include JRA Awards for Best Trainer (Races Won) in 2014, 2016, 2020-2022 and 2024, Best Trainer (Money Earned) in 2019-2023 and 2025, and Best Trainer (Training Technique) in 2020 and 2021.

Yahagi’s other notable horses include 2010 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Grand Prix Boss, 2012 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Deep Brillante, 2016 Dubai Turf victor Real Steel, 2019 Horse of the Year Lys Gracieux, two-time G1 (turf and dirt) winner Mozu Ascot, 2020 Triple Crown winner Contrail, 2022 Dubai Turf and 2023 Saudi Cup champion Panthalassa and two 2021 Breeders’ Cup victors—Loves Only You (Filly & Mare Turf) and Marche Lorraine (Distaff).

BEST JOCKEY (RACES WON) & (WINNING AVERAGE) & (MONEY EARNED) & GRAND PRIZE

Christophe Lemaire

Age	46 (May 20, 1979)
License Issued	2015 (1999 in France)
First Race	December 7, 2002 (Classical Vogue; 12th)
First Win	December 8, 2002 (Yamanin Lotus)
Season Record	521 starts: 140 wins, 111 seconds & 67 thirds
Career Record	9,481 starts: 2,114 wins, 1,520 seconds & 1,108 thirds
Winning Average in 2025	0.269
Earnings in 2025	¥ 3,714,361,000 (US$ 23.7 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, Masquerade Ball) Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, Energico) Shuka Sho (G1, Embroidery) Victoria Mile (G1, Ascoli Piceno) Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, Peintre Naif) Keio Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, Diamond Knot) Aoba Sho (G2, Energico) Nakayama Kinen (G2, Sixpence) Ibis Summer Dash (G3, Puro Magic) Antares Stakes (G3, Mikki Fight) & Queen Cup (G3, Embroidery)

Christophe Lemaire continued to dominate the JRA racing scene in 2025, claiming his eighth Best Jockey title for Races Won with 140 victories, fifth for Winning Average with 26.9% and ninth for Money Earned, plus his third Grand Prize by sweeping all flat-racing titles. He landed 11 graded victories, including four G1 wins—the Victoria Mile with Ascoli Piceno, the Shuka Sho with Embroidery, the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) with Energico and the Tenno Sho (Autumn) with Masquerade Ball. He also claimed three overseas graded titles—the 1351 Turf Sprint with Ascoli Piceno, the UAE Derby with Admire Daytona and the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano with Alohi Alii—and four major titles in NAR, notably the Teio Sho and the JBC Classic with Mikki Fight. Lemaire reached his 2,100th JRA win on November 29 in his 9,426th career start, the fastest in JRA history.

Since debuting as a regular JRA jockey in 2015, the French native has led all jockeys in Japan eight times and has 152 grade-race titles, including 52 G1 victories. He has partnered with multiple G1 winners, including Major Emblem, Satono Diamond, Soul Stirring, Rey de Oro, Almond Eye, Fierement, Gran Alegria and his most recent star mount, Equinox. In 2018 he registered 215 annual wins and annual earnings of 4.66 billion yen—surpassing the long-standing records previously set by the legendary Yutaka Take—while renewing another record with eight annual G1 wins. His JRA Award Best Jockey titles include eight for Races Won (2017-21 and 2023-25), five for Winning Average (2015-2016, 2018, and 2024-2025), nine for Money Earned (2016-21 and 2023-25), five for Most Valuable Jockey (2017-21) and three Grand Prizes (2018 and 2024-2025).

Born in Chantilly, he is the son of Patrice Lemaire, a leading jump jockey in the 1980s. Lemaire began as an amateur rider in 1996 at the age of 16 and turned professional after acquiring his license in 1999. He won his first G1 title in France in the 2003 Prix Jean Prat and was soon one of his country’s top jockeys and a rising star internationally with G1 titles in France, England, the UAE, Australia, Hong Kong and the United States. Lemaire began racing in Japan in 2002 under short-term licenses, during which time he scored five G1 victories: the 2005 Arima Kinen (Heart’s Cry), the 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (Little Amapola), the 2008 Japan Cup Dirt (Kane Hekili), the 2009 Japan Cup (Vodka) and the 2013 Japan Cup Dirt (Belshazzar).

MOST VALUABLE JOCKEY

Keita Tosaki

Age	45 (July 8, 1980)
License Issued	2013 (NAR in 1998)
First Race	June 26, 2005 (Spring Lagos; 10th)
First Win	July 8, 2007 (Yamakatsu Tigger)
Season Record*	821 starts: 135 wins, 129 seconds & 84 thirds
Career Record*	11,899 starts: 1,769 wins, 1,498 seconds & 1,224 thirds
Winning Average in 2025*	0.164
Earnings in 2025*	¥ 3,769,779,800 (US$ 24.0 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, Regaleira) Stayers Stakes (G2, Hohelied) All Comers (G2, Regaleira) St. Lite Kinen (G2, Museum Mile) American Jockey Club Cup (G2, Danon Decile) Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3, Ka Pilina) Flower Cup (G3, Lesedrama) Diamond Stakes (G3, Redentor) Fairy Stakes (G3, Erika Express)

*including designated NAR and overseas races.

