Imamura Becomes First Japanese Woman to Ride G1 Winner

Seina Imamura became the first Japanese woman jockey to win a domestic grade 1 race as she steered Juryoku Pierrot (JPN) to the front in the final strides of the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1T) May 24 at Tokyo Racecourse. "It's like I'm dreaming," said Imamura, who was named Japan's Best Newcomer Jockey in 2022. The outcome also was notable as Juryoku Pierrot, a daughter of Orfevre (JPN), started her career with a victory on dirt, a surface that has enjoyed increased emphasis in Japan in the past few years. Juryoku Pierrot started from the No. 16 gate in a field of 18 fillies and raced near the back of the field once around the Tokyo turf course. The pace was pedestrian at best, promising a sprint to the finish. Heading into the uphill portion of the stretch run, Juryoku Pierrot had only two rivals beaten but as the field spread out, daylight beckoned and Imamura quickly took advantage after harnessing some premature energy. With rivals on both sides, Juryoku Pierrot slipped through one gap after another to score by a neck over Dream Core (JPN) with Laughterlines (JPN) third. The first six finishers were all within 1 length. The favorite, multiple grade 1 winner Star Anise (JPN), was not among them. She was pinched back at the start, encountered traffic again turning into the stretch and faded to finish 12th. Her connections said before the race they were not sure she was suited for the 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles). Imamura acknowledged similar doubts about Juryoku Pierrot. "There may have been concerns about how my filly would handle her first 2,400-meter distance but I had every faith in her," Imamura said. "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. "She's one tough girl." Imamura also reveled in her own achievement. "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," she said. "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." Imamura became just the second female jockey ever to win a grade 1 flat race in Japan after Australian-based jockey Rachel King guided Costa Nova (JPN) to victory in the 2025 February Stakes (G1). Juryoku Pierrot was bred in Hokkaido by Tobino Bokujo and produced by the Zeno Rob Roy (JPN) mare Happy Value (JPN). She shows Sunday Silence three generations removed on both top and bottom of her pedigree. She made her first start a winning one in September of 2025 on the Hanshin Racecourse dirt but followed that with two seventh-place showings in stakes efforts, also on dirt, at Monbetsu in November and Hanshin in December. Trainer Ryo Terashima changed course, literally and figuratively, in January, starting the filly in a conditions race at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) on the Kyoto turf. He was rewarded with a victory and Juryoku Pierrot followed that with another win in a listed turf stakes at Hanshin April 12. That was enough to get Terashima's hopes up for the Oaks. "Since switching from dirt to turf two starts ago, she's shown what she can do, and I think she can stay the extra distance," the trainer said before the race. "She ran on strongly at the finish last time, and I think the Tokyo course will be fine for her. She'll hopefully load into the gates smoothly, and we'll leave the rest to the jockey." Good call.