RIYADH: Kyoko Maekawa broke new ground last year when she became the first female to hold a training license in Japan, and just 12 months later she is eyeing the world’s richest race with Sunrise Zipangu (JPN) in the group one $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 14.
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The Japan Racing Association added her to the training ranks in March of 2025. And the former assistant to dual Saudi Cup-winning trainer Yoshito Yahgai made an immediate impact by landing a first win in her new role when Sunrise Ares (JPN) hit the target at Kochi on the 18th of that month.
Sunrise Zipangu has had only two starts for his new trainer. Last seen beaten by only two lengths over 2,500 meters on turf in the Arima Kinen, the 5-year-old will switch surfaces and drop to 1,800 meters for his first run outside Japan.
“Sunrise Zipangu has mainly been racing on turf recently, but he has the speed to perform well on dirt. I think that type of horse suits Saudi Arabia, and he also prefers racing anti-clockwise,” said Maekawa in a recent press release.
