The World Super Jockey Series, established in 1987, is a popular event in which first-class jockeys from around the world exhibit their skill in riding for race-fans in Japan.
The participating jockeys, who have made outstanding performance through this season, ride in a series of four races on Japanese mounts decided by drawing lots.
Points are allocated to each rider, depending on the final place in each race, to determine the overall winner of the event.
This year, we welcome eight top-class jockeys from Europe, North America, Australia and Hong Kong to join seven outstanding Japanese jockeys to claim this year's title. The races are due to be held over two days on December 6th and 7th at Hanshin Racecourse.
NOVEMBER 2008
The Japan Racing Association
| 1. | Date: December 6, 2008 (Saturday) December 7, 2008 (Sunday) |
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| 2. | Racecourse: Hanshin Racecourse |
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| 3. | Race Conditions: December 6 (Sat.)
December 7 (Sun.)
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| 4. | Draw for Mounts: Date of draw: Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at Rittou Training Center |
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| 5. |
Jockeys:
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| 6. | Method of Determining Jockeys' Award Rankings: The following points will be awarded to each jockey according to the placing of the horse. Thereafter, the award rankings will be determined by the total points over four races. Jockeys who are unable to ride due to scratching or other events or reasons beyond the jockey's control are awarded the same points as the last jockey that finished the race. No points are awarded in the event of disqualification or in such cases where the jockey is at fault.
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| 7. | Jockeys' Awards: In accordance with the riding results over 4 races, the following prize money and prizes will be awarded to the top 3 jockeys. 1st: ¥ 3 million (about US$ 30,000) plus trophy ¥ 300,000 (about US$ 3,000) 2nd: ¥ 2 million (about US$ 20,000) 3rd: ¥ 1 million (about US$ 10,000) Note: The currency exchange rate used in this bulletin is |
NORTH AMERICA (U.S.A)
| EDGAR PRADO | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights:
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Born and raised in Lima, Peru among ten siblings, Prado began his career in Peru and won his first race on Tatin in October 1983. Deciding to seek his future in North America, he began as a contract rider for Manny Azpurua in Florida in 1986 and scored his first win in the United States with Single Love in June of that year.
Prado then moved to Maryland and was the leading rider there six times in 1991-1993, 1996-1998. In 1999, he made a move to New York where his performance enhanced his reputation on a national level while riding for trainer John Kimmel who gave him the chance to prove his riding skills in grade-one races.
Appointed main jockey for legendary colt Barbaro, the pair dominated the 2006 Kentucky Derby by a record of 6-1/2 lengths, and Prado was awarded the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey that year.
He is also credited with stopping two Triple Crown attempts at the Belmont Stakes, in each case aboard a long-shot-with Sarava depriving War Emblem of the title in 2002 and with Birdstone in 2004 to halt Smarty Jones' attempt at the sweep. He also won his Breeders' Cup titles with Folklore (USA; BC Juvenile Fillies, G1), Silver Train (USA; BC Sprint, G1) in 2005 and Round Pond (USA; BC Distaff, G1) in 2006.
2008 has been fruitful for Prado as he celebrated his 6,000th career win in February, scored six G1 wins in the U.S. and abroad, and was inducted to the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. Known to be a Japanophile, this will be his sixth consecutive and seventh overall participation in the World Super Jockey Series.
Participation in the WSJS: Fifth
NORTH AMERICA (U.S.A)
| ALAN GARCIA | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights:
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His father and grandfather being famous jockeys, Alan Garcia was born into a racing environment in Lima, Peru, but grew up hoping to become a professional soccer player. However, his family background and natural talent in the saddle led him to graduate from the Peruvian jockey school, after which he eventually became the leading apprentice in 2003. Under the suggestion of friend and fellow rider Alfredo Clemente, he moved to the United States where he spent a few months as an apprentice at the Meadowlands in 2003 and then started his career as a jockey.
He teamed up with trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in 2006 and transferred to the New York Circuit in 2007-a successful move, which led to his first Grade 1 victory aboard Lahudood in the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (USA, G1), followed by another G1 win in the Breeder's Cup Filly & Mare Turf (USA, G1) also partnered with Lahudood. He was also the last rider to pilot '03 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide as he guided the gelding to victory in the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap (USA) at Finger Lakes on July 4, 2007
But his most notable performance was no doubt this year's Belmont Stakes (USA, G1), where he and longest shot in the field of nine, Da'Tara delivered one of the biggest upsets of the season, spoiling the Triple Crown hopes of Big Brown. Garcia guided the Nick Zito trained colt wire to wire to prevail by 5-1/4 lengths. It was the first Triple crown win for 22-year-old Garcia and one of eight grade race victories he has marked this year.
