Retired Champion Al Ain Trends on Social Media After Kohei Matsuyama's Dramatic Japanese Derby Win
On May 31, 2026, the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1)—the ultimate festival of the Japanese horse racing calendar—was held at Tokyo Racecourse, where Robchen, ridden by jockey Kohei Matsuyama, claimed a brilliant victory. This marked Matsuyama's long-awaited first Derby title, prompting an outpouring of congratulations from racing fans across the country. Yet behind this historic triumph, the name of a retired champion, "Al Ain," unexpectedly trended on social media, sparking massive buzz and nostalgia among fans. The "I Raised Them" Meme: How Al Ain Shaped Two Star Jockeys The main reason fans flooded social media with Al Ain's name lies in his deep connection to both Kohei Matsuyama and another top jockey, Yuichi Kitamura. Matsuyama won his very first Classic G1 title in the 2017 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) aboard Al Ain. Though they were far from the favorites at the time, Matsuyama steadily built on that success to eventually become a Derby-winn...