Tokyo International News Agency

On May 31, 2026, the 93rd Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1)—the pinnacle of Japanese horse racing—took place at Tokyo Racecourse, culminating in a spectacular victory for the race favorite, Robchen, ridden by Kohei Matsuyama. This win secures the prestigious Classic Double Crown for Robchen, who also claimed the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in April. Robchen becomes the 25th horse in history to achieve this feat, and the first since Contrail in 2020, ending a six-year drought. The race came down to a thrilling battle on the home stretch. Robchen, despite being at the back of the field, unleashed a monstrous late burst of speed to sweep past the competition and claim victory. Peintre Naif (ridden by Christophe Lemaire, 4th favorite) finished second, while Basteel (11th favorite) took third, resulting in a high-paying trifecta. Nonetheless, Robchen’s performance left no doubt about his supreme talent. An emotional Kohei Matsuyama, who finally achieved his dream of becoming a Derby...

On May 31, 2026, the Tokyo Racecourse hosted the pinnacle of Japanese horse racing, the Japanese Derby (G1), where Robchen, ridden by jockey Kohei Matsuyama, emerged victorious after a thrilling battle. Following his earlier triumph in the Satsuki Sho, Robchen has officially captured the second leg of the Japanese Classics. For Matsuyama, this long-awaited victory crowns him with the prestigious title of "Derby Jockey" for the very first time. A Victory by a Head and Tears of Joy The race culminated in a heart-stopping stretch duel, but Robchen showed incredible late speed to edge out his rival by a head at the wire, securing his spot at the top of his generation. Matsuyama’s emotional tears immediately after the race deeply moved fans, sparking a wave of congratulations on social media with comments like "He made me cry too" and "Thank you for the beautiful moment." The sight of his relieved, liberated smile during the subsequent victory carriage parade a...

In a result that defied the expectations of many, Robchen—the first-crop offspring of the new stallion World Premiere—captured the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) with a brilliant wire-to-wire victory. The win by a horse sired by a renowned long-distance G1 champion, executed in record time, has sent shockwaves of excitement through the horse racing world. With Kohei Matsuyama in the saddle, Robchen unveiled a side of himself never seen in previous races. Despite showing patience in his prior outings, the duo employed a bold front-running strategy that caught the field by surprise. Matsuyama's brilliant tactical judgment secured the lead early, allowing the horse to fend off all challengers. When challenged by the seemingly unstoppable Realize Sirius, Robchen dug deep, finding an extra gear to cross the finish line first. The performance set a new course record for the Nakayama 2000m turf, leaving no doubt about the horse's ability. The Context The Satsuki Sho is the first ...

On December 27, 2025, at Nakayama Racecourse, the 7th favorite dark horse Robchen (ridden by Kohei Matsuyama) triumphed in the Hopeful Stakes (G1), defeating numerous formidable contenders to claim the title of Japan's champion two-year-old middle-distance runner. This victory marks the first graded stakes win for a progeny of the new sire World Premiere, achieving the remarkable feat of securing a G1 title right away and sending a significant shockwave through the horse racing world. This was only Robchen's second career start. Given his pedigree and prior performance in a maiden race (on heavy ground), he was largely considered an outsider, but he demonstrated powerful late speed in the stretch to seize victory. Jockey Kohei Matsuyama showed perfect horsemanship, and trainer Haruki Sugiyama's stable also won the Hanshin Cup on the same day, achieving a remarkable 'double victory'. His sire, World Premiere, was a renowned stayer during his racing career, winning th...