You Can Change at Any Time

The 2007 Kikuka Sho, which jockey Hirofumi Shii won with Asakusa Kings, was a masterful ride. Of course, the Derby he won with Vodka was also a fantastic race, but in terms of skillful riding, I would rate this race even higher.

60.6 - 63.7 - 60.5
60.7 - 63.6 - 60.8

These are the lap times for the Kikuka Sho (3000m), divided into the first, middle, and final 1000m segments. The top one is the Kikuka Sho won by jockey Katsumi Ando on That's the Plenty in 2003, and the bottom one is the Kikuka Sho won by jockey Shii on Asakusa Kings. You can see that the lap structures are surprisingly similar.

In the Kyoto 3000m, if the first and last 1000m are flat in the 60-second range and the middle section becomes extremely slow, it becomes a race where it is difficult for horses coming from behind to close the gap. Rather than slowing down to escape, pulling the first part at a certain pace prevents it from becoming a contest of pure explosive speed. Also, because the front-runners and leaders recover their stamina during the slow middle section, they do not stop easily.

In such a race, just as jockey Katsumi Ando moved early on That's the Plenty to push through for the win, jockey Shii also gave the go-ahead to Asakusa Kings with 800m remaining. One could say the race was decided at that point. Even if one had read the race development and the laps, it takes courage and decisiveness to make a move from that point in a G1 race. It was a brilliant ride brought about by the confidence of jockey Shii, who had won the Derby.

From the beginning of his career, jockey Shii was highly regarded for his horsemanship. He has an exceptionally good sense of balance in the saddle, and no matter which horse he rides, his center of gravity and the horse's align perfectly. This is what is commonly referred to as having a good "saddle fit." Because his saddle fit is good, the horse can run without feeling the burden on its back. The sight of horse and rider running as one is beautiful to behold, and I could distinguish the horses Shii was riding immediately.

There was only one thing I couldn't bring myself to like: his responses in interviews. I remember many instances in winning jockey interviews where he wouldn't show any joy or would give cold, dismissive answers. He likely didn't mean any harm, but I sometimes felt something close to anger that he would respond that way in interviews on television, which might be watched by people who don't know horse racing. As a horse racing fan, it is frustrating to think that people might assume horse racing jockeys are the kind of people who can't even give a proper answer.

However, in a magazine dialogue, there was an exchange between jockey Shii and jockey Masami Matsuoka that moved me. (Titles omitted below).

Shii
"Still, that was a close one in yesterday's Satsuki Sho."
Matsuoka
"It was frustrating."
Shii
"You were throwing your helmet after the race, weren't you?"
Matsuoka
"Yes, I just got excited..."
Shii
"You probably know this yourself, but you shouldn't throw the equipment that protects your life. Well, you're still young, and you had briefly passed Victory in the straight, so I understand the feeling of getting heated."

I felt a great sense of maturity in jockey Shii, who gently lectured a young hope from the Kanto region on the importance of the equipment that protects one's life. Whether it was the Derby he won with Vodka or the Kikuka Sho with Asakusa Kings, his demeanor was dignified and magnificent. Savoring the joy, caring for the horse, showing respect to the connections, and thanking the horse racing fans. Does a person change this much when they win the Derby? No, perhaps it was because he changed that he was able to become a Derby jockey. People can change at any time.

Photo by M.H