Tokyo International News Agency

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....

Susumu Fujita, CEO of CyberAgent and prominent racehorse owner, celebrated a magnificent victory as his horse Elik King claimed first place in the Kobe Shimbun Hai held on the 21st. Partnered with Jockey Yuga Kawada, the second-favorite colt showcased a dazzling performance, catching the front-runners to secure its second graded race win. Elik King's triumph marks its second graded title, following last year's Kyoto 2-Year-Old Stakes. "Our owner, Susumu Fujita, is now in clear sight of his long-cherished dream of a first JRA Grade 1 victory!" exclaimed jubilant fans, with high expectations for Elik King's performance in the Kikuka Sho, the major autumn race. The horse's name is derived from Elik, a player who belonged to FC Machida Zelvia, a football club where Fujita serves as representative, attracting attention from soccer fans as well. With this victory in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, Susumu Fujita achieved his fourth JRA graded race win. His impressive track rec...