1. Kikuka Sho Latest News
2. Kikuka Sho 2025 Entries Horse
3. Kikuka Sho 2025 Notable Runners
4. Kikuka Sho race overview
5. Racecourse Feature
6. Kikuka Sho Past Winners

Kikuka Sho Latest News

Kikuka Sho 2025 Entries Horse

2025 KOBE SHIMBUN HAI (G2) winner Eri King, 2025 AOBA SHO (G2) winner Energico, and 2025 KYOTO SHIMBUN HAI (G2) winner Shohei etc are scheduled to run.

＊Please check the entries, Field, result, and other data against JRA official data.

Kikuka Sho 2025 Notable Runners

Eri King

Eri King is a colt who has shown strong promise from the start of his career. He won his debut in June 2024 and went on to secure victories in the Listed Nojigiku Sho and the G3 Kyoto Nisai Stakes. As a three-year-old, he finished 11th in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), then improved to 5th in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).

Later, he captured the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai, marking his second graded stakes win and earning a spot in the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger).

Energico

Energico has emerged as a colt of notable consistency and talent. He won on debut in October 2024, then began his three-year-old season by capturing the St. Polaria Sho and following up with a victory in the G2 Aoba Sho, achieving three straight wins and earning a spot in the G1 Japanese Derby.

Although he did not take part in the Japanese Derby, he later finished second in the Niigata Kinen against older horses, proving his ability to compete at a high level.

Shohei

Shohei has established himself as a consistent and determined colt on the middle-distance scene. He made his debut in late 2024, finishing second before breaking his maiden soon after.

In 2025, he captured the G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai for his first graded stakes victory, earning a spot in the G1 Japanese Derby, where he finished third. He later placed second in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai, reaffirming his reliability and strength among his generation’s top contenders.

Kikuka Sho race overview

The Kikuka Sho is a G1 horse race organized by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) for 3- year-old colts and fillies, with geldings not permitted to participate. Modeled after the St. Leger in England, it was established in 1938 and is the final leg of Japan's Classic Triple Crown. The Kikuka Sho is run over 3000 meters, and while the Satsuki Sho is said to crown "the fastest horse" and the Japanese Derby "the luckiest horse," the Kikuka Sho is known as the race where "the strongest horse wins."

Since 1995, horses from the National Association of Racing have been eligible to compete, and foreign-bred horses have been allowed since 2001. In 2010, it was further opened to international entries. Priority entry is given to the top 3 finishers in the G2 St Lite Kinen and G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai of the same year.

Racecourse Feature

The Kikuka Sho is run over a course used for both this race and the Manyo Stakes, requiring horses to cover a lap and a half of the outer track. The race starts midway up a hill before the third corner, with 208 meters to the first turn. Horses must navigate six corners in total, making inside positioning advantageous. The course also features a 4.3-meter elevation change between the third and fourth corners, which horses encounter twice during the race. This demands both stamina and the ability to settle in the field. The final stretch is 404 meters long when run on the "A" course.

Kikuka Sho Past Winners

Kikuka Sho Feature

Latest information on the Kikuka Sho (G1).