Yuichi Fukunaga calls time on an illustrious career
Monday, 27 February, 2023 06:00
Fukunaga waving to the grand stand after the last ride (Photo: Tatsuya Inoue)
"The Saudi Cup Day" (25h, King Abdulaziz)
There was no fairytale ending in Saudi Arabia for Yuichi Fukunaga's hugely successful career in the saddle. Fukunaga retires from riding and will enter the JRA training ranks in March. The legendary JRA pilot retires with 2636 JRA wins spanning across a the 27-year career.
Despite Fukunaga's luckless night, it proved to be a hugely successful night for Japanese raiders in Riyadh. Panthalassa won the Saudi Cup, the richest race in the world. Silver Sonic And Bathrat Leon were triumphant in their respective races to record three wins for Team Japan on the night.
Four-year-old colt, Remake, was the highlight of the night for Fukunaga. Ridden patiently from the rear of the field, the partnership rallied strongly in the home straight to finish third in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint. American-trained Elite Power was the decisive winner with Gunite finishing second.
"I didn't win but I'm happy with the race". After dismounting and unsaddling Remake, he weighed-in for the very last time. "It hit me that this was my last race. It was not a short career, but it didn't feel like a long time" Fukunaga commented with tears in his eyes.
Yuichi is the son of famed Japanese jockey Yoichi Fukunaga. Fukunaga Snr. was paralysed in a racecourse accident in the 1970s. Yuichi made sure to mention that the horrific end to his father's career was at the forefront of his mind in his decision to retire. "Finishing my career as a jockey safely and on my own terms was the most important factor to me and my family" he continued "My Mother no longer has to worry about me like she has done for so long".
'Talented Jockey' was a comment Fukunaga wrote in a Junior high school yearbook in relation to what he wanted to be in 10 years. Safe to say, that aspiration has been soundly achieved and comprehensively surpassed. Champion Jockey, Derby-winner, undefeated Triple Crown winner and riding over 100 JRA winners for 13 consecutive years to name just a few of his accolades.
"I wasn't the most talented Jockey, I credit my success to the support I received from fans, my family around me and so many more people" he said with a gleaming smile.
There was no fairytale ending in Saudi Arabia for Yuichi Fukunaga's hugely successful career in the saddle. Fukunaga retires from riding and will enter the JRA training ranks in March. The legendary JRA pilot retires with 2636 JRA wins spanning across a the 27-year career.
Despite Fukunaga's luckless night, it proved to be a hugely successful night for Japanese raiders in Riyadh. Panthalassa won the Saudi Cup, the richest race in the world. Silver Sonic And Bathrat Leon were triumphant in their respective races to record three wins for Team Japan on the night.
Four-year-old colt, Remake, was the highlight of the night for Fukunaga. Ridden patiently from the rear of the field, the partnership rallied strongly in the home straight to finish third in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint. American-trained Elite Power was the decisive winner with Gunite finishing second.
"I didn't win but I'm happy with the race". After dismounting and unsaddling Remake, he weighed-in for the very last time. "It hit me that this was my last race. It was not a short career, but it didn't feel like a long time" Fukunaga commented with tears in his eyes.
Yuichi is the son of famed Japanese jockey Yoichi Fukunaga. Fukunaga Snr. was paralysed in a racecourse accident in the 1970s. Yuichi made sure to mention that the horrific end to his father's career was at the forefront of his mind in his decision to retire. "Finishing my career as a jockey safely and on my own terms was the most important factor to me and my family" he continued "My Mother no longer has to worry about me like she has done for so long".
'Talented Jockey' was a comment Fukunaga wrote in a Junior high school yearbook in relation to what he wanted to be in 10 years. Safe to say, that aspiration has been soundly achieved and comprehensively surpassed. Champion Jockey, Derby-winner, undefeated Triple Crown winner and riding over 100 JRA winners for 13 consecutive years to name just a few of his accolades.
"I wasn't the most talented Jockey, I credit my success to the support I received from fans, my family around me and so many more people" he said with a gleaming smile.
Article Creds:Daily Sports