Shohei, by Saturnalia, is one of 18 runners in the 92nd running of the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby-G1) June 1. Though "Shohei" is a common male name in Japan, the horse was named after Shohei Ohtani, a Japanese Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers who won the MVP Award in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
Shohei, the horse, was bred by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm and is the second foal out of Oro Trajet, who is a half sister to Mikki Queen, the Japanese champion 3-year-old filly in 2015.
He was offered at the foal session of the Northern Farm Mixed Sale in 2022 and purchased by Tatsue Ishikawa, a renowned owner who currently owns Dubai Turf (G1T) winner Soul Rush, for ¥40 million (approximately US$276,033).
Trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, who has trained three Derby winners, Shohei has started four times and won twice, including a 2 1/2-length victory in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai (G2) at Kyoto May 10.
While he was ridden by Yuga Kawada in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai, Kawada already was booked for Eri King in the Japanese Derby. Christophe Lemaire, a Frenchman who won the Japanese Derby in 2017 with Rey de Oro, will ride Shohei in the Japanese Derby.
