French jockey Florent Geroux celebrated his first win in Japan after guiding Spinnery to victory in the fifth race at Hanshin Racecourse on Saturday. Under the guidance of trainer Naosuke Sugai, jockey Jero propelled the mare Kizuna to an early lead, successfully holding off a late challenge from Cole Love. Peixasis clinched the 2-year-old debut race with a solid margin, completing the 1,600-meter (approximately 1 mile) course in 1 minute 35.5 seconds on good to firm turf.
The 39-year-old French jockey arrived in Japan last December after securing a short-term riding license from the Japan Racing Association. On December 7, Geroux rode Luxor Cafe, the 12th place finisher of the 2025 Kentucky Derby, at the Champions Cup (G1) held at Chukyo Racecourse, marking his first major race in Japan. The American Pharoah stallion, bred in Kentucky, finished 15th in the event. Geroux is slated to ride six horses at Hanshin on Sunday, including Tagano Alalia in the 2-year-old Asahi Hai Futurity (G1).
Following his win, Geroux joyfully celebrated by posing with fellow jockeys and holding a stuffed racehorse toy.
Fan Take: Florent Geroux’s breakthrough win highlights the growing international exchange in horse racing, bringing fresh talent and excitement to Japan’s racing scene. For fans, this signals a promising future where global jockeys can elevate competition and inspire greater interest in the sport worldwide.
