Lucky Kid shone in Japan and added points toward the Kentucky Derby
- Turf Diario
- Feb 25
- 3 min read
At Tokyo Racecourse, the Godolphin colt took the Hyacinth Stakes, pulling off an upset; the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan is a second option in his plans
TOKYO, Japan (Special for Turf Diario).- The leaderboard of the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” has a new owner, and he wears the blue of Godolphin. Against all odds, Lucky Kid took ownership of the Hyacinth Stakes (L-1600 m) last Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse, jumping to the top of the rankings that award a direct slot for the Kentucky Derby (G1), the same race won last year by Sovereignty (Into Mischief) for Sheikh Mohammed's powerful stable.
Bred by the stable itself, and a 23-1 outsider, the son of Discreet Cat arrived with modest credentials: a single victory as a debuting 2-year-old over the local mile, a third-place finish in a minor stakes at Sonoda, and an opaque eighth-place finish at the start of 2026. Nothing foreshadowed the qualitative leap he would show in the Hyacinth.
With Mirai Iwata in the irons, Lucky Kid broke cleanly on the short grass stretch prior to entering the dirt track and settled into a stalking position behind the leading quartet. Always calm, he began to make up ground on the wide turn and, once in the straight, advanced with determination until taking the lead with 200 meters to go.
He seemed to have everything under control, but had to resist the fierce charge of Don Erectus (Danon Legend), who once again proved competitive in the series. The wire found them separated by just a neck, enough for Yukihiro Kato's trainee to secure 30 points and remain the absolute leader of the Japanese path to the roses.
“The horse tends to lose focus when he gets in front, but today he kept running,” Kato explained after the race, highlighting a mental progress as significant as the physical one.
The result left Godolphin in an unbeatable position: in addition to Lucky Kid, they also appear at the top of the ranking with Pyromancer (Pyro), winner of the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. Don Erectus, for his part, tied for second place in points, although he is not currently nominated for the American Triple Crown.
The winner's pedigree adds appeal to the outlook. His sire, Discreet Cat, came close to venturing into the Triple Crown in 2006 after winning the UAE Derby (G2), although he ultimately did not compete in the major Americanraces. He shone that year in the Cigar Mile (G1) and later developed a career as a stallion between the United States, Japan, and South America until his death in 2023. On the maternal line, Lucky Kid is a grandson of Pyro, currently a stallion at Darley Japan and also responsible for Pyromancer.
The series will conclude on March 28 with the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse, where there are still enough points at stake to alter the order. However, Kato hinted at an alternative: the UAE Derby (G2), over 1900 meters, could be the next step.
“I think he can handle longer distances. We will decide whether to go to Dubai after talking with the owner,” he noted.
The dream of Churchill Downs is within reach, but the map is not yet closed. Lucky Kid has already delivered the blow. Now, Godolphin must choose the path.
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