Costa Nova (#9 outside) fights to the wire for the win. (Japan Racing Association)
Winning the February Stakes, Costa Nova joins Forever Young as first horses to gain automatic berths into 2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar
Australian-based Rachel King becomes first female jockey to win G1 at Tokyo
Edited Release from Japan Racing Association
TOKYO ─ Katsumi Yoshida’s 5-year-old Costa Nova (JPN) maintained his unbeaten record on the Tokyo Racecourse main track on Sunday, holding off the fast-closing Sunrise Zipagnu (JPN) to win the 1-mile February Stakes (G1) by three-quarters of a length under Australian-based jockey Rachel King. With this victory, the son of Lord Kanaloa (JPN) earned an automatic starting position into the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held on Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. Costa Nova joins Forever Young (JPN), winner of Saturday’s Saudi Cup (G1), as the first horses to earn automatic starting positions into this year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Costa Nova, the 4-1 second choice in a 16-horse field, gained his sixth win in as many starts on the dirt at Tokyo Racecourse. Trainer Tetsuya Kimura registered his 12th JRAG1 title. King registered her fourth graded and first Group 1 victory in JRA competition, becoming the first female jockey to win a Group 1 flat JRA race.
Costa Nova was a fraction slow out of the gate but quickly found his rhythm to position himself among the front runners and not far from the leaders in sixth. Continuing to travel smoothly behind a moderate pace led by Mitono O (JPN) and closing in on the leader with several other rivals towards the final turn, he came into contention with 400 meters to go and edged forward to take command passing the furlong pole. Strongly driven to the wire, Costa Nova sustained his bid and successfully held off a strong challenge by Sunrise Zipangu from the inside but held that rival safe to the wire.
“I’m very proud to be the first female jockey (to have won a G1 title) but also proud that Japan has welcomed me as a jockey and not just a female jockey… I’m one of everyone and we’re treated the same, so I’m always thankful to the Japan and all the supporters for welcoming me like that,” said King. “They’ve given me huge support last year and also this year so it’s nice to be able to repay them with a group one (victory).”
Improving his record to seven wins in 10 starts, Costa Nova, bred by Northern Racing, completed the mile in 1:35.5 under standard conditions.
Mikki Fight (JPN), favored at 3-1, was sharp out of the gate and appeared very keen while being held back in midfield by Keita Tosaki. Traveling wide throughout, the Drefong colt had much ground to cover, just managing to reach contention at the furlong pole and, while continuing to show good effort to the wire and overtaking a couple of rivals for third, was unable to cause a serious threat to the winner. Defending champion Peptide Nile (JPN) finished fourth.
