His first winner was aboard Dyna Bishop at Hanshin in 1987.
In that very same season he became champion apprentice with 69 winners.

Just two years later, in 1989, he became champion jockey and was to repeat that feat a total of 10 times between 1989-1999, only losing it once in 1991.

He holds the record for most wins in a season in Japan at 178 in 1999. In 1998 he won his first Japanese Derby on Special Week, the pair also lifting the Japan Cup the following year.

A cult figure in his native Japan, he has many female followers which ensure that racecourse attendances are always up whenever and wherever he rides.

In 2000, he moved to the US to ride and had a quiet time by his standards.

In Europe, he has ridden 5 Group 1 winners to date. Ski Paradise was the first in the Yoshida silks in the Prix Moulin de Longchamp in 1994.

Seeking the Pearl was next in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville in 1998. She became the first Japanese trained horse to win a Group 1 race outside of Japan.

In the UK, his first Group 1 winner was aboard Agnes World in the July Cup at Newmarket in 2000.

On the same horse in 1999, he had secured a sensational victory in Europe's top sprint, the Prix L'Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day.
He later rode Agnes World in the Breeders' Cup Sprint but they finished down the field.

In March, 2001, he rode a very enterprising race from the front on Stay Gold in the Dubai Sheema Classic to defeat Frankie Dettori. For 2001, Yutaka was based in Chantilly, France where he rode as a freelance, mainly for John Hammond. In July 2001, he broke his wrist and only returned to race riding in early September.

Yutake also rode in England, Ireland and had a very good winner in Scotland at Ayr racecourse in September, 2001. On Arc Day, he rode Imperial Beauty to a marvellous win up the rails in the Prix de l'Abbaye.

It will be interesting to see how Yutaka fares in Europe over time. He definitely should feature in anyone's list of top 10 riders. This is borne out by the fact that he is invited to ride regularily in Jockey Challenges around the world.

Yutaka's rides are being handled by top bloodstock agent, Patrick Barbe, who can be e-mailed on PatrickBarbe@Wanadoo.fr

TEL: 00 33 (3) 44 58 18 55
FAX: 00 33 (3) 44 58 18 25
MOBILE: 00 33 607 34 77 32

Group 1 Races Won

1988