2021 JRA Awards

The winners of the 2021 JRA Awards were announced on January 11th.

Horse of the Year - Efforia(JPN)
Also: Champion Three-Year-Old
Efforia(JPN), the son of Epiphaneia(JPN) from his second crop, had a stellar year, and it isn't easy to become a Horse of the Year as a three-year-old. The last colt who managed to pull that off was Orfevre(JPN) when he won the Triple Crown and the Arima Kinen in the same year. Efforia(JPN) didn't win the Tripple Crown, but he impressively won the G1 Satsuki Sho(Japanese 2000 Guineas) in the spring before losing the G1 Japanese Derby by only a nose. He came back strong in the fall and was pointed towards the Tenno Sho Fall and Arima Kinen, taking on older horses and proved himself much the best in both renewals.

Champion Two-Year-Old Colt- Do Deuce(JPN)
The son of Heart's Cry(JPN) was impressive in his win in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, proving that the race can still produce year-end champions. He managed to remain undefeated in three starts in 2021. He debuted in September with a maiden victory over 1800m. A little over a month later, he was back to win the 1800m listed Ivy Stakes before winning the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes in December. His 2022 campaign should be pretty interesting as he looks to be quite the racehorse and has already proved he can handle himself beyond a mile.

Champion Two-Year-Old Filly- Circle of Life(JPN)
This daughter of Epiphaneia(JPN) ended the year with a powerful performance in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies after winning the G3 Artemis Stakes in October. This other graded stakes victory puts her a notch above the Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, as he was only a listed winner before his G1 victory. She debuted in August, finishing third over 1800m, where the winner was eventual G2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes winner Equinox(JPN) by Kitasan Black(JPN). They shortened her down to a mile and pitted her against only fillies, and she won handily by two and a half lengths. Her win in the 1600m G3 Artemis Stakes was only by a neck, but her ability to close strongly came in handy in her G1 win as well. In April, her past three wins should make her one of the main favorites in the G1 Oka Sho(Japanese 1000 Guineas).

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly - Sodashi(JPN)
While the all-white daughter of Kurofune(JPN) only had one G1 win last year, her performance in the G1 Oka Sho in April of 2021 was one for the record books. She is the first all-white thoroughbred to ever win a classic race. Her fall debut in the G2 Sapporo Kinen, where she beat the likes of Loves Only You(JPN), proved she could handle herself against the best and undoubtedly helped earn her this award. It will be exciting to see how her career develops as a four-year-old in 2022.

Champion Four-Year-Old & Up Horse - Contrail(JPN)
2019's Champion Two-Year-Old and 2020's Champion Three-Year-Old Contrail(JPN) by Deep Impact(JPN) was lightly raced in 2021, hitting the track only three times. His third-place effort over heavy ground in the G1 Osaka Hai disappointed many fans, but Deep Impact(JPN) progeny have historically not been at their best over a rain-soaked track. The effort took a lot out of the champion, and he didn't make it back to the track until the G1 Tenno Sho Fall in October of last year, but he finished a length behind Efforia(JPN) there as well. However, he showed his typical spectacular form in the G1 Japan Cup at the end of November, earning him this third champion award as he was retired to stud.

Champion Four-Year-Old & Up Mare - Loves Only You(JPN)
Nothing about Loves Only You(JPN)'s 2021 campaign was typical, as she spent most of the year racing abroad. The daughter of Deep Impact(JPN) started the year off with a commanding win in the G2 Kyoto Kinen in February. She then shipped to Dubai, where she finished a gutsy third in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. She stayed in Dubai until it was time to ship to Hong Kong, where she handily won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin. In August, she took the summer off before finishing second in the G2 Sapporo Kinen. In October, she shipped to the United States where she became the first Japanese trained horse to win a Breeders' Cup race, the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She stayed in the US for a few weeks before shipping to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong International Races. She ended her career in style, winning the G1 Hong Kong Cup. She was the first Japanese horse to win three international G1 races abroad in history. She made a lot of history last year, so this award was well earned.

Champion Short Distance Horse - Gran Alegria(JPN)
The daughter of Deep Impact(JPN) won this same award for a stellar 2020 campaign where she won three G1 races. While her 2021 campaign wasn't as dominating, she was still a significant factor in nearly every race she ran in. She finished fourth over heavy ground in the G1 Osaka Hai in her first race of 2021. She was back to her winning ways when she destroyed the competition in the G1 Victoria Mile in May. She narrowly lost the G1 Yasuda Kinen by a head the following month before taking the summer off. She was back in the G1 Tenno Sho Fall after having had throat surgery, where she finished third behind Efforia(JPN) and Contrail(JPN). She closed out the year and her career with another solid win in the G1 Mile Championship.

Champion Dirt Horse - T O Keynes(JPN)
Dirt is not a prominent surface in the JRA, but T O Keynes(JPN), a very promising son of top dirt stallion Sinister Minister(USA), had a fantastic 2021 campaign. He has dominated all of the races he had won that year. He started the year with a three-length victory in the open class Nagoya Jo Stakes and followed it a month later with a length and a three-quarters win in the G3 Antares Stakes. He got his first taste at success at the highest level with a three-length victory in the JPN1 Teio Sho in June before faltering at the start in the JPN1 JBC Classic, finishing fourth by two lengths. He ended the year with a sensational performance in the G1 Champions Cup, where he pulled away to beat the best dirt horses in Japan by six lengths. His next start will be in the 20 million dollars G1 Saudi Cup, going abroad for the first time.

Champion Steeple Chase Horse - Oju Chosan(JPN)
The votes for this award were close between J-G1 Nakayama Grand Jump winner Meisho Dassai(JPN) by Suzuka Mambo(JPN) and J-G1 Nakayama Daishogai winner Oju Chosan(JPN) by Stay Gold(JPN). Oju Chosan(JPN)'s overall career, however, and his ability to overcome injury to remain at the top of the steeplechasing scene took him over the top. The J-G1 Nakayama Daishogai was his 8th overall J-G1 victory and sixth straight year winning at least one J-G1 event. He is easily the greatest steeplechaser in Japanese history and will remain in training in 2022 as well to try to continue his legacy.

Trainer Awards:
Leading Trainer by Wins: Yoshito Yahagi
Leading Trainer by Win Percentage: Mitsumasa Nakauchida
Training Excellence Award: Yoshito Yahagi

Jockey Awards:
Champion Jockey by Wins: Christophe Lemaire
Champion Jockey by Win Percentage: Yuga Kawada
Most Valuable Jockey: Christophe Lemaire

Please contact our representative below for further details:
Satomi Oka (Ms)
Satomi Oka Bloodstock Pty Ltd
E-mail : satomi@bloodstock.jp
Tel : +61 414 414 450