| Yuga Kawada |
| Age: 38 |
| Background: Yuga Kawada’s great-grandfather was a jockey and his grandfather and father are both horse trainers, all plying their trade in the regional NAR racing circuit. The rider gained his JRA jockey licence in 2004 and has amassed more than 1,800 JRA wins, and he is just one of nine riders in JRA history to have won all five Classic races – the Satsuki Sho (2,000 Guineas) on Captain Thule in 2008, the Oka Sho (1,000 Guineas) on Harp Star in 2014, the Tokyo Yushun (Derby) on Makahiki in 2016, the Yushun Himba (Oaks) on Gentildonna in 2012 and the Kikuka Sho (St Leger) on Big Week in 2010. He has also been associated with horses like Maurice, Lovely Day and Fine Needle. 2022 JRA Champion Jockey, Kawada is also a seven-time JRA Award winner for the jockey with the highest winning percentage, achieving the feat in 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. He partnered Loves Only You to win the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf as well as the 2021 Hong Kong Cup at her final start. He enjoyed a successful partnership with Liberty Island in 2023, winning all three legs of Japan’s Triple Tiara. Included among his top-level wins is: Takarazuka Kinen (2015 Lovely Day), Yasuda Kinen (2015 Maurice, 2017 Satono Aladdin, 2021 Danon Kingly), Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2014 Lachesis), Takamatsunomiya Kinen (2018 Fine Needle, 2021 Danon Smash), Sprinters Stakes (2018 Fine Needle, 2023 Mama Cocha), Champions Cup (2019 Chrysoberyl), Hopeful Stakes (2020 Danon The Kid), Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (2020 Grenadier Guards), Osaka Hai (2021 Lei Papale), NHK Mile Cup (2022 Danon Scorpion), Oka Sho (2022 Stars On Earth, 2023 Liberty Island), Shuka Sho (2023 Liberty Island), Yushun Himba (2023 Liberty Island). He’s won five Group races through this year, including the G2 Kinko Sho for the second time in a row atop Prognosis. |
| Hong Kong wins (as of 12 April): 1 |
| 23/24 Season | |||||
| Nationality | : JPN | No. of Wins | : 0 | Total Rides | : 8 |
| Stakes won | : $7,308,480 | No. of 2nds | : 1 | Win % | : 0.00% |
| No. of 3rds | : 0 | ||||
| No. of 4ths | : 2 | ||||
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