Yoshito Yahagi’s return to Randwick 40 years in the making as he targets Queen Elizabeth Stakes

After starting his career at Randwick 40 years ago, Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi says it’s great to be back as he attempts to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Yoshito Yahagi at Canterbury trackwork to watch Unicorn Lion and Ho O Amazon. Picture: John Grainger

Yoshito Yahagi started his career at Royal Randwick more than four decades ago, now the globetrotting Japanese trainer is back to win one of Sydney’s most coveted races with his star Unicorn Lion.

Yahagi arrived in Sydney this week as he puts Sydney’s lucrative The Championships and the $5m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) in his crosshairs.

It’s something of a homecoming for the star conditioner, who has won races all around the globe including the 2019 Cox Plate with Lys Gracieux.

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Yahagi, aged just 20 at the time, started his racing journey at Randwick back in 1981 with Australian racing Hall Of Famer Neville Begg.

“Randwick was where I started my racing career so I am really excited to be back here,” Yahagi said.

“I first arrived in 1981 and was under the care of Neville Begg and he was so good to me and that's who I learned from.

“He was actually my master.

“It’s certainly exciting and now I am back at Randwick, I would really love to win a race and take a trophy home.”

Known as one of the great characters in world racing, Yahagi didn’t take long to make an impression.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi has turned @TheStarSydney Night of Stars into Dancing with the Stars! 🕺😀#競馬 | #ホウオウアマゾン | #ユニコーンライオン | @netkeiba | @racing_nsw | @AtcJpn | @7horseracing | @SkyRacingAUpic.twitter.com/mgcy0mpnki

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 28, 2023

He was seen cutting shapes on the dance floor in a video that’s gone viral from Tuesday’s Night Of Stars event.

“Wherever I go in Sydney it brings back memories,” Yahagi said.

“It is great to be back here, I am really happy and enjoying it and almost forgetting my work.”

Yahahi was all business on Wednesday morning as he travelled out to Canterbury to watch Unicorn Lion and Ho O Amazon go through their paces.

Unicorn Lion was given a strong workout on a gloomy and wet morning in preparation for his maiden Australian run in the Queen Elizabeth next Saturday.

“I was planning to give Unicorn Lion his strongest hitout (on Wednesday) because we race next week,” Yahagi said.

“I was really happy with the gallop.

“We are planning to give him another gallop next week, probably Wednesday but we are not going to give him as hard of a gallop as we did this week.”

Unicorn Lion stretches out in front of Ho O Amazon at Canterbury on Wednesday. Picture: John Grainger

Ho O Amazon is an equal $11 TAB chance for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes where he will take on Australia’s superstar Anamoe and William Haggas’ English raider Dubai Honour, which shared $2.50 favouritism.

“I have raced against Dubai Honour in the past so I know a bit about it,” Yahagi said.

“Anamoe is obviously an Australian based and I pretty much know nothing about it but I think he is a danger to us.”

Ho O Amazon was given an easier time of it at Canterbury trackwork.

The son of King Kamehameha will line-up in the $2m Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 15.

“Ho O Amazon is most suited over a 1400m race and a Group 1, we don’t have one in Japan so that’s why we brought him over for a 1400m race,” Yahagi said.

“In Sydney in April, normally there is a lot of rain so you get soft ground and Ho O Amazon likes a soft surface so that's why we brought him over here.

“Obviously he likes right handed tracks.”

Originally published as Yoshito Yahagi’s return to Randwick 40 years in the making as he targets Queen Elizabeth Stakes