Echt won comfortably in the G3 Kokura Kinen with Yuga "King" Kawada on board. This is his second Graded stakes victory, following his win in the G3 Tanabata Sho last year.

Kawada reflected, "The start wasn't smooth at all. I pushed him to the front and got the ideal position for him to win the race. I felt good when he ran to the gate. He couldn't run well overseas but he showed his best in this race despite the start."

The winning time was 1:57.8. T O Sirius finished second and Gold Eclipse came home in third. Last year's winner Maria Elena finished fourth.