Japanese sensation Oju Chosan has once again broken his own record, winning the Nakayama Grand Jump for the fifth-straight year.
2019 saw Oju Chosan record an then record-breaking four consecutive wins in Japan’s richest steeplechase, however in pouring rain, Shinichi Ishigami guided Oju Chosan to victory for trainer Shoichiro Wada and in doing so has made history.
The nine-year-old went in as the heavy favourite and didn’t disappoint.
Perhaps sweeter still – it is the first time in Japanese racing history that a horse, trainer and jockey have won the same Graded race five times in a row.
Having cleared the tenth and final jump, Oju Chosan was in pole position and needed only hold off Meisho Dassai to win – doing so by three lengths.
2016
— G (@LongBallToNoOne) April 18, 2020
2017
2018
2019
2020
The world’s highest earning jumper 6. OJU CHOSAN (Stay Gold) makes it 5 (five) straight JG1 4250m Nakayama Grand Jump wins at a drenched Nakayama racecourse.pic.twitter.com/sHE795GVGx
“He’s really a great horse. I’m grateful that he always gives his best performance,” Ishigami said.
Wada admitted he was unsure before the race how the horse would go in the wet.
“I couldn’t imagine how he will race as he had never raced on such a soft ground,
“I’m glad that he was able to race well, clearing all the jumps almost perfectly. He was able to show his outstanding power again today,” he said.
Japanese superstar Almond Eye set to return in May read more.
