Sunrise Zipangu, a prominent contender in dirt graded stakes races, has been transferred from the stable of Koichi Shintani to the stable led by Kyoko Maekawa, the JRA’s first female trainer. What is behind this second move just months after his transfer due to the retirement of former trainer Hidetaka Otonashi? This article provides a detailed explanation of the transfer’s background, the lack of official announcements, and the characteristics of his new home, the Kyoko Maekawa stable.
Key Points of This Article
- ✓As of November 2025, Sunrise Zipangu has been transferred from Koichi Shintani’s stable to Kyoko Maekawa’s stable.
- ✓This follows a previous transfer in March 2025 to Koichi Shintani’s stable due to the retirement of trainer Hidetaka Otonashi.
- ✓There has been no official announcement regarding the reason for this latest transfer, leading to various speculations on social media.
- ✓The new trainer, Kyoko Maekawa, is the first female trainer in JRA history, having opened her stable in March 2025.
Table of Contents
- Sunrise Zipangu’s Transfer to Kyoko Maekawa Stable Confirmed
- Background of the Transfers
- Any Official Reason for the Transfer?
- About the New Stable: Kyoko Maekawa Stable
- Sunrise Zipangu’s Profile and Major Results
- Frequently Asked Questions
Sunrise Zipangu’s Transfer to Kyoko Maekawa Stable Confirmed
It has been confirmed that Sunrise Zipangu, a winner of three dirt graded stakes races, has been transferred from Koichi Shintani’s stable in Ritto to Kyoko Maekawa’s stable, also in Ritto. The Japan Racing Association (JRA) racehorse information database was updated to show Kyoko Maekawa as the trainer as of November 6, 2025.
Background of the Transfers
This is not the first time Sunrise Zipangu has been transferred in 2025. There are several factors behind this second change of environment in a short period.
From Otonashi Stable to Shintani Stable (March 2025)
Sunrise Zipangu was originally under the care of the renowned trainer Hidetaka Otonashi. However, Otonashi retired at the end of February 2025. Consequently, based on an official JRA announcement, the horse was transferred on March 4, 2025, to the stable of Koichi Shintani, who has a strong reputation for training dirt horses.
From Shintani Stable to Maekawa Stable (November 2025)
After moving to Shintani’s stable, Sunrise Zipangu continued to perform well, including a second-place finish in the February Stakes (GI). However, in November 2025, another transfer was revealed. The new destination is the stable of Kyoko Maekawa, which just opened in March 2025. Notably, Yusuke Hirai, the assistant trainer who handled Sunrise Zipangu during his time at Otonashi’s stable, is now with Maekawa’s stable, which is seen as a reassuring factor for the horse.
Any Official Reason for the Transfer?
As of November 6, 2025, neither the owner nor the JRA has announced an official reason for the transfer from Koichi Shintani’s stable to Kyoko Maekawa’s stable. This has led to various speculations among fans on social media. Some suggest that the recent result in the JBC Classic (JpnI) or the horse’s weight loss after the race could be contributing factors, but this remains unconfirmed speculation.
About the New Stable: Kyoko Maekawa Stable
The Kyoko Maekawa stable, the new stage for Sunrise Zipangu’s career, is one of the most watched stables in the racing world.
JRA’s First-Ever Female Trainer
Trainer Kyoko Maekawa passed her trainer’s license exam in December 2023 and opened her stable on March 5, 2025, becoming the first female trainer in JRA history. She has an extensive career, including being a graduate of the University of Tsukuba’s equestrian club, training in Ireland, and serving as a technical trainer at the globally successful stable of Yoshito Yahagi.
Creating a “Happy Stable for Both People and Horses”
Trainer Maekawa’s philosophy is to “create a happy and fresh stable for both people and horses.” She believes that by creating a positive working environment for her staff, they can better notice subtle changes in the horses and provide superior care, aiming for a stable management style that emphasizes communication.
Notable Horses
When the stable opened, it received several proven horses from stables like Hidetaka Otonashi’s and Akira Murayama’s. The roster includes Mozu Meimei, a three-time graded stakes winner, and the veteran sprinter Kei Ai Dorie. The addition of Sunrise Zipangu further strengthens this formidable lineup.
Sunrise Zipangu’s Profile and Major Results
Here is basic information about Sunrise Zipangu and his recent race results.
- Pedigree: Sire: Kizuna, Dam: Saimaa (by Zoffany)
- Date of Birth: March 16, 2021
- Sex: Colt
- Owner: Life House Inc.
- Breeder: Oiwake Farm
- Major Wins: 2025 Nagoya Grand Prix (JpnII), 2024 Miyako Stakes (GIII), 2024 Fushikata Sho (JpnII)
| Date | Race Name | Grade | Finish | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/11/03 | JBC Classic | JpnI | 10th | Ryusei Sakai |
| 2025/10/13 | Mile CS Nambu Hai | JpnI | 4th | Yutaka Take |
| 2025/05/06 | Nagoya Grand Prix | JpnII | 1st | Ryusei Sakai |
| 2025/04/09 | Kawasaki Kinen | JpnI | 3rd | Hideaki Miyuki |
| 2025/02/23 | February Stakes | GI | 2nd | Hideaki Miyuki |
Source: netkeiba.com, JRA
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Sunrise Zipangu transferred again in such a short period?
No official reason has been announced for the November 2025 transfer (from Koichi Shintani’s stable to Kyoko Maekawa’s stable). The transfer in March of the same year was due to the retirement of his previous trainer, Hidetaka Otonashi.Were other horses with the “Sunrise” name also transferred?
Yes. According to some reports, other horses owned by Life House Inc. and Takawo Matsuoka, such as Sunrise Bubble and Sunrise Sugar, were also transferred from Koichi Shintani’s stable to other stables. However, as of this writing, the official JRA registration for Sunrise Bubble and Sunrise Sugar still lists Koichi Shintani as the trainer.Has Sunrise Zipangu’s next race been decided?
As of November 6, 2025, Sunrise Zipangu’s next race is undecided. His future career is highly anticipated as he begins this new chapter at Kyoko Maekawa’s stable.
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