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SARGA.CO - The first half of the 2026 Japan Racing Association (JRA) season delivered another memorable six months of world-class racing.
Across 12 G1 races from February to June, 10 different G1 winners were crowned, highlighting the current depth of talent in Japanese racing over sprints, dirt races, Classics races and staying contests. 

On the other hand, Croix du Nord put together two-thirds of the Spring Senior Triple Crown with victories in the Osaka Hai and Spring Tenno Sho, before finishing as the runner-up in the Takarazuka Kinen to Meisho Tabaru, who became the third-ever consecutive Takarazuka Kinen champion since his sire Gold Ship and Chrono Genesis.

(Meisho Tabaru Back-to-back Takarazuka Kinen Champion)

The season also belonged to legendary jockey Yutaka Take, who produced back-to-back G1 victories aboard Sixpence in the Yasuda Kinen and Meisho Tabaru in the Takarazuka Kinen, extending his record as Japan's most successful jockey.

Another historic moment came when Seina Imamura became the first female jockey to win a Japanese Classic after riding Juryoku Pierrot to victory in the Japanese Oaks.

22nd Feb - February Stakes: Costa Nova (joki: Christophe Lemaire)
29th March - Takamatsunomiya Kinen: Satono Reve (Christophe Lemaire)
5th April - Osaka Hai: Croix du Nord (Yuichi Kitamura)
12nd April - Oka Sho: Star Anise (Kohei Matsuyama)
19th April - Satsuki Sho: Lovcen (Kohei Matsuyama)
3rd May - Tenno Sho (Spring): Croix du Nord (Yuichi Kitamura)
10th May - NHK Mile Cup: Rodeo Drive (Damian Lane)
17th May - Victoria Mile: Embroidery (Christophe Lemaire)
24th May - Japanese Oaks: Juryoku Pierrot (Seina Imamura)
31st May - Japanese Derby: Lovcen (Kohei Matsuyama)
7th June - Yasuda Kinen: Sixpence (Yutaka Take)
14th June - Takarazuka Kinen: Meisho Tabaru (Yutaka Take)

Together, these 12 G1 races form the first half of one of the world’s most demanding and prestigious racing calendars. They showcase every aspect of Thoroughbred excellence: explosive sprinting speed, Classics stamina, rising stars, and seasoned champions.

With the spring campaign now complete, attention turns to the second half of the JRA season, where many of the spring's top competitors – including Lovcen, Croix du Nord, Meisho Tabaru and Sixpence - are expected to target the autumn G1 races, culminating in the all-star Arima Kinen in December.