Yuga Kawada (Japanese: 川田将雅, October 15, 1985[2] – ) is a Japanese jockey affiliated with the Japan Racing Association. Born to a family of horse racing, he is the leading jockey of JRA races of 2022.[3]
Yuga Kawada | |
---|---|
![]() Kawada during the post-race interview after winning the 2023 Yushun Himba | |
Native name | 川田将雅 |
Born | [1] Tosu, Saga[2] | 15 October 1985
Nationality | Japan |
Height | 159 cm (5 ft 3 in)[2] |
Weight | 51 kg (112 lb)[2] |
Career wins | 1932 (JRA) 67(NAR) |
Major racing wins | |
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2021) Dubai World Cup (2023) Hong Kong Cup (2021) Osaka Hai (2021) Kikuka Sho (2010) Oka Sho (2014, 2022, 2023) Satsuki Sho (2008) Takarazuka Kinen (2015) Tokyo Yushun (2016) Yasuda Kinen (2015, 2021) Yushun Himba (2012, 2023) | |
Significant horses | |
Lei Papale, Liberty Island, Lovely Day, Loves Only You, Makahiki, Ushba Tesoro |
Since July 2016, Kawada, together with Yuichi Fukunaga, has a management contract with Horipro.[4]
Profile
editKawada debuted on March 7, 2004, and won his first race on the 20th of that same month.[5] Kawada won his first graded race, the Kokura Daishoten, with Mejiro Meyer in 2006.[6] Kawada won his first Grade I race and classic race with Captain Thule when they won the Satsuki Sho in 2008.[7] The year before, he became the jockey to have ridden the first white horse to win a JRA race when he rode White Vessel at a maiden race held at Hanshin Racecourse on April 1, 2007.
Kawada became a Derby jockey in 2016 when he won the race with Makahiki. This race also marked his completion of all classic races in Japan, as he had also won the Kikuka Sho in 2010 with Big Week, the Yushun Himba with Gentildonna, and the Oka Sho with Harp Star by that point.[8] On September 11 of that same year, Kawada became the 31st JRA jockey to have won a total of 1,000 races in his career.[9]
In 2019, Kawada won the World All Star Jockeys that was held at Sapporo Racecourse.[1]
In 2021, Kawada became the 9th JRA jockey ever to have won a total of 100 graded races in his career after winning the Takamatsunomiya Kinen with Danon Smash.[10] That same year, Kawada won two GI races abroad, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf held at Del Mar, and the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin, together with Loves Only You; with the former win being the first time a Japanese horse ever to win that race.[11][12]
In 2022, Kawada won the Oka Sho for the second time with Stars On Earth.[13] That same year, he became the leading jockey in Japan for the first time in his creer, as well as the best jockey by win rate and money earned; earning him the Grand Prize.[3]
In 2023, Kawada became the first Japanese jockey to win the Dubai World Cup with Ushba Tesoro, and the first time since Victoire Pisa in 2011 for a Japanese horse to win the same race.[14][15][16] That same year, Kawada became a Triple Tiara jockey after he won the Oka Sho, Yushun Himba, and Shuka Sho with Liberty Island.[17][18][19] The final leg of the Triple Tiara, the Shuka Sho, was held on Kawada's 38th birthday.[20]
Personal life
editKawada's great-grandfather, Wakaya , was a retired jockey and horse trainer, as was his son (Yuga's grandfather) Toshimi . Toshimi's son and Yuga's father, Takayoshi , is a retired jockey and active horse trainer at Saga Racecourse .[21][22] Masayuki Miyaura , who was the jockey for Inari One before becoming a trainer at Oi Racecourse, is Kawada's uncle.[23]
Kawada married to Rei Otsuka , a tarento, in 2011.[24] The two have a son named Ginji.[25]
Major wins
edit- Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes – (3) – Danon Premium (2017), Grenadier Guards (2020), Jantar Mantar (2023)
- Champions Cup – (2) – Chuwa Wizard (2019), Chrysoberyl (2019)
- Haneda Hai – (1) – Amante Bianco (2024)
- Hanshin Juvenile Fillies – (1) – Liberty Island (2022)
- Hopeful Stakes – (1) – Danon The Kid (2020)
- Japan Breeding farms' Cup Classic – (2) – Chuwa Wizard (2018), Chrysoberyl (2020)
- Japan Breeding farms' Cup Sprint – (2) – Suni (2009, 2011)
- Oka Sho – (3) – Harp Star (2013), Stars On Earth (2022), Liberty Island (2023)
- Osaka Hai – (1) – Lei Papale (2021)
- Kawasaki Kinen – (2) – Chuwa Wizard (2019, 2022)
- Kikuka Sho – (1) – Big Week (2010)
- NHK Mile Cup – (2) – Danon Scorpion (2022), Jantar Mantar (2024)
- Queen Elizabeth II Cup – (1) – Lachesis (2014)