A young and talented jockey, he will challenge the World Super Jockey Series for the first time this year.
Participation in the WSJS: Fifth
EUROPE (France)
| IORITZ MENDIZABAL | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights:
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Born a son of a banker and a teacher in a village in the Basque region of Spain, Mendizabal discovered his passion for horses at a very young age and left his country to attend apprentice school at Mont de Marsan in France where he also learned to speak French.
At the age of 14, he became apprentice to trainer Michel Labourde in Dax and rode his first winner Ninive La Douce at Gemozac in 1990, and went on to join trainer Jean-Claude Rouget in 1991. Although experiencing some ups and downs during the early stages of his career, his efforts started to show as he steadily climbed the jockey rankings, finishing his 2003 season second to Christophe Soumillon, and finally reaching the summit in 2004, marking 220 wins out of 969 rides. This broke Christophe Soumillon's record of 207 wins in a single season. The 2003 season also marked a year in which he claimed his first group-race title with Commercante in the Prix de Psyche (FRA, G3) in Deauville.
Although 2005 was interrupted by accidents, Mendizabal was runner-up in the rankings in 2006 and 2007. This season proves to be his most successful one so far in his career, as he not only stands as the leading jockey at this point, but has been partnered with amazing Eric Libaud-trained colt Vision d'Etat with whom he captured the Prix du Jockey Club (FRA, G1) and Prix de Niel (FRA, G2) at Longchamp.
Mendizabal is quite tall for a jockey at 5 ft 10, and though he is said to have a strong liking for chocolate, he manages to keep his weight. He celebrates his third participation in the World Super Jockey Series-he finished seventh in 2004 and fourth in 2006.
Participation in the WSJS: Third
EUROPE (Germany)
| ANDRASCH STARKE | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights:
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A native of Germany, Starke had his first ride as an amateur at the age of fifteen in 1989. After scoring his first win three months later, it was in the summer of 1992 when he landed his first major race victory with Irish Stew in the Berlin Brandenburg Trophy at Hoppegarten. His first classics title was captured with Bruno Schutz trained Night Petticoat in the Preis der Diana (German Oaks, GER, G1) in 1996. His first G1 victory was aboard Oxalagu in the '97 Bayerisches-Zuchtrennen (GER, G1), which he also captured successively in 2006 and 2007.
His appointment as stable jockey to the powerful (Bruno and later on son Andreas) Schutz stable, together with his superb skills and talent, resulted in giving him a long list of major race victories headed by four wins in the Deutsches Derby (GER, G1), four in the Preis der Diana, and one in the Grosser Preis von Baden (GER, G1), not to mention wins in the Deutschland-Preis (GER, G1), the Bayerisches Zuchtrennen and the Preis von Europa (GER, G1).
Parterned with top trainer Peter Schiergen and his various outstanding mounts, he has scored major wins this year in Germany and in Italy, such as the Rheinland-Pokal(GER, G1) and the Deutsches Derby with Kamsin, the Preis der Diana with Rosenreihe, and the Gran Premio di Milano (ITA, G1) with Quijano along with another win in the Oaks d'Italia (ITA, G2) on Goose Bay.
He has competed in various countries including Japan, in the '97 Japan Cup (Caitano, 4th) and the '01 Japan Cup Dirt (Aeskulap, 15th), and has won races in Dubai, France, Italy and Singapore. In recent years, Starke has also raced seasonally in Hong Kong where he won the Cathay Pacific International Jockey's Championship at Happy Valley racecourse twice in 2000 and 2005. This will be his second consecutive challenge in the World Super Jockeys Series this year.
Participation in the WSJS: second
EUROPE (Ireland)
| JOHNNY MURTAGH | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights:
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Apprenticed to one of Ireland's leading trainers John Oxx, Murtagh marked his first win at seventeen, became champion apprentice at nineteen and became first jockey to Oxx at twenty two. He landed his first grade-race win in 1995 with subsequent champion miler Ridgewood Pearl, and reigned as Irish champion jockey in 1995, 1996 and 1998 with the support of Oxx and owner-breeder the Aga Khan.
