Horse Racing Jockey for Roger Varian: Who is Yuga Kawada?

UK Horseracing attracts the best jockeys from across the world. Think back to the days of Steve Cauthen, when riding for Henry Cecil as he was known before his knighthood. 

So who is Yuga Kawada? 

Well, you may have seen him gain his first win in the UK when partnering Off Piste, trained by Tim Easterby, who won ''comfortably'' at Ripon by three-and-a-half lengths. Clearly owners Qatar Racing Ltd. 

At the time of writing, he has had 16 rides with the sole winner being Off Piste. In addition, one second, third and two fourth positions. 

Roger Varian has been singing the praises of the Japanese rider who is noted as one of the top three in his country. Kawada is spending the summer at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket. He spent time with Varian last year but had just five rides. 

As Varian said: We'd like to give him some ride. He's a very good rider'' 

Those words are ringing true in his native land as many are hailing him as the new Yutaka Take. 

The 32-year-old has won Classic races in Japan partnering exceptional talents Gentildonna, Harp Star & Makahiki. 

Varian said: ''He spent a couple of weeks with us last summer, but didn't ride here," said the Classic-winning trainer. "I think he had a ride in France, but we've cleared his visa and his licence and he can ride, so I think he'll stay for six to eight weeks. "We'd like to give him some rides. He's a very good rider – one of the top three in Japan.''

Varian continues: "He's very good. He's got good hands and balance and is riding lots of Grade 1 winners in Japan, which tells its own story. "He rides for my brother-in-law Mitsu Nakauchida, and Mitsu rates him, and he's not a bad judge."

Kawada will hope to show his boss he's a winner as he vies for rides with number one jockey Andrea Atzeni, David Egan & Jack Mitchell.

Related stories: Legendary Japanese rider Yutake Take, 48, takes our weekly grilling   

7:10 Kempton Racing Tips (8th August)

It's been a while since I wrote a post on HCE. Lots of work put into other websites old and new.

Very pleased and thankful for all the support and our many contributors.

7:10 Kempton - 

An EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes over 7f on standard to slow going. Eight two-year-olds take part. 

Summer Blossom has raced three times for Archie Watson. This Irish-bred daughter of Society Rock races in the familiar silks of Clipper Logistics. She ran well on debut at Chepstow when finishing third place, losing by just half a length. Starting 4/1, connections must have expected a bold show and she was given a pretty hard race suggesting she was fit and ready to roll. Second start, she was far from disgraced in fifth, in what has tuned out to be a fair race. Done little wrong last time out over course and distance, hitting the frame behind Fire Light and Shorter Skirt. A recent Lowther Stakes (Group 2) entries details a juvenile who is held in some regard by the stable. 

Roger Varian has been quiet this season. Certainly, the juveniles he has run have not achieved a great deal. Gleeful is a home bred daughter of Pivotal in the ownership of Cheveley Park Stud. Always worthy of respect. Interesting to see how this January foal fares in the betting. 

Another trainer who hasn't hit the heights with his juveniles this year is Hugo Palmer. Blonde Warrior is about the best of the lots. Interesting to see how Deira Surprise goes here on her third start. She cost 50,000 guineas when purchased at the yearling sales. Racing in the silks of Dr Ali Ridha, this chestnut daughter of Slade Power proved a surprise package when runner-up at odds of 40/1. Her followers were left scratching their head second start when she was beaten into fourth at odds of 4/11f. She was entered to run at Goodwood earlier this month (2nd August) when withdrawn with a vet's certificate.Interesting to note that Deira Surprise beat Summer Blossom on debut. Perhaps that second start was due to an issue.

Ralph Beckett fields a debutante called Sand Share. This British-bred daughter of Oasis Dream is well related in the ownership of K Abdullah. The stable can ready a newcomer and they often go well at Kempton. 

