TOKYO - Seina Imamura became the first female jockey from the Japan Racing Association to win a Grade 1 race on Sunday by triumphing in the Yushun Himba, better known as the Japanese Oaks.
The 22-year-old from Shiga Prefecture steered fifth-favorite Juryoku Pierrot from the back of the pack to the front in the final stretch of the 2,400-meter race at Tokyo Racecourse, crossing in 2 minutes, 25.6 seconds in a stunning finish.
"It feels like I'm still in a dream. She had the legs to go between the horses in the final straight," said Imamura, who was the first female jockey to take part in the race for three-year-old mares and received a huge cheer upon her finish.
"I was thinking I'd be left frustrated if I were to finish second or third, and she had another gear to go at the end."
Dream Core was a neck behind in second and second-pick Laughterlines was third by another neck, while race favorite Star Anise was 12th.
Imamura is one of six female jockeys at the JRA currently and won the title in the fifth year of her career.
"I'm filled with a sense of gratitude," said Imamura, whose father Yasunari was also a JRA jockey. "My record was downhill after the first year and I wanted to run away when faced with really tough situations. People around me cheered me on and supported me."
"I've always thought jockeys were cool since I was small. Hopefully I can provide dreams and hopes with this victory."
