Mirai Iwata triumphs the World All Star Jockeys
Monday, 28 August, 2023 17:35
(Left to Right) Nana Takagi (presenter), Rachel King, Mirai Iwata, Yutaka Take
23-year-old jockey Mirai Iwata achieved his first championship without winning a race. English-born, Australian-based, Rachel King finished second by singular point, she had held the series lead early on the first day. Meanwhile, Yutaka Take who aimed to retain the crown, finished in third place. In the team competition, Team JRA secured victory against Team World for the seventh consecutive time since the championship's inception in 2015.
The 23-year-old rising star secured the title in his debut WASJ appearance against some of the world's top jockeys. "I wanted to win a race, but I'm delighted I could win the championship. It was enjoyable riding with such a high level of jockeys, and I feel fulfilled," said Mirai Iwata. Although he didn't win any of the four races, he accumulated points steadily throughout the two-day event and stood proudly on the top step of the podium.
The competition was an intense battle, with only a two-point difference between the first and third places. "I focused on riding as I usually do." In the first race, he rode the long shot, Galilei, to a third-place finish. Iwata sat in third place at the conclusion of the first day. On the second day, in the final race, he secured 15 points by guiding the outsider Win Ruaidh to a third-place finish from a prominent position. This victory marked a "parent-child championship", his father Yasunari Iwata, won the predecessor of the World Super Jockeys series in 2005.
Mirai Iwata made his debut in 2019 and his annual wins have been consistently increasing. He is now a regular contender in the leading jockey rankings. With 78 wins already this year, he's on track to surpass his career-high of 103 wins achieved in 2022. As he raised both hands high in the award ceremony, an elated Mirai Iwata expressed his determination to perform well on the biggest stages, he said, "I want to do my best to excel in major races." While he already has wins in graded stakes races, the ultimate goal of a G1 win remains elusive for the time being. This autumn, armed with the title from the World All Star Jockeys series, he aims for further advancement in his career.
The 23-year-old rising star secured the title in his debut WASJ appearance against some of the world's top jockeys. "I wanted to win a race, but I'm delighted I could win the championship. It was enjoyable riding with such a high level of jockeys, and I feel fulfilled," said Mirai Iwata. Although he didn't win any of the four races, he accumulated points steadily throughout the two-day event and stood proudly on the top step of the podium.
The competition was an intense battle, with only a two-point difference between the first and third places. "I focused on riding as I usually do." In the first race, he rode the long shot, Galilei, to a third-place finish. Iwata sat in third place at the conclusion of the first day. On the second day, in the final race, he secured 15 points by guiding the outsider Win Ruaidh to a third-place finish from a prominent position. This victory marked a "parent-child championship", his father Yasunari Iwata, won the predecessor of the World Super Jockeys series in 2005.
Mirai Iwata made his debut in 2019 and his annual wins have been consistently increasing. He is now a regular contender in the leading jockey rankings. With 78 wins already this year, he's on track to surpass his career-high of 103 wins achieved in 2022. As he raised both hands high in the award ceremony, an elated Mirai Iwata expressed his determination to perform well on the biggest stages, he said, "I want to do my best to excel in major races." While he already has wins in graded stakes races, the ultimate goal of a G1 win remains elusive for the time being. This autumn, armed with the title from the World All Star Jockeys series, he aims for further advancement in his career.
Article Creds:Daily Sports