- Satsuki Sho – (1) – Captain Thule (2008)
- Shuka Sho – (1) – Liberty Island (2023)
- Sprinters Stakes – (2) – Fine Needle (2018), Mama Cocha (2023)
- Takamatsunomiya Kinen – (2) – Fine Needle (2018), Danon Smash (2019)
- Takarazuka Kinen – (1) – Lovely Day (2015)
- Teio Sho – (1) – Gold Blitz (2012)
- Tokyo Yushun – (1) – Makahiki (2016)
- Tokyo Daishōten – (1) – Ushba Tesoro (2023)
- Yasuda Kinen – (3) – Maurice (2015), Satono Aladdin (2016), Danon Kingly (2021)
- Yushun Himba – (2) – Gentildonna (2012), Liberty Island (2023)
- Hong Kong Cup – (1) – Loves Only You (2021)
- Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf – (1) – Loves Only You (2021)
- Dubai World Cup – (1) – Ushba Tesoro (2023)
References
edit- ^ a b 『優駿』2020年2月号、47頁。
- ^ a b c d "川田将雅プロフィール" (in Japanese). netkeiba.com. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ a b "Winners of the 2022 JRA Awards announced". Horse Racing in Japan. 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "福永と川田がホリプロ所属に 菜七子との共演も". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). 2016-07-01. Archived from the original on 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "川田将雅騎手、JRA初勝利". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 2004-03-20. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "【小倉大賞典】(小倉)〜川田&メジロマイヤー渾身の逃げ切り勝ち". ラジオNIKKEI (in Japanese). 2006-02-04. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "【皐月賞】(中山)~良血の証明 キャプテントゥーレが逃げ切りV". ラジオNIKKEI (in Japanese). 2008-04-20. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "【日本ダービー】マカヒキ8センチ鼻差で世代頂点に!川田が泣いた". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 2016-05-30. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "開催競馬場・今日の出来事". Japan Racing Association. 2016-09-11. Archived from the original on 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "川田将雅騎手がJRA重賞100勝達成、高松宮記念のダノンスマッシュで". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 2021-03-28. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "【BCF&Mターフ】川田騎手ラヴズオンリーユーV、日本初のBC制覇!". p.nikkansports.com (in Japanese). 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "【香港C結果】ラヴズオンリーユーが日本馬初の海外G1年間3勝で有終の美!ヒシイグアスが2着". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "Stars on Earth Snatches Oka Sho Title and First Fillies' Classics of 2022 – News". Horse Racing in Japan. 2022-04-10. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "【ドバイワールドC】ウシュバテソーロがV!!5連勝で日本馬2頭目の頂点 川田「アメイジング!」". スポーツニッポン. 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "【ドバイWC】ウシュバテソーロを頂点に導いた川田将雅騎手「日本人騎手が世界で戦えることを示せて誇りに思う」". UMATOKU (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ Playle, Maddy (2023-03-25). "'It is by far the greatest honour' – Ushba Tesoro strikes in Dubai World Cup for Japan". Racing Post. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "競馬 リバティアイランドが秋華賞優勝 史上7頭目のひん馬3冠". NHK News (in Japanese). Japan Broadcasting Corporation. 2023-10-15. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "Liberty Island Wins the Shuka Sho and Crowned Triple Crown Champion". Horse Racing in Japan. 2023-10-15. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ Lemaire, Christophe [@christo68914587] (2023-10-15). "Today we welcomed another Triple Crown Filly winner jockey among the previous 5 !! #Kawada
#Miyuki – Still in Love
#Lemaire – Almond Eye
#Kawada – Liberty Island
#Matsuyama – Daring Tact" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2023-10-17 – via Twitter. - ^ "【秋華賞】リバティアイランド牝馬3冠 38歳誕生日に偉業達成の川田将雅騎手「競馬の神様がくれた最大、最上のプレゼント」". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ Yoko, Oe (2022-04-08). "【地方競馬】川田将雅騎手の父・孝好調教師が佐賀ならではの「うまてなし」を紹介". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "佐賀競馬公式Xが川田騎手の父孝好師のコメント掲載 父も15日が誕生日で「最高のプレゼント」". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 2023-10-15. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "【地方競馬】大井の宮浦正行調教師が引退 イナリワンを始め騎手としても活躍". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 2022-09-13. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "川田が結婚!相手は元ブラン娘の大塚麗衣さん". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 2011-04-27. Archived from the original on 2011-04-30. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "川田将雅騎手が長男純煌くんの優勝に満面の笑み「僕よりも体のバランスがいい」". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
Bibliography
edit- Mitsuo, Okamoto, ed. (2020). "川田将雅 勝負師としての覚悟". 優駿. 914. Japan Racing Association: 47.