On March 16, 2025, at the Nakyo Racecourse, Queen's Walk, ridden by jockey Yuga Kawada, claimed victory at the 61st Kin鯱賞, solidifying her status as one of the leading racehorses. This prestigious race, part of the GII series for horses aged four and older, saw Queen's Walk prevail among ten competitors, with the winner's prize amounting to an impressive 67 million yen.
Positioned as the fourth favorite, Queen's Walk had been saving her energy throughout the race, remaining comfortably in the third position until the final stretch. With determination, she surged forward, overtaking the early frontrunner, How Many Viscets, just before the finish line, winning by the narrowest of margins.
The winning time for Queen's Walk was 2 minutes and 01.3 seconds, achieved on heavy ground, which added another layer of difficulty to the event. The race revealed her resilience and racing strategy as she demonstrated her ability to navigate adverse conditions effectively.
How Many Viscets, the top choice among the betting public, finished just heads behind the victor, securing second place. King's Palace, another competitor who had started the race from the rear, managed to rally back at the finish, claiming the third spot, two lengths adrift of the leading duo. Notably, the second-place horse and the eventual winner both showcased their exceptional talent throughout the race.
Queen's Walk's pedigree certainly bolstered her chances; she is the offspring of Kizuna, with her dam being Wave Verve. Bred at Northern Farm, she is owned by Sunday Racing, showing the blend of breeding excellence and training prowess. With her latest triumph, Queen's Walk has now collected three graded stakes victories, adding to her previous wins at the 2024 Queen Stakes (GIII) and the 2024 Rose Stakes (GII).
This remarkable win also marks yet another milestone for both jockey Yuga Kawada and trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida. This victory signifies Kawada's fifth win at the Kin鯱賞, following earlier victories with notable horses such as Last Impact, Danon Premium, and Prognosis. For Nakauchida, this marks his fourth victory at this prestigious race, underlining his exceptional training skills and deep knowledge of the sport.
Mitsumasa Nakauchida commented on Queen's Walk's performance, saying, "The second horse (How Many Viscets) also ran well, but she (Queen's Walk) managed to get it right. I was worried about the heavy ground before the race, but the jockey rode well and the horse responded to it. I've always believed in her ability, and finally, the result came out. The last race, she may not have been able to move well, but today, she was able to come forward properly." He also mentioned the horse's physical condition, indicating, "Her weight shows she's grown. The previous race she was +10kg, but there's been no gain or loss this time; it seems her body has matured. For the future, it will depend on discussions with the owner and the horse as I think there’s some fatigue as well. She’s done well against colts."
With this significant victory at the Kin鯱賞, Queen's Walk has not only secured the admiration of her supporters but also garnered the chance to compete at the forthcoming Osaka Cup, set for April 6 at Hanshin, where she will vie for her first Grade I title. Anticipation builds as fans and trainers alike look forward to witnessing her performance against some of the top contenders in the horse racing circuit.