January 4, 2026 | Kyoto Racecourse
In Japanese horse racing culture, there is an old saying: “Ichinen no kei wa Kimpai ni ari”—”The plan for the year lies in the Gold Cup.” It suggests that the results of the first racing day set the tone for the entire season. If that adage holds true for 2026, we are in for a year defined by tactical brilliance and the resurgence of established bloodlines.
The 64th Sports Nippon Sho Kyoto Kimpai (G3) was not just the opening act of the JRA calendar; it was a complex puzzle of handicap weights, track bias, and jockey psychology played out over the undulating 1,600 meters of Kyoto’s outer turf course. With the weather holding cloudy but the track remaining firmly “Good,” the stage was set for a true test of speed.
Our pre-race analysis warned that this handicap mile is rarely straightforward, and today’s result—a victory for the 4th favorite Buena Onda over the gritty 5th favorite Fervent—validated that caution.
Race Result Summary
Winner: Buena Onda (5H, Leontes x Poca Onda) Jockey: Yuga Kawada Time: 1:33.2 (Estimated)
In a finish that brought the Kyoto crowd to its feet, Buena Onda claimed his first graded stakes title with a performance of pure authority. Under the cool, calculated guidance of champion jockey Yuga Kawada, the five-year-old surged from the pack in the final furlong to deny the brave front-running bid of Fervent.
While the top favorites faltered under the weight of expectations (and literal handicap weight), these two 5-year-olds proved that physical maturity often trumps potential in the high-pressure environment of the New Year opener.
Key Moments of the Race
To understand why the result unfolded as it did, we must look at how the race was constructed from the gate to the wire.
- The Break and the Position Game: The start from the chute at the top of the backstretch was clean. As expected, the pace was honest but not suicidal. The field navigated the long run to the third corner with Fervent asserting himself early. Jockey Kohei Matsuyama made a bold decision to take the initiative, sensing that the track bias might favor those who moved first.
- Conquering the “Yodo” Hill: The defining feature of Kyoto is the hill in the third sector. As the field crested the rise and began the descent, the pack compressed. This is often where races are lost by horses getting trapped on the rail. Yuga Kawada, however, kept Buena Onda in clear air. He drifted slightly wide—a classic “safe” maneuver at Kyoto—sacrificing ground for momentum.
- The Final 200 Meters: Entering the long flat straight, Fervent kicked clear, looking for a moment like a winner. But the “Leontes explosive speed” we discussed in our pedigree breakdown suddenly ignited. Buena Onda changed gears instantly, eating up the ground with a stride that screamed G1 potential. He caught the leader with 50 meters to spare, winning with ears pricked.
Performance of Key Contenders: A Tale of Two Paths
Buena Onda (1st): The Patience of a Champion We flagged Buena Onda as a “Value Pick” in our odds analysis because of his favorable handicap (56.5kg) relative to his recent form. Today, he looked like the complete package. Physically, he has filled out significantly since his 4-year-old season. Kawada’s ride was a masterclass in risk management; he knew he had the best turn of foot and refused to gamble on an inside run. This win marks Buena Onda as a serious contender for the spring mile G1s.
Fervent (2nd): Heartbreak and Heroism Kohei Matsuyama did everything right. By controlling the pace and making the first move, he forced the rest of the field to chase. Fervent, a son of Heart’s Cry, showed tremendous stamina and grit. On another day, or perhaps on a slightly softer track, he holds on. He remains a horse to watch, especially in races where the pace is likely to be slack.
Lance of Queen (13th): The Burden of Expectation The disappointment of the day was undoubtedly the 1st favorite, Lance of Queen. Carrying the top weight of 57.5kg proved too much for the 4-year-old in her first clash against seasoned open-class males. While she traveled well early under Seinosuke Yoshimura, she came up empty when the sprint began. It is a harsh lesson in the realities of handicap racing: the jump from age-restricted races to open graded company is the hardest step in Japanese racing. Bettors should be wary of backing her at short odds until she proves she can handle the physical toll of mixed company.
What This Result Tells Us About the Track
The “A Course” at Kyoto is currently playing fair but rewards momentum. The inside rail was not the “magic carpet” it sometimes is in opening week; instead, the middle-to-outer lanes provided better footing for the closers. Crucially, the time of the race suggests the track is fast. Horses lacking a sub-34-second final 3 furlong capability will struggle here for the remainder of the meeting.
How This Fits into the Bigger Picture
Road to the Yasuda Kinen? It is early to talk about June, but Buena Onda has put his hand up. The way he accelerated up the Kyoto straight is reminiscent of past Yasuda Kinen contenders. His camp will likely look at the Yomiuri Milers Cup (G2) in April as the next logical step.
The “4-Year-Old Slump” The failure of Lance of Queen continues a worrying trend for the current 4-year-old generation in the mile division. They appear to be struggling to assert dominance over the 5- and 6-year-olds. Until this generation produces a dominant miler, value will continue to lie with the older horses in upcoming graded stakes.
Link Back to Previous Coverage
For a detailed look at how we assessed the odds and why we warned against the favorite, revisit our Pre-Race Prediction and Odds Analysis. You can also see how the trackwork comments for Buena Onda hinted at this exact peak in performance.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Kyoto Kimpai was a race of clarification. It filtered the pretenders from the contenders and gave us a new star in Buena Onda. For fans of Japanese racing, the narrative for the spring is now set: can the older guard maintain this fortress, or will the youth strike back?
As we pack up from Kyoto and look toward next week’s racing, one thing is certain: the season has started with a bang, and the dividends for following the form—rather than the hype—have never been higher.
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