Keita Tosaki won his sixth title for Most Valuable Jockey, reaching his milestone 1,700th JRA victory on December 21 and concluding the 2025 season with 132 wins, placing him first in the Eastern division and second in the national standings. He claimed nine JRA grade-race titles, including the Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Regaleira in addition to winning the Dubai Sheema Classic with Danon Decile and NAR’s Japan Dirt Classic with Narukami. Based on combined points for wins, earnings, winning average and rides in JRA races and designated NAR or overseas races, Tosaki earned more points in rides than national leading jockey Christophe Lemaire to defend his 2024 Most Valuable Jockey title.

Tosaki’s career began in 1998 at Oi Racecourse as a stable jockey for trainer Kazutaka Katori. He rode his first winner in April of that year, scored his 100th win in 2002 and landed his first major title in the Twinkle Lady Sho with Koei Sophia in 2005. The following year, he nearly doubled his wins to 123, and then rose to third in NAR racing with 212 wins in 2007, the same year he scored his first JRA win at Hanshin Racecourse. This began a remarkable streak of success as the four-time NAR leader in 2008-2009 and 2011-2012. Given the opportunity to race on JRA mounts, Tosaki scored his first JRA graded win with Glorious Noah in the 2010 Musashino Stakes and marked his first JRA G1 victory in the 2011 Yasuda Kinen with Real Impact.

After transferring to JRA racing in 2013, Tosaki quickly placed himself among the top five jockeys nationally with 113 wins, including a G1 title with Red Reveur in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. His success continued in 2014, when he led the national standings with 10 more wins than the runner-up and capped his remarkable second season with a victory in the year-end Arima Kinen aboard Gentildonna. He defended his champion-jockey title with 130 wins in 2015 and set a personal best with 187 wins in 2016.

Tosaki has ranked in the top seven on the national leaderboard ever since, except for 2020 when he was sidelined for five months with injury. His other G1 titles include the 2015 and 2016 Victoria Mile and 2015 Sprinters Stakes with Straight Girl, his first classic victory in the 2018 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) with Epoca d’Oro, the 2020 Champions Cup with Chuwa Wizard, the 2021 Shuka Sho with Akaitorino Musume, the 2023 Victoria Mile and Yasuda Kinen with Songline, the 2024 Satsuki Sho with Justin Milano and Arima Kinen with Regaleira. His JRA awards include three Best Jockey for Races Won in 2014-2016 and six Most Valuable Jockey (MVJ) in 2014-16, 2022 and 2024-2025.

BEST STEEPLECHASE JOCKEY

Kayata Komaki

Age	29 (December 24, 1996)
License Issued	2022
First Race	March 19, 2022 (Bullbear Pesca; 4th)
First Win	April 24, 2022 (Verdite)
Season Record*	97 starts: 12 wins, 18 seconds & 13 thirds
Career Record*	375 starts: 51 wins, 53 seconds & 49 thirds
Winning Average in 2025*	0.124
Earnings in 2025*	¥ 389,163,000 (US$ 2.5 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	Hanshin Jump Stakes (J-G3, Neviim) Niigata Jump Stakes (J-G3, Impress)

*steeplechases only

Kayata Komaki won his second consecutive JRA award for Best Steeplechase Jockey based on combined points for wins, earnings, winning average and rides in jump races. In his fourth season as a steeplechase jockey, he was second on the national leaderboard with 12 wins, highlighted by the Niigata Jump Stakes aboard Impress and the Hanshin Jump Stakes with Neviim. In J-G1 races in 2025, he finished third in the Nakayama Grand Jump (Impress) and second in the Nakayama Daishogai (Neviim).

Born in Hyogo Prefecture and the son of Futoshi Komaki, a former JRA jockey who transferred to NAR Hyogo in 2024, Komaki started riding with the goal of becoming a jockey. However, when he grew more than 30 centimeters during middle school, making it difficult for him to meet the weight requirements for jockeys, he switched to show jumping. After graduating from high school, Komaki joined the Hokuso Riding Club and apprenticed under former Olympian Tadayoshi Hayashi, where he won numerous equestrian competitions nationwide. Despite establishing himself as a top showjumper, he decided to switch to steeplechase when the weight limit for a jump jockey license was increased from 53 kilograms to 55 kilograms in 2019. He acquired his license in 2022.

Komaki became the first JRA jockey not to have attended the JRA Horse Racing School or have any experience with other racing organizations, such as the NAR, since the JRA Horse Racing School was established in 1982. He debuted in March 2022 and earned his first career win in his seventh mount the following month. He steadily accumulated wins and rode his first J-G1 start in the Nakayama Daishogai in December aboard Ken Hovawart, finishing eighth. He concluded his rookie season with nine wins, which placed him fifth on the national leaderboard (jump races only). The following season, he rose to second on the leaderboard with 12 wins, two behind the leader, as well as a second and third in graded jump events. His first graded title came in the Niigata Jump Stakes (J-G3) with Hokko Mevius in 2024, a year in which he led steeplechase racing with 18 wins and was awarded Best Steeplechase Jockey title.

