Kokura Racecourse staged a richly competitive winter Saturday on January 24, as racing unfolded across twelve races between 9:45am and 4:00pm, blending youthful promise with seasoned resilience. The meeting was anchored by the ¥72,930,000 Race 11 – The Kokura Himba Stakes (G3), a contest that once again affirmed its standing as a vital early-season test for elite fillies and mares, while the supporting card delivered depth, stamina-driven performances, and clear form signals across divisions.
Class and composure defined the feature as Jocelyn rose to the occasion in Race 11 – The Kokura Himba Stakes (G3), producing a controlled and authoritative performance. The four-year-old bay mare, partnered by Christophe Lemaire and trained by Yuichi Shikato, travelled smoothly before asserting decisively to stop the clock at 1:58.1. Racing for owner Kazumi Yoshida and bred by Northern Farm, Jocelyn proved superior on the day, with Bond Girl chasing her home in second and Coconuts Brown filling third in a race that rewarded balance, patience, and tactical clarity.
Earlier in the morning, promise set the tone as Encore Again opened the card with intent in Race 1, delivering a fluent victory. The three-year-old chestnut colt, ridden by Kohei Matsuyama for trainer Teiichi Konno, scored in 1:47.4 for Yoshizawa Holdings Co. Ltd. and breeder Y’s Horse Factory Ltd. C’est le Charme stayed on for second, while Golden Dragon completed the frame.
Momentum continued in Race 2, where Arvand Rud underlined his potential with a sharp success. Yuichi Kitamura guided the three-year-old bay colt home in 1:46.1 for trainer Manabu Ikezoe and Sunday Racing Co. Ltd., with Northern Racing listed as breeder. Bentayga Orsa filled second, ahead of Satono Agudo.
Speed came to the fore in Race 3, as Kattappa delivered a decisive display over the sprint distance. The three-year-old colt, partnered by Taisei Danno and trained by Hideyuki Mori, stopped the clock at 0:59.4 for owner Naoya Fujii and breeder Buck Pond Farm Inc. Ecoro Levan finished second, with Smart Ideal in third.
Staying ability took centre stage in Race 4, where experience proved decisive. T M Magic, an eight-year-old horse trained by Takashi Suzuki, dug deep under Yoshiyasu Namba to score in 3:45.5. Owned by Masatsugu Takezono and bred by Umeda Bokujo, he held Taiki Florizel at bay, with Toa Morpheus finishing third in a race worth ¥27,130,000.
Endurance again shaped the narrative in Race 5, as Taisei Jasper delivered a resolute performance. The seven-year-old chestnut gelding, ridden by Sho Ueno for trainer Keizo Ito, clocked 3:14.4 for owner Seiho Tanaka and breeder Kamii Stud. Seifu Satsuki followed in second, ahead of Valencay Kazuma.
In Race 6, Bond Martini showed maturity beyond his years, landing the contest in 2:00.1. Yuichi Kitamura partnered the three-year-old colt for trainer Shogo Yasuda, with ownership credited to Yoshiro Kubota and breeding to Northern Racing. Nihonpiro Roger finished second, with Real completing the placings.
Christophe Lemaire returned to the winner’s enclosure in Race 7, guiding Suzuka Miere to a composed success. The five-year-old mare, trained by Keiji Yoshimura for owner Hiroaki Nagai and breeder Keiji Nagai, stopped the clock at 2:38.0. Ask Dead Heat chased her home, while Genji stayed on for third.
Consistency was rewarded in Race 8, where Bay Rum asserted himself late to score in 2:35.5. The four-year-old bay horse, ridden by Lemaire and trained by Hidenori Take, carried the colours of Shadai Race Horse Co. Ltd., with Shadai Farm as breeder. Nicht Zu Sehr finished second, with Sydney Hobart third.
Fillies returned to prominence in Race 9 – Moegi Sho, worth ¥22,100,000, as Rouge Saudade delivered a polished effort. The three-year-old filly, partnered by Arata Saito and trained by Mikio Matsunaga, scored in 1:07.7 for Tokyo Horse Racing Co. Ltd. and breeder Oiwake Farm. Kaisho finished second, ahead of Ange Promise.
Strength and stamina combined in Race 10 – Uminonakamichi Tokubetsu, valued at ¥30,360,000, where King Squall proved dominant. Kohei Matsuyama guided the four-year-old dark brown horse to victory in 2:37.1 for trainer Yoshito Yahagi and owner DMM Dream Club Co. Ltd., with Tobino Bokujo as breeder. Caelum took second, with Shonan Gachi third.
The curtain came down in Race 12, where La Manche closed the card in assured fashion. The four-year-old chestnut horse, ridden by Arata Saito and trained by Yoshiaki Sugiyama, scored in 1:45.7 for owner Tatsuo Tanikake and breeder Shadai Farm. Lord Voyager followed in second, with With Mustang rounding out the placings.
From early promise to Grade 3 excellence, Kokura Race Results 24 January delivered a card defined by balance, discipline, and competitive depth, with Jocelyn standing tall as the afternoon’s defining performer on a day that set clear reference points for the season ahead.
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