Paul Cole doesn't have the powerful string of old but he always finds a few two-year-old winners each season. Nguni is a British-bred daughter of Mount Nelson. Very few of Cole's debutantes win when priced over 8/1 although it can happen with their better prospects. Unless this home bred is seriously backed, I would take a watching brief. 

Sukalia, Mandy The One & Indian Sea are best watched. 

Conclusion: Not the easiest of races to assess. Summer Blossom is a consistent sort who looks the ideal type to put in an each-way double. Deira Surprise has something to prove after a nasty 4/11f shocker. She beat Summer Blossom on debut and could well do the same here unless that was something of a fluke. The 40/1 price tag may have indicated a surprise. Gleeful and Sand Share will need to be fit and ready to roll to upset a couple of fair juveniles. They both hail from stables who can win with debutantes. The betting should tell the story. Nguni is best watched unless very well backed. The others are unlikely to figure. 
     

2:10 Leicester Racing Tips (30th May) TOTEPLACEPOT PLAY EVERY DAY NOVICE MEDIAN AUCTION STAKES (CLASS 5) (2yo)

Novices Median Auction Stakes over 5f on good to firm going. Eight two-year-olds, four with race experience in quite a restricted race type. Just a quick review. Roger Varian is a talented trainer and Pretty Vacant will go off a hot favourite after a decent debut  when runner-up at Haydock. This grey son of Elzaam cost just 10,000G as a foal. He has a slightly awkward running action, flicking out his near fore leg but it certainly doesn't stop him running fast. He wasn't fancied on his racecourse bow, drifting quite alarmingly in the betting from 9-2 - 8/1. All were debutantes which make assessing the form difficult but at this grade, you would have to feel this juvenile will take all the beating. 

Cosmic Beau looks poor after his last race at Bath. That was run at a ridiculous pace and he literally had no chance to finishing the race. The complexion of that race changed markedly in the final furlong with leaders hitting the wall and those outpaced seemingly running on with spirit. Dascombe's son of Dandy Man was relatively fancied that day and a huge price here. It wouldn't be a surprise to see this colt backed. 

Richard Fahey two-year-olds have been running well and his connection with Cheveley Park Stud often a winning recipe. Rosebride is a daughter of Mayson out of a twice-winning mare who was placed at Listed class. This outfit should be respected and this bay filly hails from a stable who can go very well on debut and especially so with these connections. 

Richard Hannon has a huge string of juveniles and while their early-season successes have been dented by Mark Johnston they have plenty of talented colts and fillies. I often find this stable difficult to call with their debutantes. Mum's The Word runs in the familiar silks of Andrew Tinkler and this son of Mayson was purchased at the yearling sales for 52,000G. The mare was unraced.  

Richard Hughes has taken his time to find his feet with his two-year-olds but a few have shown promise. Goodwood Crusader is unsurprisingly owned by the Goodwood Owners Group. This bay colt is an Irish-bred son of Sir Prancealot who cost 44.000G at the yearling sales. Difficult to assess Hughe's debutantes although relatively fancied in the betting.

The Daley Express hails from Ed McMahon's stable. He is a talented trainer who suffers from a lack of patronage but knows a good horse, very much like his father. This bay colt is a son of Elzaam who was purchased by the trainer at the yearling sales for £30,000. He is bred from a mare trained by McMahon, Seraphina, who actually won the Brocklesby Stakes on debut in 1999. She was a capable sprinter who may never have tasted victory again although narrow loser of the Lowther Stakes Group 2 when a 66/1 shot & fourth in the Chevelely Park Stakes Group 1. She concluded her career at three when placed at Listed class. Ed McMahon can win with his debutantes although most of this two-year-olds are better on their second start [similar to most trainers]. An interesting juvenile. 

Brian Meehan has been quiet with the two-year-olds he has sent out this term. Jet Setter started his career in a hot debut at Windsor behind Legendary Lunch and Copper Knight, who are no slouches and the winner holding some impressive engagements if not heading to Royal Ascot. This son of Fast Company cost £57,000 at the yearling sales out of a poor mare. He was a big price that day and showed pace before dropping away in the closing stages. With over one month off course, it could be the case this chestnut needed the run that day and a different horse will be seen today. He is pretty friendless in the market but if backed it would bring more confidence. If priced 13/2 & less SP I would expect a bold show. If weak in the betting, best watched.   

