By Heather Anderson
Sunday's G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) result represented a lot of firsts, with Juryoku Pierrot (Orfevre) claiming Classic laurels.
Seina Imamura, Japan's Best Newcomer Jockey in 2022, became the first Japanese female jockey to win a JRA Group 1–it was her third attempt–as well as the first to ride in and win a Japanese Classic race. She follows in the footsteps of jockey Rachel King, who claimed the G1 February Stakes aboard Costa Nova (Lord Kanaloa) in 2025 and was the first woman to win a top tier race in Japan. For trainer Ryo Terashima, it was his first Group 1 title on the Japan Racing Association circuit.
Sent off at 9-1, the daughter of Happy Value (Zenno Rob Roy) tossed her head a bit past the stands and settled in the final third of the field. Leading the way was Trinity (Saturnalia) with longshot Ametista (Kitasan Black) keeping a close watch in second. Favoured G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) victress Star Anise (Drefong) was keen in fourth. Shortly after 1000 metres in a slow 1:02.20 by Trinity, midpack runner Realize Luminous (Silver State) streaked up the outside and into second. Juryoku Pierrot remained untroubled near the back of the pack in between horses.
Trinity continued to lead a quarter-mile from home in what promised to be a bunched finish after the slow early tempo with Realize Luminous just off her in second farther out in the course. Imamura squared up Juryoku Pierrot at that point and cut her loose, as Realize Luminous asserted, but a handful of runners were in with a shot with challenges popping up on either side.
Juryoku Pierrot found another gear, wove through the field and thrust her neck in front four strides from the wire and that was the margin she held over third choice Dream Core (Kizuna) on the line, with Laughterlines (Al Ain) another neck back in third. It was the same margin to late leader Realize Luminous in fourth, a head in front of Sweet Happiness (Real Impact) in fifth. Star Anise dropped to 12th.
A jubilant Imamura said, “It's like I'm dreaming! I've gone through tough losses in other attempts and I would always dream of doing better next time during the weekdays and dream of winning a big race…but today, it's a dream come true and, while I'm still not satisfied with my riding, I am so grateful to have been able to claim such a big title.
“I truly appreciate the support I have been getting towards my first Classic challenge and it is such an encouragement as a jockey which makes me so happy to have chosen this career. There may have been concerns about how my filly would handle her first 2400-meter distance but I had every faith in her. She did get a little bit excited early in the stretch but calmed down nicely and I was careful not to pull her back or shift lanes…then she responded with such power as she was taking me there [instead of my driving her]—she's one tough girl.”
A winner on debut over 1800 metres on dirt at Hanshin in September, the chestnut was winless in two more juvenile starts on that surface, but returned successfully at Kyoto trying 2000 metres for the first time in January and making her turf bow. Kept at that distance, she added the Listed Wasurenagusa Sho back at Hanshin on April 12. The Yushun Himba was her first start beyond 2000 metres and she is the first Oaks winner in 26 years to make her first start on dirt. She is one of seven Japanese horses currently nominated for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Tromphe in October.
Pedigree Notes
Best know in European circles as the quirky dual Arc runner-up, Orfevre is credited with 29 stakes winners (22 group). Juryoku Pierrot is his second Japanese Classic scorer and fifth Group 1 winner. His multiple Group 1 heroine Lucky Lilac was third in the 2018 Yushun Himba, while 2018 G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese St Leger) hero Epoca d'Oro was second in that year's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).
Although her dam Happy Value failed to place in one start at three, Juryoku Pierrot is one of six winners from six to race for her. The mare's latest progeny are a juvenile filly by Admire Mars, and a yearling colt by Roger Barows. She was covered by Caravaggio last year.
Second dam Name Value (Honour And Glory) won a brace of Japanese listed races, and she is a daughter of Madison County (Seattle Slew). The latter was a $145,000 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale purchase by JS Company in 1997 carrying Name Value. She, in turn, is out of GII Sheepshead Bay Handicap heroine Steal A Kiss (Graustark), placed four times at Grade I level in the U.S.
Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
YUSHUN HIMBA (JAPANESE OAKS)-G1, ¥323,670,000, Tokyo, 5-24, 3yo, f, 2400mT, 2:25.60, fm.
1–JURYOKU PIERROT (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Orfevre (Jpn)
1st Dam: Happy Value (Jpn), by Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Name Value (Jpn), by Honour and Glory
3rd Dam: Madison County, by Seattle Slew
*1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Kensuke Kondo;
B-Tobino Farm (Jpn); T-Ryo Terashima; J-Seina Imamura;
¥176,369,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-0, ¥213,370,001. Click
for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk
Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dream Core (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)–Normcore (Jpn), by
Harbinger (GB). *1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Katsumi
Yoshida; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥67,534,000.
3–Laughterlines (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Al Ain (Jpn)–Bangor (Jpn), by
King Kamehameha (Jpn). *1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE.
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥41,767,000.
Margins: NK, NK, NK. Odds: 9.90, 4.20, 2.20.
Also Ran: Realize Luminous (Jpn), Sweet Happiness (Jpn), Lay Classic (Jpn), Enne (Jpn), Alankar (Jpn), Ange de Joie (Jpn), Trinity (Jpn), Long Tall Sally (Jpn), Star Anise (Jpn), Sorpassare (Jpn), Ametista (Jpn), Smart Priere (Jpn), Mitsukane Venera (Jpn), Longing Celine (Jpn), Stunning Lady (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.
History was made in Tokyo this morning! 🇯🇵
Seina Imamura became the first Japanese woman to win a domestic Grade 1 when steering Juryoku Pierrot to Japanese Oaks glory…@netkeiba #ジュウリョクピエロ #競馬 pic.twitter.com/qriYn0Fce8
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 24, 2026
Don't think, just watch:
Jockey-cam on Seina Imamura winning the Oaks on JURYOKU PERRIOT (Orfevre) #theearthrumbled pic.twitter.com/d6FJXYwIQo
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) May 24, 2026
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