In 2000, Murtagh celebrated an outstanding year as he scored his first Epsom Derby (GBR, G1) and Irish Derby (IRE, G1) titles both on the Aga Khan colt Sinndar. He also substituted for injured Kieren Fallon and won eight G1 races for trainer Sir Michael Stoute. Collecting more wins at home and abroad, his greatest day came in October when he completed a G1 hat trick at Longchamp, winning the Prix de l'Opera (FRA, G1) with Petrushka, the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (FRA, G1) on Namid, and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FRA, G1) aboard Sinndar. He capped his successful 2000 season with a victory in the Hong Kong Vase (HKG, G1) and tallied an incredible twelve G1 wins worldwide.
Murtagh landed his second Irish Derby and first King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (GBR, G1) wins with Alamshar in 2003 and also marked wins for various trainers on mounts such as Choisor and Soviet Song up to 2005. He failed to capture a G1 title in 2006 but finished third in the jockey rankings.
When Kieren Fallon was suspended in the beginning of 2008, Murtagh was appointed the retained jockey for Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle operation, the training base for Coolmore, and this has proved his best season, surpassing his successful 2000 season. He has landed 21 G1 wins including a five G1 winning streak with Duke of Marmalade and several other titles with mounts such as Henrythenavigator, Mastercraftsman and Bushranger. Murtagh has participated in the World Super Jockeys Series in 1997, 1998 and 2000.
Participation in the WSJS: Fourth
OCEANIA (Australia)
| CRAIG WILLIAMS | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights:
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Craig Williams was born into a racing family-his father Allan Williams is a jockey-turned-trainer, and his two brothers Jason and Damien are also trainers while his relatives on his mother's side, his grandfather Tom Harrison and three uncles, Doug, Kevin and Tony Harrison are all trainers as well. Beginning his jockey career as apprentice to his father in 1993, Williams scored his first win on Pride Of Demus at Ballarat on July 22, 1993.
Having acquired his Jockey A license in 1997, he registered his first G1 victory aboard Lee Freedman-trained Grand Echezeaux in the '00 Australasian Oaks (AUS, G1) at Morphettville and then embarked on a globetrotting racing career beginning with England, and spent three seasons from 2002, racing in Hong Kong. Teamed up with Hong Kong-based Australian trainer David Hayes, he rode more than hundred winners there.
After Williams and Hayes both returned to Melbourne in 2005, their relationship continued back in his homeland where he became a full-fledged jockey and quickly emerged to the top, landing three consecutive Melbourne Jockey Premierships. One of his best mounts so far in his career was Redoute's Choice filly Miss Finland, and the pair captured five G1, two G2 and two G3 titles in 2006 and 2007.
He was the first jockey from the Southern Hemisphere to capture the World Super Jockey Series title last year. He is back to defend his title in his third consecutive participation in the series.
Participation in the WSJS: Third
OCEANIA (Australia)
| BLAKE SHINN | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights:
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Born in a family of jockeys, harness trainers and drivers, Blake Shinn is a Sydney based jockey riding for the Gai Waterhouse stable as joint number one rider with Nash Rawiller.
Debuting in 2003, Shinn was leading Victorian country apprentice for three straight seasons up to 2005/2006, and became the first apprentice jockey in history to achieve the Scobie Breasley Medal in 2005. His first big win was on a Bart Cummings-trained horse Accumulate in the 2005 St. Leger Stakes (AUS, G3). He also landed his first G1 victory that year aboard Demerger in the Adelaide Cup (AUS, G1). However, with his career not working out as expected after that due to a consistent record of careless riding suspensions-although he was hailed as one of Melbourne's brightest young riding talents-he accepted Waterhouse's offer and moved up north to Sydney where he quickly began riding winners.
After a full racing season in Sydney, he won the jockeys' premiership in the 2007/2008 season, and was given the opportunity to race another Bart Cummings-trained mount Viewed in this years prestigious Melbourne Cup (AUS, G1) - his fifth overall challenge for the title. After a heart-stopping dead heat with English stayer Bauer, Viewed prevailed by a nose, giving the 21-year-old jockey the win every jockey yearns for. It was Shinn's third G1 career victory-his second was achieved in the Sires Produce Stakes (AUS, G1) aboard Sebring this spring.
