Horse of the Week #3: Eri King Stakes Kikuka Sho Claim in Style
- Archie Brookes
- Sep 22
- 3 min read
Welcome back to our Horse of the Week series on archiebrookesracing.net, where we spotlight standout performances from Japan's racing scene. This week, the honour goes to the exciting Eri King, who laid down a marker for the Group 1 Kikuka Sho next month, emulating his sire, Kizuna, in the process.
How the Race Was Won
The G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at Hanshin on Sunday (2400m) shaped as a key prep for the final Classic of the season, and Eri King stamped himself a serious Kikuka Sho player with a sharp-turn-of-foot win. The 3-year-old colt by Kizuna closed off brutally fast to claim the 10-runner race in 2:26.4, with Shohei a neck away in second and Giovanni 1¾ lengths back in third.
The race set up perfectly for a late closer. The first 1000m went in a crawl (62.6), before a relentless acceleration over the final four furlongs produced a punishing last 600m in 32.3 seconds for the winner - the fastest in the field. Eri King was buried midfield early, but jockey Yuga Kawada conserved energy and peeled wide at the right time, launching at the top of the straight to reel in Shohei.
It was a smart and measured ride by Kawada, whose post-race comments made it clear the race was designed as a stepping stone to the 3000m G1 Kikuka Sho at Kyoto on October 26:
“We prepared him with the Kikuka Sho in mind… we kept the tempo gentle and prioritised his rhythm. Given his current condition he moved even better than expected, so it’s a very valuable takeaway as we head to the next race.”
Trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida echoed the long-term thinking:
“He wasn’t fully wound up, but still finished it off. He’d put on about 10kg; he’s maturing mentally and physically. Kawada rode with 3000m in mind - didn’t force a position. We’ll see about the trip, but he kept a good rhythm at 2400m.”
That balance of conditioning and tactical execution indicates there is additional developmental potential to be realized. The victory also represented a significant professional milestone for Kawada: his 150th JRA graded stakes win, placing him among only six jockeys in history to achieve that total.
Connections & Pedigree
Eri King’s background underscores his suitability for top-level competition. He is by Kizuna (a son of Deep Impact) out of the Australian mare Youngstar (by High Chaparral). Purchased for ¥231 million at the JRHA Select Sale by owner Susumu Fujita and trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida at Ritto, he carries both elite Japanese and Australian bloodlines. Youngstar captured the G1 Queensland Oaks before being acquired by Katsumi Yoshida for A$1.4 million; her half-sister Funstar, a G1 Flight Stakes winner, later sold for A$2.7 million.
Eri King’s race record now shows four wins from six starts. As a juvenile he secured the G3 Kyoto Nisai Stakes, but his Spring campaign this year was inconsistent, producing 11th in the Satsuki Sho and 5th in the Tokyo Yushun. This Hanshin success was his Autumn debut and delivered his second Group victory.
Kikuka Sho Outlook
The first three finishers gained priority entry into the Kikuka Sho. Shohei, runner-up here, already demonstrated quality as third in the Derby, while Giovanni has proven a reliable performer at this level. Nevertheless, Eri King’s capacity to produce a decisive late acceleration and to sustain rhythm around Hanshin’s extended stretch positions him as a serious candidate for the 3000m test at Kyoto.
The pace structure of this trial emphasised finishing speed, and Eri King displayed the most potent burst. The forthcoming Classic will provide a more rigorous stamina examination, but on the basis of this performance he appears well-prepared to meet it.
Enjoyed this article?
If you’ve enjoyed this Horse of the Week feature, I’d love your support - please share it with fellow racing fans and follow me on X @archieb100 for more insights, race recaps, and weekly highlights. Your feedback and interaction will help grow this series into something special.
Comments