Tokyo International News Agency

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...