The Reign of Susumu Fujita: Sonshi's Record-Shattering Comeback Fuels G1 Dreams

Owner Susumu Fujita's horse, Sonshi, made a spectacular return to racing with a dominant victory in the Hankyu Cup (GIII) at Hanshin Racecourse on February 21st, marking his first race in a year and a month. Partnering with jockey Yuga Kawada, Sonshi astonished fans by setting a new course record of 1 minute 18.9 seconds over the Hanshin turf 1400m.

Sonshi's comeback to a graded race followed a prolonged absence of 54 weeks (or 57 weeks since the Yodo Tan-Kyori Stakes), having been excluded from last year's Silk Road Stakes. Overcoming a long layoff due to a fracture, he pulled off a remarkable revival despite competing at his highest-ever weight, having gained 14kg. His overwhelming performance prompted a flurry of amazed reactions on social media, with comments like "He's too much of a monster" and "Absolutely insane." Jockey Yuga Kawada also praised Sonshi's boundless ability, remarking, "I was truly surprised. I take my hat off to him."

This victory secures owner Susumu Fujita his fifth consecutive year of JRA graded race triumphs. This streak began with the 2022 New Zealand Trophy (Junglo), followed by the Kyoto 2-Year-Old Stakes (Shin Emperor, Eli King), Kobe Shimbun Hai (Eli King), and now the Hankyu Cup. The "golden combination" of Fujita's horses and jockey Yuga Kawada continues to solidify its winning trend.

Owner Fujita has assembled a formidable stable, truly a "magnificent lineup," with Forever Young excelling on dirt, Shin Emperor and Eli King in middle-distance races, and Sonshi dominating sprints. Expectations are soaring for his maiden JRA G1 title. Specifically, Eli King is strongly tipped for the Tenno Sho (Spring) on May 3rd, while Sonshi is expected to head directly to the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, focusing attention on Fujita's quest for his long-desired JRA G1 victory. The fact that Sonshi was acquired for approximately 40 million yen at the OBS March Sale has also become a talking point, with Fujita's "eye for horses" receiving renewed acclaim.

Owner Fujita's naming convention, favoring "number one" monikers like King, Emperor, and now Sonshi (which some note evokes "revered master" or "great teacher"), further illustrates his unyielding passion for victory. His winning charge towards a JRA G1 title shows no signs of slowing down.

The context

For non-Japanese readers, understanding a few key terms will enrich this article. The JRA (Japan Racing Association) is the official governing body for horse racing in Japan. Races are categorized into "graded" levels, with G1 being the pinnacle, followed by G2 and G3. The Hankyu Cup is a G3 race held at Hanshin Racecourse, one of Japan's major race tracks. The Takamatsunomiya Kinen is a prestigious G1 sprint race, and the Tenno Sho (Spring) is a highly regarded G1 long-distance race. Susumu Fujita is a prominent Japanese entrepreneur, founder of the internet giant CyberAgent and streaming service AbemaTV, who has become a major figure in horse ownership, known for his significant investments and ambitious pursuit of top-tier victories. Yuga Kawada is one of Japan's most successful and celebrated jockeys, often referred to as a "golden combination" when paired with Fujita's horses. The OBS March Sale (Ocala Breeders' Sales Company March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training) is a major thoroughbred auction in the United States, indicating the international scope of Fujita's acquisitions. Lastly, the name "Sonshi" (ソンシ) in Japanese can be phonetically similar to "尊師" (Sohnshi/Sonshi), which means "revered teacher" or "master" – a nuance that fits owner Fujita's preference for names suggesting dominance and supremacy, as seen with his other horses like "King" and "Emperor".