This will be his first challenge in the World Super Jockeys Series this year, representing Australia together with last year's title holder, Craig Williams.
Participation in the WSJS: First
ASIA (Hong Kong)
| DOUGLAS WHYTE | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights:
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Douglas Whyte claimed his first Hong Kong champion jockey title for the 00/01 season and has reigned as champion jockey ever since. He also reached a milestone in landing his 100th seasonal win in June 15 of 2004 at Happy Valley and became the first jockey to ride 100 winners in a single season. He concluded the 2003/2004 campaign with a record of 106 wins and captured the champion jockey title again in 2004/2005 with 98 wins. In the end of the 2005/2006 season, Whyte completely dominated the premiership by 51 wins to runner-up Brett Prebble, concluding his campaign with 114 wins.
Formerly debuted in the Republic of South Africa, Whyte came to Hong Kong on a short-term license during the 1996/1997 season, and enjoyed a number of successes riding for trainer Ivan Allen in Hong Kong with superb mounts such as Indigenous (Hong Kong Gold Cup, Hong Kong Vase), Oriental Express (AP Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Chairman's Prize) and Best of the Best (Cenenary Cup) until the trainer's retirement in '03.
Already displaying much appreciated riding skills in Japan such as the '99 Japan Cup (G1) with Indigenous, in which he finished second to Special Week and a runner-up effort in this year's Yasuda Kinen (G1) aboard Armada, he also rode under a short-term JRA Jockey's License in 2004 and marked a G3 win with Ambroise in the Hakodate Nisai Stakes. He repeated the spell and rode for host trainer Kazuo Fujisawa under another JRA short-term licsence this summer.
He captured the International Jockey's Championship title last December in Hong Kong and set a new record for winners by a jockey in Hong Kong when he won his 947th career win five days later. He marked a career total of 1,000 wins at the end of the season, the first jockey to do so in Hong Kong racing history.
Participating in four previous World Super Jockeys Series, Whyte captured the title in a tie with German contender Andreas Suborics with 36 points in 2004.
Participation in the WSJS: Fifth
JAPAN (JRA Eastern District)
| HIROYUKI UCHIDA | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights: **JRA races only
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Born and raised in Fukuoka prefecture, Uchida laid down his childhood dream to become a gymnast and followed his brother's footsteps in pursuing a career as a jockey in the National Assocation of Racing (NAR).
After working as an apprentice for Matsuura Stables at Ohi Race Course in southern Kanto area, he debuted in April 1989 and marked his first victory a month later. Although he achieved his first grade-race title in 1991 and was known for having a high degree of potential, his career was overshadowed by the success of other top jockeys at their prime. His career at last began to flourish as he gradually climbed the jockey ratings from 2000 and finally marked 413 wins to capture the leading jockey title in the southern Kanto area for the first time in 2004. In March 2005, Uchida tried out his talent overseas in the Dubai World Cup (UAE, G1) with Adjudi Mitsuo, in which the pair finished sixth.
Since then, he has smashed numerous records in the NAR, not to mention becoming the first NAR jockey to achieve more than 400 wins for three consecutive years, and set a record of 524 annual wins, the most in NAR history, in 2006.
After becoming the sixteenth jockey in the NAR to mark 3,000 career wins in 2007, and already with more than 120 career wins in JRA races under his belt, Uchida transferred to the JRA early this year and has established himself as a regular in top grade races, already winning a G1 title in the Takarazuka Kinen on board Eishin Deputy in June.
Participation in the WSJS: second
JAPAN (JRA Eastern District)
| HIROKI GOTO | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights:
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Affiliated with trainer Masanori Ito, Goto made his debut in October 1992 and landed his first win with Tiger Lily a month later. His first major race victory came unexpectedly aboard Silk Grayish in the '94 Fukushima Kinen, where he was appointed to ride the colt in the last minute to substitute the original rider who had a spill in the previous race. The trainer of the colt had never heard of Goto till then.
After becoming a free-lance rider in 1995, he flew to the United States the following year where he raced for six months, based in Florida. Supported by his experience overseas, his wins increased amazingly and put him among the top ten of the jockey standings for the first time in 1998. His first opportunity to participate in the World Super Jockey Series turned up in 2000 when he marked an annual win of over 100 for the first time in his career.
