A "rare event" as all G1 races won by different jockeys
Tuesday, 25 June, 2024 17:29
Danon Decile with Norihiro Yokoyama (Photo : Yuki Shimono)
The Takarazuka Kinen finished last weekend, it marks the end of the first half of JRA racing annual fixture list. In this article, we briefly look back at the G1 races of 2024 so far, focusing on the jockeys.
From the February Stakes to the Takarazuka Kinen, there were 12 G1 races on the JRA flat tracks. In all those 12 races, for the first time in history, a different jockey won each race.
This meant that many jockeys won G1 titles for the first time. Yuji Hishida won the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) with T O Royal, and Akihide Tsumura won the G1 Victoria Mile with Ten Happy Rose at eye-watering odds of 207.6/1. In the G1 Yasuda Kinen, James McDonald onboard Hong Kong ace Romantic Warrior made his first attempt at a JRA G1 a successful one. Then came last weekend's Takarazuka Kinen, Akira Sugawara rode Blow the Horn to first place and the long-awaited big title in his sixth year in the JRA.
In the G1 February Stakes, jockey Yusuke Fujioka won his first G1 in 5 years and 9 months. His strong ride behind a fast pace from fourth position, ahead of the field gave Peptide Nile his first title. In the G1 Japanese Derby, Norihiro Yokoyama tied for second all-time with his third win. He also broke the record for the oldest rider to win the race.
Will the "G1 wins by different jockeys" continue in the fall G1 series?
From the February Stakes to the Takarazuka Kinen, there were 12 G1 races on the JRA flat tracks. In all those 12 races, for the first time in history, a different jockey won each race.
This meant that many jockeys won G1 titles for the first time. Yuji Hishida won the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) with T O Royal, and Akihide Tsumura won the G1 Victoria Mile with Ten Happy Rose at eye-watering odds of 207.6/1. In the G1 Yasuda Kinen, James McDonald onboard Hong Kong ace Romantic Warrior made his first attempt at a JRA G1 a successful one. Then came last weekend's Takarazuka Kinen, Akira Sugawara rode Blow the Horn to first place and the long-awaited big title in his sixth year in the JRA.
In the G1 February Stakes, jockey Yusuke Fujioka won his first G1 in 5 years and 9 months. His strong ride behind a fast pace from fourth position, ahead of the field gave Peptide Nile his first title. In the G1 Japanese Derby, Norihiro Yokoyama tied for second all-time with his third win. He also broke the record for the oldest rider to win the race.
Will the "G1 wins by different jockeys" continue in the fall G1 series?