SPECIAL AWARD

Norihiro Yokoyama

Age	57 (February 23, 1968)
License Issued	1986
First Race	March 1, 1986 (Rikiai Shimpu; 3rd)
First Win	April 29, 1986 (Kioi God)
Season Record	313 starts: 41 wins, 30 seconds & 18 thirds
Career Record	21,797 starts: 2,996 wins, 2,557 seconds & 2,257 thirds
Winning Average in 2025	0.131
Earnings in 2025	¥ 769,860,000 (US$ 4.9 M)
Principal Wins in 2025	Sapporo Kinen (G2, Top Knife)

Norihiro Yokoyama received his first Special Award by becoming the third active jockey to receive the Japanese government’s Medal of Honor with Yellow Ribbon for his contributions to the development and promotion of the horse racing industry through diligence in his profession as a JRA jockey. The longstanding successful 57-year-old, second only to Yutaka Take in career wins (2,996) at the end of 2025 season, also renewed his own record as the oldest jockey at the age of 57 years, 5 months and 26 days to claim a JRA graded race by winning the Sapporo Kinen (G2) last year.

The son of Tomio, a former G1-winning jockey, and also the father of active JRA jockeys, Kazuo and Takeshi, Yokoyama kicked off his career in 1986 and marked his first win at Tokyo Racecourse with Kioi God that April. He landed his first grade-race win in 1988 in the Winter Stakes (G3) and went on to capture his first G1 victory two years later in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup with Kyoei Tap, which was just one out of eight graded stakes he marked that season.

He steadily accumulated wins and reached a milestone of 1,000 career wins (JRA races alone) in 2000, 2,000 wins in 2009 and 2,500 wins in 2014. He was ranked within the top ten on JRA’s national leaderboard between 1992 and 2012 and became the leader with 120 wins in 2010. He also earned the JRA Award for Best Jockey (Winning Average) title in 2010 and 2012.

Yokoyama’s 190 graded titles in JRA include 28 G1 victories such as the 1995 Mile Championship  and the 1996 Yasuda Kinen with Trot Thunder; the 1996 Tenno Sho (Spring) and the 1996 Arima Kinen with Sakura Laurel; the 1998 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the 1998 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) with Seiun Sky; the 1999 Sprinters Stakes and the 2001 Yasuda Kinen with Black Hawk; the 2009 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the 2009 Mile Championship with Company; the 2014 Takarazuka Kinen and the 2015 Tenno Sho (Spring) with Gold Ship; the 2009 Tokyo Yushun with Logi Universe; the 2014 Tokyo Yushun with One and Only; the 2010 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) with Saint Emilion; and the 2024 Tokyo Yushun with Danon Decile.

Among the eight World Super Jockeys Series and the three World All-Star Jockeys he has participated in so far, he has taken home the title twice in 1995 and in 2009.

JRA EQUINE CULTURE AWARD

The JRA Equine Culture Award recognizes noteworthy achievements and contributions to Japanese equine culture. Nominations for the 2025 award included horse-related cultural events and publications held or published between November 2024 and October 2025.

Winner: Somagan ga Mita Yume: Okada Shigeyuki ga Sunday Silence ni Hamukatta Hibi

The book chronicles the ambitious life of Shigeyuki Okada, the charismatic founder of Big Red Farm, known for his legendary “soma-gan,” or eye for evaluating horses. It focuses on his defiant struggle against the dominance of the Sunday Silence bloodline that monopolized the Japanese racing scene. Through vivid storytelling, Kiyoaki Kawamura portrays Okada’s relentless pursuit of “the perfect horse” and his unwavering passion for challenging the Sunday Silence dynasty. It is a profound portrait of a man who devoted his life to a romantic dream in the competitive world of thoroughbred breeding.

The book was highly acclaimed by the selection committee for successfully capturing the personal charisma of Okada through extensive research. It is not only the biography of a person but also the history of postwar Japanese horse racing seen through the eyes of a great horseman. The work was further praised for its high level of artistic completion, featuring numerous photographs and Okada’s own sketches.

Recipient: Kiyoaki Kawamura

Born in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1962, Kiyoaki Kawamura graduated from Hokkaido University before joining Recruit Co., Ltd., where he was involved in the launch of the monthly magazine “Da Vinci.” He began his career as a writer after leaving the company in 1996. His works include “Basanchi Business” (published by East Press Co., Ltd.), “Vodka no Senaka” and “Mr. Japan Cup to Yobareta Otoko” (both by Toho Publishing Co., Ltd.), and “Harukanaru Basanchi no Kioku” (by Shufunotomo Co., Ltd.). He currently resides in Hokkaido.