Mister Moo is best watched. 

Conclusion: An intriguing race. Pretty Vacant has an awkward running action but physically a decent-looking juvenile. He ran well on debut and although the form is difficult to assess it looked a respectable performance. This colt looks professional and the newcomers will need to be pretty straight and experienced to press this youngster. Rosebride is worthy of note on debut from a stable who can send out a winner, especially for these connections. Mum's The Word hails from a strong stable although difficult to predict. Another one who is difficult to assess is Goodwood Crusader simply with a lack of data for Hughes in his formative year as a trainer. The Daley Express is well bred and if taking after his mother a horse who could spring a surprise when unfancied in the betting. On balance, I'd take a watching brief but at big odds, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a fair effort. The betting will detail the hope of Jet Setter. If fancied in the market he may have a fighting chance. Cosmic Beau ran much too fast last start and looks a lot worse for that crazy test. It wouldn't be a surprise to see this colt backed from big odds. Pretty Vacant sets the standard although a skinny price. I'd be tempted to back Cosmic Beau on the exchanges at huge odds and hope to lay at shorter odds for a no lose bet. However, this is just an aside. Generally speaking, a watching brief.   

2:10 Yarmouth Racing Tips (30th Aug) BET TOTEJACKPOT BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF MAIDEN FILLIES´ STAKES (Plus 10 Race) (CLASS 5) (2yo)

Good to see Great Yarmouth back with its racing after the mile straight has been leveled and re-turfed. Let's hope this encourages the high-profile trainers who complained about the surface. Personally, I find it strange ARC found £300,000 to do this work when other courses such as Ripon are much worse. It makes me wonder what they have in mind for this seaside course. 

I half intended to go today but with our annual pilgrimage only a couple of weeks away it would be something of an anti climax. Makes me smile to see they start proceedings with a decent two-year-old contest. 

Alqubbah is a decent juvenile for Ed Dunlop, one of the better two-year-olds in his stable. This Irish-bred daughter or Arcano was fancied on debut at Newmarket over 6f on good to firm going. She was backed to 7/2 second favourite but seemingly disappointed when trailing behind Mark Johnston's Lumiere, who is a class act. The form of that race has been franked with Sharja Queen and particularly Shadow Hunter, who ran creditably at Listed class when contesting the St Hughes Stakes at Newbury, then triumphant at a similar grade in the Julia Graves Stakes at York. Those initial thoughts that something may have been amiss that day are mostly unfounded. I had my eye on this bay second start and intended to have a decent bet. However, the fact that Hamdan Al Maktoum had Jadaayil priced favourite in the first colours slightly skewed the betting for the lesser fancied in the market. Both juveniles were there on merit and Alqubbah would have gone close if not for being short of room in the closing stages. That was another fine effort and it will take a smart performance to beat Hanagan's mount on the Norfolk coast. Short odds but a worthy favourite.

As always, there are very few easy races these days and two or three opponents are notable.

Aberlady has done nothing wrong in both her starts to date for K Abdullah, trained by Sir Michael Stoute. This home bred daughter of Arch out of the class mare Visit, who won at Group class and was placed multiple times at Group 1, suffered narrow defeats at Newmarket and Kempton, respectively. She was quite well backed on debut when staying on to finish third behind Palenville, who disappointed in the Albany Stakes Group 3 at Royal Ascot. Aberlady was made a 1/2f at Kempton in July but couldn't withstand the late charge of Justice Angel. That filly ran well but defeated next start with an official rating of 77. Connections will be hoping an absence of over fifty days will bring about further improvement. Based on that effort, this bay/brown filly will need to find a couple of lengths to scare the favourite. There is a possibility she was not on song last start or better suited to turf. If available at each way prices there may be a little meat on the bone or a bet to nothing if hitting the frame. I would go with the favourite.

