Trainer Hidetaka Otonashi nears 1,000 JRA wins ahead of retirement on March 2

Thursday, 30 January, 2025 20:10

One-two finish in the G2 Procyon Stakes

Trainer Hidetaka Otonashi is just six wins away from reaching 1,000 career JRA victories as he approaches retirement after his final race on March 2.

Otonashi began his career as a jockey in 1979, riding 1,212 races and recording 84 wins in the JRA. In 1985, he claimed the Japanese Oaks aboard Noah No Hakobune. Transitioning to training in 1995, he secured his first graded stakes victory in the Kitakyushu Kinen with Inazuma Takao. In 2006, Orewa Matteruze gave him his first G1 victory in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, marking the beginning of a decorated training career. Over the years, he has conditioned top-class horses such as Company, Mikki Isle, Chrysoberyl, and Indy Champ. In 2010, he was crowned Japan's leading trainer, and to date, he has amassed 994 wins from 8,716 JRA races. Among active trainers, his win total ranks second only to Sakae Kunieda, while he holds the top position at Ritto Training Center.

Just last week in the Procyon Stakes, Otonashi-trained runners finished first and second, with Sunday Funday winning and Sunrise Zipangu as the runner-up, extending his graded stakes-winning streak to 28 consecutive years. His final season could see even greater success, with major runners targeting Saga Kinen (Notturno, Derma Sotogake), Red Sea Turf Handicap (Sunrise Zipangu), and February Stakes (Sunday Funday) in both domestic and international competitions.

Will he reach 1,000 JRA wins and cap off his final year with a major title? The legendary trainer's final chapter promises to be one to watch.

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