The Champions Cup Grade 1 Stakes

The Champions Cup Grade 1 Stakes is a premier event in the world of thoroughbred racing, celebrated for its rich history, competitive field, and the opportunity it provides for horses to establish their legacy. This stakes race, held annually, attracts top equine athletes and their connections, making it a focal point of the racing calendar. In this article, we will delve into the history of the Champions Cup, its stakes record, notable winners, and the time of year it takes place.
History of the Champions Cup (Grade 1) – Japan

Overview

The Champions Cup is Japan’s premier Grade 1 dirt race for Thoroughbreds aged three and older, contested over 1,800 meters (approximately 9 furlongs) at Chukyo Racecourse in Aichi Prefecture. Organized by the Japan Racing Association (JRA), it offers a purse of approximately ¥300 million (around US$2 million), with the winner receiving ¥150 million. Run annually in early December—typically the first Sunday—it serves as the highlight of the dirt racing season and part of the JRA’s Autumn International Series. The race emphasizes speed and stamina on a left-handed dirt surface, attracting Japan’s top dirt performers and occasional international invitees eligible for bonuses from events like the Breeders’ Cup Classic or Dubai World Cup.

Historical Background

Inaugurated in 2000 as the Japan Cup Dirt, the race was created to elevate dirt racing in Japan, mirroring the prestige of the turf-based Japan Cup (established in 1981). Initially run at Tokyo Racecourse over 2,100 meters, it aimed to showcase domestic dirt talent against international competition, with invitations extended to winners of major global dirt races. The inaugural edition was won by Wing Arrow, ridden by Norihiro Yokoyama and trained by Katsuhiko Sumii.

The distance was shortened to 1,800 meters in 2002 when briefly hosted at Nakayama Racecourse. From 2008 to 2013, it shifted to Hanshin Racecourse (right-handed track), but international participation waned due to logistical challenges and Japan’s turf dominance. In 2014, the JRA relocated it to Chukyo (left-handed) and renamed it the Champions Cup to broaden appeal and focus on domestic “champions” of dirt racing. This change boosted fields and viewership, aligning it with other end-of-year G1s like the Japan Cup.

Over its 25-year history (as of 2024), the race has produced enduring stars, with only one horse—Transcend (2010–2011)—achieving back-to-back wins. Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee leads with four victories, while jockey Ryuji Wada holds the record with five. Notable trends include a shift toward younger horses (average winner age: 5) and increasing emphasis on prior JBC Classic performers. The 2024 edition, won by Lemon Pop, highlighted the race’s competitiveness, with the victor edging out Wilson Tesoro in a photo finish.

Key Records and Milestones

Fastest Winning Time: 1:48.7 by Gold Dream (2017)
Largest Margin: 3 lengths by Endless Drama (2012)
Most Wins by Trainer: Yasutoshi Ikee (4: 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Most Wins by Jockey: Ryuji Wada (5: 2003, 2004, 2006, 2013, 2018)
International Winners: None to date, though bonuses have been awarded to foreign invitees like U.S. and UAE runners
Notable Milestone: 2014 renaming and relocation, which increased average field size from 12 to 16

Past Winners

Below is a complete list of winners since 2000, with horses, jockeys, and trainers in bold. All winners carried 58 kg (standard weight for 4+ y.o. males; fillies/mares at 56 kg).
Note: Fillies and mares are highlighted in magenta.

Year	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Time	Notes
2000	Wing Arrow	Norihiro Yokoyama	Katsuhiko Sumii	2:07.9	Inaugural; Tokyo, 2100m
2001	Meisho Doto	Tetsuya Mimura	Toshiyuki Midorikawa	2:09.2	Tokyo, 2100m
2002	Eagle Cafe	Yutaka Take	Hideyuki Nozaki	1:50.2	Nakayama, 1800m
2003	AP Indy Moon	Ryuji Wada	Hideaki Fujiwara	2:08.8	Tokyo, 2100m
2004	Nashville Swan	Ryuji Wada	Hideaki Fujiwara	2:07.4	Tokyo, 2100m
2005	Kane Hekili	Tetsuya Mimura	Yasuo Tomomichi	2:07.1	Tokyo, 2100m
2006	Admire Luna	Ryuji Wada	Shigehiro Murota	2:10.3	Tokyo, 2100m
2007	Blue Mon Ami	Eiji Nakadate	Toshiyuki Midorikawa	2:08.4	Tokyo, 2100m
2008	Kane Hekili	Tetsuya Mimura	Yasuo Tomomichi	1:50.6	Hanshin, 1800m; Repeat winner
2009	Shichifuku Opera	Toshiki Itani	Yasutoshi Ikee	1:50.9	Hanshin, 1800m
2010	Transcend	Yutaka Take	Yasuo Tomomichi	1:50.3	Hanshin, 1800m
2011	Transcend	Yutaka Take	Yasuo Tomomichi	1:49.8	Hanshin, 1800m; Back-to-back
2012	Endless Drama	Kenichi Ikezoe	Shigehiro Murota	1:50.1	Hanshin, 1800m
2013	Cosmo Clock	Ryuji Wada	Yasutoshi Ikee	1:50.5	Hanshin, 1800m; Final as Japan Cup Dirt
2014	Meisho Sammy	Masanori Tanaka	Takashi Saito	1:50.2	Chukyo, 1800m; Renaming year
2015	Sao Pustza	Mirco Demuro	Yasutoshi Ikee	1:49.9	Chukyo, 1800m
2016	Mozu	Ryusei Sakai	Yasutoshi Ikee	1:49.4	Chukyo, 1800m
2017	Gold Dream	Mirco Demuro	Osamu Hirata	1:48.7	Chukyo, 1800m; Record time
2018	Derma Power	Ryuji Wada	Takashi Saito	1:50.0	Chukyo, 1800m
2019	Chrysoberyl	Yuga Kawada	Takashi Saito	1:49.1	Chukyo, 1800m
2020	Galaxy Mack	Kohei Matsuyama	Shigehiro Murota	1:50.3	Chukyo, 1800m
2021	Seoul	Kohei Matsuyama	Toshiyuki Takahashi	1:49.6	Chukyo, 1800m
2022	Sierra Sue	Yuga Kawada	Haruki Sugiyama	1:49.2	Chukyo, 1800m
2023	Lemon Pop	Yuga Kawada	Ryoma Sameshima	1:49.5	Chukyo, 1800m
2024	Lemon Pop	Yuga Kawada	Ryoma Sameshima	1:49.3	Chukyo, 1800m; Repeat winner

Data sourced from JRA and Netkeiba records up to 2024. The 2025 edition is scheduled for December 7 at Chukyo.

Legacy and Future

The Champions Cup has solidified dirt racing’s status in Japan, producing champions like Gold Dream (2017, later Dubai World Cup winner) and Kane Hekili (non-consecutive wins). With growing ties to global events via bonuses, it continues to evolve, potentially attracting more international stars.

The December setting adds a festive atmosphere to the race, as it coincides with various end-of-year celebrations and events in Japan. The Champions Cup serves as a focal point for fans and participants alike, drawing large crowds to Chukyo Racecourse and generating significant media attention.