Very interested to see David Lanigan sending Thrilled to make her debut at Yarmouth. He is a difficult trainer to judge and, in general, his debutantes are very hit and miss. They can win when priced at 10/1 & less and a few have won at huge odds. In the good old days at this seaside course he was known to send his better two-year-olds and that aspects in itself gives some confidence. This daughter of Kodiac is out of a multiple-winning mare, who was Listed placed and campaigned at that level although never prevailed. This filly was purchased at the sales by Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd for 460,000GNS and still in their ownership. They race Duntle, trained by David Watchman, who won at Group 1, an exceptional talented and consistent mare. I know Thrilled has ability and held in high regard by the stable. As with so many debutantes I wouldn't want to jump in at short odds and the bookmakers have this bay filly priced at 4/1. That seems a very skinny price. It may reflect the high regard she is held but it does temper my enthusiasm. Lanigan's debutante record doesn't fill me with confidence and over six furlongs, against decent, fit and ready juveniles, being tardy from the stalls would make this hard work unless a true talent. I have some conflict about this horse with pros and cons. I would take a watching brief but it wouldn't be a surprise to see a sparkling performance.    

Roger Varian had a smart winner in Taneen at Newmarket on Saturday, a horse with a string of flashy Group entries. Fourth Way is a daughter of Iffraaj out of a a winning mare who was trained by John Weymes. She was a fair sort who raced at Listed class. This May foal doesn't have any smart entries which may bring slight concerns. The betting is the best guide and if priced 13/2 & less has respectable win and place claims. If weak in the betting I'd take a watching brief.   

The last of the interesting juveniles contesting this race for me is Rose Marmara. This home bred daughter of Exceed And Excel is owned by Jaber Abdullah. Richard Fahey is a fine trainer of debutantes. The mare was a sprinter for Mick Channon and won at Listed class and ran at Group level. Has fair win and place claims if fancied in the betting although I'd take a watching brief. 

The others are best watched.

Conclusion: A great start for Yarmouth - back on course. I'm excited about this race if not from a betting perspective just to see how a few of these go. Alqubbah sets the standard and will take the beating. She is a talented juvenile who has proven ability and will be fit and primed to run well. The odds are cramped but she is the horse to beat. Aberlady has each way claims although I would take a watching brief. The betting is the best indicator for Fourth Way and Rose Marmara. They would need to be 13/2 & less to register with me. The latter could win outside this betting guide but if both are weak in the betting I'd watch and learn. Thrilled is interesting and I can't wait to see how she fares. Lanigan doesn't strike me as a trainer to win on debut although he can, especially with a talented horse. It is encouraging that he likes to send his better two-year-olds to Yarmouth. That does give more hope than not. A huge price tag and lovely breeding are pointers. This filly is held in high regard at home but can she win on debut? On balance, I would have to take a watching brief at the odds. The favourite is the horse to beat.

4:00 Newmarket Racing Tips (29th Aug) STAY AT SOUTHEND AIRPORT HOLIDAY INN EBF STALLIONS MAIDEN STAKES (Div II) (Plus 10 Race) (CLASS 4) (2yo)

An EBF Maiden Stakes over 6f on good to soft going. Legible for colts and fillies but the girls have been scared off by a ten-strong team of snips and snails and puppy dog tails... [colts & geldings for those not akin to the popular nursery rhyme]. My blogs do veer off into the unknown at times but what is life without prose? An intriguing race with a few potentially class two-year-olds hoping to make it second time lucky.  

I've been mentioning Fatherly Friend in dispatches. Karl Burke is a superb trainer and I happen to know he likes this son of Scat Daddy. Hubert Strecher's American-bred colt was fancied to go well on debut but the combination of inexperience and a tough race saw a respectable fourth with the hope of much more to come. This January foal was entered to run at Carlisle but a wide draw and sticky ground gave connections good reason to take him out of that race. Connections will be expecting a big run and this is one of the best two-year-olds at Spigot Lodge. The team will be ready for action but I'm sure they will have slight concerns there are a couple [if not more] talents in opposition. Fair each way claims if the odds are available. 

