Japanese jockey reflects on ‘unique’ Clonmel Ryusei Sakai has described riding around rolling Clonmel today as being a ‘unique experience’, as the Japanese-visitor counts down to Saturday’s Champion Stakes ride on Shin Emperor. Sakai’s numerous big-race wins include the Japan Dirt Derby and this year’s Saudi Cup on top performer Forever Young, and had previously filled third-place in the 2024 Kentucky Derby. On his first visit to Ireland last September, Sakai finished a close third on the Yoshito Yahagi-trained Shin Emperor in the Irish Champion, and the combination are again contesting Saturday’s same Group 1 race. Having taken two unplaced rides at conventional course Cork yesterday, 28-year-old Sakai was a surprise visitor at Clonmel today, as the jumps course stages its sole Flat fixture of the year. Partnering the Denis Hogan-trained inexperienced second-string and Qatari-bred Roudha (66/1), Sakai was way off the pace throughout the 1m1f trip, and while accomplishing the downhill descent, failed to beat any of 12 rivals. The jockey returned to his contingent of Japanese followers with a wry smile and reported “I was very happy to ride here but it is very different!” With help from an interpreter, he added “we have both left and right-handed courses in Japan but there is nowhere else comparable, as this is very undulating. “I’m really enjoying my trip to Ireland and am feeling a lot of support from everyone.” Roudha’s trainer Hogan added “Ryusei didn’t do anything wrong although he described the course as being ‘unique’. “It was the filly’s first handicap and she missed the start. Ryusei said to take the blinkers off and to drop her back in distance the next day, but she was green. Peter Roe, through his roll with HRI, had been on to me all week looking to get Ryusei a ride and this came free as Joey Sheridan was on my other runner (winner Justenzia ).” Regarding Shin Emperor’s chances on Saturday, jockey Sakai added “Shin Emperor ran a huge race last year and hopefully he can run better this time. He ran a big race to win in Saudi (Riyadh in February) but his run in Dubai (Meydan in April) was a disappointing race so we gave him a break and the horse has come back really well.” Shin Emperor is an 11/2 chance for Saturday’s internationally-flavoured €1.25m race.
