11月 11, 2025
A solitary figure at the head — the lonely beauty of a front-runner’s view
Front-Runners in Japanese Racing — Article by Yukiya
Front-Runners in Japanese Racing — Article by Yukiya
Welcome to the world of front-runners — the running style I love most. This article introduces four legendary Japanese front-runners and two notable active ones, highlighting iconic moments and what makes them special.
Contents
- Silence Suzuka — “The strongest front-runner who became the wind”
- Twin Turbo — “The last great eccentric”
- Panthalassa — “The Big-Lead King of the Reiwa Era”
- Kitasan Black — “The tactician who mastered leading and pressing”
- Meisho Tabaru — “A true modern front-runner”
- Erika Express — “A bold front-running challenge on the Queen’s Cup stage”
1. Silence Suzuka — “The strongest front-runner who became the wind”
Active: 1997–1998 | Record: 16 starts, 9 wins
Silence Suzuka was a dominant front-runner who helped define the modern idea of true front-running. With explosive acceleration out of the gate, he seized the lead and became a symbol of the “big escape.”
His two-phase strategy — racing away early, then briefly relaxing mid-race — and exquisite pace control made his races look like works of art when paired with top jockeys.
Major Wins:
1998 Takarazuka Kinen (G1)
1998 Nakayama Kinen (G2)
1998 Kinko Sho (G2)
1998 Mainichi Okan (G2)
2. Twin Turbo — “The last great eccentric”
Active: 1991–1996
Twin Turbo was a master of the big escape. His runaway performance in the Tanabata Sho captured the crowd’s imagination. Recklessly sprinting from the start, he thrilled up to 70,000 spectators. Known for being timid and moody, he could win spectacularly or lose dramatically — that unpredictability became part of his charm. He never won a G1, but he remains beloved as an unforgettable character.
Major Wins:
1991 Radio Tampa Sho (G3)
1993 Tanabata Sho (G3)
1993 Sankei Sho All Comers (G3)
3. Panthalassa — “The Big-Lead King of the Reiwa Era”
Active: 2019–2023
Panthalassa is the iconic front-runner of recent years, often called the “Reiwa-era Twin Turbo.” He gained international attention when he set a blistering early pace — 57.4 seconds for the first 1000m in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) — and still held the lead. Unlike timid front-runners, he was an energetic show-off and even enjoyed overseas travel. As of Nov. 10, 2025, he ranked 6th in career earnings, boosted by international wins.
Major Wins:
2022 Dubai Turf (G1)
2023 Saudi Cup (G1)
2022 Nakayama Kinen (G2)
4. Kitasan Black — “The tactician who mastered leading and pressing”
Active: 2015–2017
Kitasan Black was a top-class runner who controlled races from the front or near the front. Viewed as the “model student” among front-runners, he could maintain the lead over astonishing distances (2000m–3200m). His final race, the 2017 Arima Kinen, is a must-watch example of textbook front-running.
Major Wins:
2015 Kikuka Sho (G1)
2016 Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1)
2016 Japan Cup (G1)
2017 Osaka Hai (G1)
2017 Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1)
2017 Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1)
2017 Arima Kinen (G1)
5. Meisho Tabaru — “A true modern front-runner”
Active: 2024–2025 (modern representative)
Meisho Tabaru represents a newer generation of front-runners. After racing in Dubai, he learned to refine his tactics and transformed from a Panthalassa-like runner into a more Kitasan Black–style, especially after Yutaka Take became his regular jockey. With improved pace control and favorable conditions, he captured the Takarazuka Kinen.
Key conditions:
Distance: 1800–2200m · Ideal pace: slow · Favored courses: Nakayama, Kyoto, Hanshin · Weak at: Tokyo
Major Wins:
2025 Takarazuka Kinen (G1)
2024 Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2)
6. Erika Express — “A bold front-running challenge on the Queen’s Cup stage”
Active: 2025 (developing mare)
Erika Express is a mare who dares to take the lead and showed a daring front-running effort in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. She appears to struggle in warm months (May–September) but performs better in cooler seasons. Her 2nd place in the Shuka Sho suggests that by October in Kyoto she will be ready to run at full power.
Expected Future Win:
2025 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) — among others
Conclusion: Front-runners make horse racing even more thrilling
These six horses share two qualities: the courage to lead and the ability to captivate viewers. Races shaped by front-runners create drama that goes far beyond simple wins and losses. Which front-runner lives in your heart?
— Yukiya
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