Another talking horse is Taneen. This son of Speightstown cost $350,000 at the yearling sales and races in the silks of Hamdan Al Maktoum. Roger Varian has given this American bred colt a string of Group entries which suggest big things are expected. In truth, their string of juveniles hasn't lived up to early-season hopes and I'm pretty sure they have re-adjusted their aims for many of their two-year-olds. I wasn't overly impressed by Taneen's debut run and if he didn't need the race on debut this might be a similarly tough contest. The betting with the bookmakers made this horse look like it had been backed from 11/4 - 13/8f. However, it is worth remembering that is was priced at odds-on the evening before. That drift suggested concerns and they were played out when beaten comprehensively into third place. The betting [11/4 at this time, Friday, evening] suggests that he will be one of the major fancies. I would keep an eye on the market and if particularly weak it would suggest he ran his race on debut. If strongly fancied I would expect to see marked improvement. A difficult horse to assess in ways and I would be careful that the flashy entries do not blind followers. The betting will tell the story.

On statistics Wimpole Hall and Clock Watcher have fair win and place claims if priced 8/1 & less. 

Conclusion: I'm not going to write about all and sundry as I have my eye on Fatherly Friend and Taneen as the major hopes. Both colts are held in high regard by connections. I'd be more interested in the former especially if Varian's charge is particularly weak in the betting. Taneen is a funny horse to judge at the moment with the entries suggesting a high-class juvenile but the form kind of lukewarm. If he didn't show his running on debut there could be a good horse waiting to appear. The betting that day detailed that all was not well. At it's most extreme the drift in the betting was startling. The question is whether that was his true running. Fatherly Friend has ability and I expect a big run. If available at each way prices I would bet this horse of the two. 

Note: Taneen clearly has ability and definitely improved for his debut. Looks a smart horse. Slightly irritated by Fatherly Friend who had no luck in running and stuck behind a wall of horses. That wasn't the true running of this horse by a long way. Will go well next start [if in a maiden] and could be a big price to make compensation.  

2:40 Haydock Racing Tips (6th August) BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF MAIDEN STAKES (CLASS 5) (2yo)

Busy. Busy. Busy. Feel as though I've been stuck on an escalator and some nutter found a go-fast button just to give me grief. Clearly no amount of work is going to stop me detailing more juicy peaches of wonderment. 

Quite a big field for this maiden. Laughton ran well enough on debut behind a talent in Wayward Hoof. Kevin Ryan's bay colt, a son of Acclamation, will be primed today and I can confirm this two-year-old is high in the pecking order at Hambleton. A good bet if touching each-ways prices but that does seem a touch optimistic (time will tell). 

Spanish City could be a strong challenger from Roger Varian's stable. Their juveniles have been a little disappointing and I'm sure their string isn't as strong as previous years. This chestnut colt is held in high regard. He held an entry for the Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2), Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) & Middle Park Stakes (Group 1). That list brings confidence.

This home bred was meant to run the other week but withdrawn. It is worth noting that day the colt was extremely weak in the betting. That may simply have been due to the word getting out he was to be withdrawn but it is worth considering. Varian's charge will need to be primed to beat Laughton who has valuable race experience. I would certainly watch the betting just in case there is a weakness. Conversely, this may be good reason for bettors to take the earlier prices on Laughton. I respect Spanish City but whether I want to take 2/1 [at time of writing] against Ryan's talent I'm not so sure. Interesting. I'd be looking for an each way bet on Laughton, if available. 

6:35 Newcastle - Bryan Smart is a talented trainer and Extortion ran well when finishing second on debut at Redcar. This American bred colt was a cheap foal at 5,000gns, withdrawn as a yearling. This home bred was most likely sent through the sales to gain entry to these limited races. Strong win and place claims if each-way prices are available.  

