Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
12th-choice Sugar Kun wins the Fuji Stakes after a long layoff
Sugar Kun won the Fuji Stakes at Tokyo on Saturday, surprising fans as the 12th choice in a 14-horse field.
The five-year-old horse was ridden by jockey Yoshimura and finished the 1,600-metre race in 1 minute 32.2 seconds.
It was his first graded-race win in two and a half years, since the Aoba Sho.
Sugar Kun had been out for two years after developing a tendon injury following the Derby, then returned to racing this year.
He finished last in his first two races back, making this win a striking comeback.
He came from behind with a powerful finish, while second choice Anpadu took second and fourth choice Eco Alba placed third; the favourite, Trovatorre, finished 12th.
The Fuji Stakes is a Group 2 race and a lead-up to the Mile Championship, but Yoshimura said Sugar Kun could perform well at the higher Group 1 level.
Sugar Kun, a 12th-choice runner, won the Fuji Stakes at Tokyo on Oct. 17.
The five-year-old horse came from behind to claim his second graded-stakes victory, after the Aoba Sho two years earlier.
His winning time in the 1,600-meter race was 1 minute 32.2 seconds.
The victory came in his third race after a long break caused by tendonitis.
Second place went to 2nd-choice Ampadu, while 1st-choice Torovatore finished 12th.
- Who
- Sugar Kun, ridden by jockey Yoshimura, won the race.
- What
- He won the Fuji Stakes, a Grade 2 race over 1,600 meters.
- When
- Oct. 17, 2026.
- Where
- Tokyo Racecourse, Japan.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sugar Kun developed tendonitis and began a two-year period of recuperation.
He returned in the Niigata Daishoten, then also ran in the Takarazuka Kinen; he finished last in both races.
Sugar Kun won the Fuji Stakes at Tokyo in his third race after the long layoff.
- Starting odds rank
- 12th choice
- Race
- Fuji Stakes, Grade 2
- Distance
- 1,600 meters
- Winning time
- 1 minute 32.2 seconds
- Jockey
- Yoshimura
- Second place
- Ampadu, 2nd choice
3 sources
What people are saying
I did not get a good start, but he had a tremendous turn of foot.
It was his first time at a mile, but he put in a really good performance, so I think he can compete well even if he steps up another level to a G1.
I was surprised because he looked to be carrying an extra 10 kilograms without being fully fit.