His long awaited G1 victory was achieved in 2002 in the Yasuda Kinen (G1) aboard Riichi Kondo-owned Admire Cozzene, after which he went on another overseas campaign to Great Britain and France for three months. In 2004, he marked his second G1 victory in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes with Meiner Recolte, and continued to score several grade-race wins every year, landing another G1 win in the Japan Cup Dirt (G1) with Alondite in 2006. He marked his 1,100th win this year on October 18th.
Known by the fans for his sense of humor and sometimes obtrusive manners, he celebrates his third participation in the World Super Jockey Series as the second leading jockey in the Kanto area and fifth leading nationwide this year. He was runner-up in last year's Series, finishing 4 points behind Craig Williams from Australia.
Participation in the WSJS: Third
JAPAN (JRA Western District)
| YASUNARI IWATA | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights: **JRA races only
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Yasunari Iwata made his jockey debut in NAR regional public racing in 1991 based in Sonoda Racecourse. Showing great potential, he consistently registered over 200 wins every year since 1996 when he became the winning jockey of Hyogo's Triple Crown at the age of 22. He led the jockey standings of the Hyogo prefecture in 2000 and repeated the feat in 2002 and in 2004. In December 2005, he became the second fastest jockey to claim 3,000 career wins.
He enthusiastically challenged his skills in JRA races while still affiliated with the NAR and scored his first grade-race win in the '02 Centaur Stakes (G2) with Believe, and then the '04 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) with his congenial mount Delta Blues-a historic achievement for a regional NAR jockey ever to win a JRA classic race. He claimed the World Super Jockey Series title in 2005 and finally transferred his license to the JRA the following year, after which he has participated in the same series for two successive year, though he was unable to defend his title lacking 2 points to German contender Andreas Suborics in 2006 and finished a tie-fifth in 2007.
Iwata's first season in the JRA was astounding not only by scoring three grade-race victories in a total of 126 wins, but with his first overseas campaign in Australia, finishing in great success as he and his partner Delta Blues dominated the Melbourne Cup (AUS, G1, 3,200m) held at Flemington Racecourse. Claiming two G1 titles, the Takarazuka Kinen and the Japan Cup both on multiple G1 winner Admire Moon in 2007, he continues to demonstrate his outstanding talent this year, achieving two more major titles this year, the Tenno Sho Spring (G1) with Admire Jupitor and the Yasuda Kinen (G1) on board Vodka.
Participation in the WSJS: Fourth
JAPAN (JRA Western District)
| KATSUMI ANDO | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights: **JRA races only
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Acquiring his jockey license in September 1976, Katsumi Ando began his career riding in the NAR regional public races at Kasamatsu at the young age of 16. His first win was with Junior China in his sixth career start, which he won by a staggering 5-length margin. In his third season, he became leading jockey of Kasamatsu and continued to reign as champion for 18 years thereafter. He has also won over 100 wins every year since then and marked a total of 3,299 wins until he transferred to the JRA in 2003.
His success in the JRA circle came in 1980 when he won his first ride in JRA's invitational race with Yamaninsky and was given an award by the Kasamatsu Racing Club in honor of his feat. He was the national champion in NAR racing of 1988 and captured countless major events and grade-race titles run by the JRA while he was still a NAR jockey, between 1995 and 2002.
Ando is especially renowned for being the main jockey for the legendary horse Oguricap, who debuted in Kasamatsu and went on to the JRA to capture 12 grade-race titles, also participating in the Japan Cup for three years in a row, from 1988 to 1990. Although Ando was unable to team up with the legend in the JRA races as he was still a NAR jockey at that time, they are still vividly remembered as a pair.
Ando acquired his JRA jockey license in 2003 and quickly marked his first win in less than two weeks with Non Standard. He has captured numerous grade race titles since, and a couple of his recent mounts he has shared the spotlight with are multiple G1 winners Daiwa Major and his half sister, the reigning diva, Daiwa Scarlet. As a result of scoring the highest winning rate of 23.67%, Ando was awarded the JRA Best Jockey (winning average) Award last season.
Among his previous four participations in the WSJS, his best series was in 1995 while he was still affiliated to the NAR, in which he finished third.