6:50 Sandown - Seven lightly raced or unraced two-year-olds. Couple of interesting horses: Shahbar & Brorocco. The former is trained by Marco Botti for Al Shaqab Racing and an expensive yearling purchase at 320,000gns. He ran a fine race when second on debut at Leicester over 6f. Stepping up to one mile should see improvement. One of the best juveniles at Prestige Place. The downside, there is little meat on the bone at 8/11. Brorocco is trained by Andrew Balding for the Kingsclere Racing Club. This home bred has been going well at home. It should be noted that Balding's two-year-olds just don't seem to be running well, especially the debutantes, many of which have disappointed when relatively fancied in the betting. Their youngsters can go well when priced 10/1 on debut. However, I would have to take a watching brief until the stable hits form. 

2:40 Haydock    - Laughton - strong each-way claims 5th (disappointed)
6:35 Newcastle  - Extortion - strong win and place claims 4/1 2nd (drifted across track)
6:50 Sandown   - Shahbar  - worth a bet if 1/1 1st 

Small ew treble 

2:30 Yarmouth (16th September) Imtiyaaz Has Class To Shine On Debut

An EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes over 6f 3y on good-to-form going. Twelve two-year-olds take part: seven raced, including a handful of debutantes from leading yards. 

Roger Varian has been in flying form with Kingston Hill's St Leger victory, then Cursory Glance taking the Moyglare Stakes (Group 1) in Ireland. Kremlin House Stables can do little wrong. Imtiyaaz is a daughter of Starspangledbanner, out of a twice-race mare who showed little when in training with Godolphin. This February foal, bred by Lynn Lodge Stud, cost 62,000gns, when purchase as a yearling by Hugo Merry Bloodstock at Tattersalls October Sale 2013 (Book 2). Varian has a fair strike rate with his debutantes and it is intriguing to note that this filly holds a couple of lofty engagements for the Shadwell Rockfel Stakes (Group 2) and Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1). She is one of only twenty entries for this Newmarket race, and the trainer's other representative is the might Cursory Glance. These pointers suggest this filly has her share of ability and although much to prove with regarding those Group-class ambitions, connections must be keen to see what this grand daughter of Green Desert can achieve. A fair each way selection if prices allow. 

Kingston Could Head Straight to 2000 Guineas

Kingston Hill, Roger Varian’s high-class juvenile of last season, may well take his chance in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May without first having a prep race.

The unbeaten son of rising star stallion Mastercraftsman ended last term by completing a blemish-free hattrick in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October, showing bags of class as he powered away from Ballydoyle’s very useful Johann Strauss to score by an impressive four-and-a-half lengths, establishing himself as a leading candidate for both the first colts’ class of the 2014 season and the Investec Derby at Epsom in June.

Varian has not committed his exciting prospect to the 2000 Guineas and intends keeping his options open as long as possible with the Derby appearing to be a central target for the Paul Smith-owned colt.

Currently an 8/1 shot in the racing betting list for the 2000 Guineas (with Bet365), and 8/1 second-favourite behind Aidan O’Brien’s Australia (9/2) for the Derby, Kingston Hill is out of a dam by Rainbow Quest, suggesting there is every chance he may be even better over middle-distances than over a bare mile. His half-sister, Ramona Chase (by High Chaparral), won twice at a mile-and-a-quarter and once at a mile-and-a-half.

Kingston Hill didn’t make his racecourse bow until Newbury on September 21 when comfortably accounting for Exchequer in a seven furlong maiden. He took the immediate step into pattern race company very much in his stride when beating Oklahoma City by two lengths in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket on October 12, then rounded off his rapid rise to the top by justifying racing live betting odds of 7/2 at Doncaster in the Racing Post Trophy.

Varian’s star has so far only run on easy ground but his Newmarket-based handler has few worries about his ability to handler a quick surface.