Tokyo International News Agency

On February 11, 2026, at Funabashi Racecourse, in the dirt graded race "Queen Sho (JpnIII)," the 7th favorite Marble Mountain put on a thrilling performance, finishing second behind the top favorite Tenkajoh. This remarkable achievement in her first start after transferring to local racing brought shock and excitement to many horse racing fans. The race concluded with Kohei Matsuyama's ride, Tenkajoh, living up to her favoritism with final odds of 2.1-1 for a win, securing her fourth graded victory. However, all eyes were on Marble Mountain, who delivered an impressive late surge from the outside, catching Memoria Cafe who had broken away earlier, and closing in on the winner. Achieving such a result in her very first graded race challenge as an Ohi-registered horse strongly showcased her true potential. Jockey Toshiya Yamamoto, who was in the saddle, commented, "She showed us her power," highly praising Marble Mountain's potential. Investors and fans who pu...

On September 7, 2025, Dicteon, a horse belonging to Ooi Racecourse (Katsunori Arayama stable), etched a new chapter in Japanese horse racing history with a brilliant victory in the International G3 Korea Cup held in South Korea, ridden by jockey Takayuki Yano. Dicteon and Takayuki Yano clinched the win by overtaking Hong Kong's Cheoncheong Glory in the final stretch, drawing a flood of enthusiastic praise on social media, with fans exclaiming "World's Takayuki Yano," "Pride of Gunma," and "Star of Ooi." This triumph marks an extraordinary achievement: a local racing horse winning an overseas graded race, the first such feat in 19 years since Cosmo Bulk in 2006, and a historic first for a dirt graded race. Furthermore, it represents Japan's third consecutive victory in the Korea Cup, following Crown Pride's back-to-back wins. For jockey Takayuki Yano, it was also his inaugural overseas graded race victory. Although Dicteon's debut in Jap...