Yuga Kawada’s great-grandfather was a jockey and his grandfather and father are both horse trainers, all plying their trade in the regional NAR racing circuit. The rider gained his JRA jockey licence in 2004 and has amassed more than 2,260 JRA wins, and he is just one of eleven riders in JRA history to have won all five Classic races – the Satsuki Sho (2,000 Guineas) on Captain Thule in 2008, the Oka Sho (1,000 Guineas) on Harp Star in 2014, the Tokyo Yushun (Derby) on Makahiki in 2016, the Yushun Himba (Oaks) on Gentildonna in 2012 and the Kikuka Sho (St Leger) on Big Week in 2010. JRA Champion Jockey in 2022, Kawada is also a seven-time JRA Award winner for the jockey with the highest winning percentage, achieving the feat in 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023. He partnered Loves Only You to win the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf as well as the 2021 Hong Kong Cup at her final start. He enjoyed a successful partnership with Liberty Island in 2023, winning all three legs of Japan’s Triple Tiara. Kawada won the Yasuda Kinen and Mile Championship in 2025 with Jantar Mantar. Notable Wins Include:Hong Kong Cup (2021 Loves Only You), Breeders’ Cup Fillies & Mare Turf (2021 Loves Only You), Yasuda Kinen (2015 Maurice, 2017 Satono Aladdin, 2021 Danon Kingly, 2025 Jantar Mantar), Dubai World Cup (2023 Ushba Tesoro), Mile Championship (2025 Jantar Mantar), Tokyo Yushun (2016 Makahiki), Yushun Himba (2012 Gentildonna, 2023 Liberty Island), Kikuka Sho (2010 Big Week), Satsuki Sho (2008 Captain Thule), Takarazuka Kinen (2015 Lovely Day), Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2014 Lachesis), Takamatsunomiya Kinen (2018 Fine Needle, 2021 Danon Smash), Sprinters Stakes (2018 Fine Needle, 2023 Mama Cocha), Champions Cup (2019 Chrysoberyl), Hopeful Stakes (2020 Danon The Kid), Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (2020 Grenadier Guards), Osaka Hai (2021 Lei Papale), NHK Mile Cup (2022 Danon Scorpion, 2024 Jantar Mantar), Oka Sho (2014 Harp Star, 2022 Stars On Earth, 2023 Liberty Island), Shuka Sho (2023 Liberty Island) Achievements:2022 JRA Champion Jockey; 2019 World All-Star Jockeys Champion; 2019 Shergar Cup winning team captain. Hong Kong wins (as of 8 April): 1