Participation in WSJS: Fifth
JAPAN (Western District)
| Yuichi Fukunaga | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights:
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Born a son of legendary jockey Yoichi Fukunaga, who accomplished a nine-year winning streak in the jockey's standings between 1970 through 1978 until a critical injury from a fall ended his career in 1979, Yuichi made his jockey debut in 1996 with immediate success, winning his first two starts of his career. Named Rookie Jockey of the Year with 53 wins that season, Fukunaga landed his first grade-race victory the following year with King Halo in the Tokyo Sports Hai Sansai Stakes (G3), and became a classic race winner when claiming the Oka Sho (G1, Japanese 1,000 Guineas) with Prim Ordine in the spring of 1999.
In spite of a spill one week later, which nearly threatened his career as he severely damaged himself and lost a kidney, he made his come back in the autumn that year and captured the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes (G1) aboard Eishin Preston in December, with whom he partnered to claim four other grade-race titles as well as his first overseas success in the Hong Kong Mile (HKG, G1) in 2001, and a back-to-back win in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HKG, G1) in 2002 and 2003.
His best year so far was in 2005 when he claimed five of his twelve domestic and four overseas G1 career wins. 2005 was also a memorable year in which he scored more than 100 annual wins for the first time. His record also shows that he is a gifted rider possessing a natural skill with juveniles and fillies.
Fukunaga passed a significant milestone this year when he caught up with his father's record of 983 career wins in September. It was out of 8,811 starts for him and 5,086 starts for his father.
Participation in the WSJS: second
JAPAN (Winner of Summer Jockey Series)
| FUTOSHI KOMAKI | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights: **JRA races only
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Formerly a successful jockey at the NAR Sonoda Race Course in Hyogo prefecture, and riding for trainer Naoe Sowa, Komaki made his racing debut in October 1985 and marked his first victory four days later. Since then, he achieved ten leading-jockey titles in Sonoda, nine of which were in succession, and also climbed to the summit of the national ratings in 1994 and 1996.
Komaki participated in the '93 World Super Jockey Series representing the NAR, where he marked his memorable first JRA victory, and also took part in the '99 and '03 Series. Achieving more than 20 wins in JRA races during 2001 and 2002, Komaki passed the test and made his transfer to the JRA in 2004, leaving the NAR with a total of 3,376 career wins.
After becoming a JRA jockey for trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi, his results did not necessarily correspond to the class of mounts he was provided at first, but his wins gradually accumulated and came to celebrate his 200th JRA victory in 2006, and 300th in 2007.
He kicked off his 2008 campaign on the right foot, winning Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) with Reginetta, which is his first classic title, and three major titles including the Antares Stakes (G3, dirt) with Wonder Speed in the spring, a runner up effort in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) with Smile Jack, and a G2 victory in the Centaur Stakes (G2) with Kanoya Zakura this autumn, which defined his victory in the Summer Jockey Series.
Participation in the WSJS: fourth
JAPAN (NAR)
| ISAO SUGAWARA | |||||||||||
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Recent Career Highlights:
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Isao Sugawara is a well experienced and competitive jockey affiliated to the NAR Mizusawa Racecourse in Iwate prefecture situated in Northern Japan.
Making his debut in 1981, he claimed four grade-race titles among thirty four wins in his second year and was awarded the Best Apprentice in 1982. He gradually accumulated his annual wins, marking a total of 150 career wins to achieve Iwate's regional Leading Jockey title for the first time in 1991. He marked his first JRA victory in 1995 with Tetsuno George in the Kimmokusei Tokubetu held at Niigata Racecourse.
He continued to perform successfully with outstanding mounts such as Meisei Opera, with whom he claimed numerous grade-race titles in 1997 and 1998, and went on to win the JRA February Stakes (G1, dirt) the following year to become the first NAR jockey and horse ever to win a JRA G1 race.
He was forced to miss races in 2004 and 2007 due to illness and injury, but was awarded the Iwate Leading Jockey award eleven times, and the NAR Grand Prix Outstanding Jockey award twelve times during the period of 1991 to 2007, and became the tenth jockey in history to earn 3,500 career wins in 2007.
Upon dominating the Super Jockey's Trial for NAR regional jockeys this summer, he has gained a seat in the World Super Jockey Series, which will be his second challenge since 2002.
Participation in the WSJS: Second
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