Wada

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Wada Ryuji (和田)
Alias(es)	Jockey Wada; “Yakiniku Magistrate”; “Banquet Minister” 174 455
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Mejiro Sakuya’s overseas expedition team; later Wada Stable 93 511
Occupation/Role	Jockey; later trainer 93 173 511
Status	Active as a trainer after retiring from race riding 173 226 511
Age	47 during the Saudi Derby campaign 93
First Appearance	First mentioned in Chapter 80; begins training Mejiro Sakuya in Chapter 89 80 89

Background / History

Wada built his career around a strict routine of regular sleep, early mornings, and continual practice. Though regarded as a “mid-tier jockey,” he considers overseas riding opportunities important, particularly at his age, and accepts that he must keep pushing himself as long as he rides 93.

Trainer Arayama approached Wada to ride Mejiro Sakuya after other options had narrowed. Wada became her assigned jockey, began training with her at the start of the new year, and developed a rapport strong enough for Arayama to describe them as being in “deep mental harmony” 80 89 90.

During the Saudi and Dubai legs of Sakuya’s campaign, Wada took an active role beyond race riding. He inspected unfamiliar tracks, helped revise shoeing and tactics, judged Sakuya’s condition during timed workouts, and repeatedly favored her natural closing style over forcing her into a forward position 94 97 104.

At Churchill Downs, he studied the muddy surface before riding Katona in the Alysheba Stakes and Mejiro Sakuya in the Kentucky Derby. Katona’s uncontrolled early speed left Wada trapped in traffic during the warm-up race, reinforcing the importance of patience and finding openings rather than forcing a predetermined plan 116 121 125.

After returning to Japan, Wada adopted a more aggressive dirt-riding style. He used it in Mejiro Sakuya’s final race, the Tokyo Daisho, moving her into second early and guiding her to a dominant victory over Mr. Caesar 171. He retired from race riding afterward, then began studying for his trainer’s license and later operated Wada Stable 173 226 511.

As a trainer, Wada personally manages Mejiro Sawin’s toe-out condition and avoids rushing the colt’s development. He recruited veteran jockey Duman Lai to ride Sawin, rotated multiple riders through training to collect opinions and prevent bad habits, and prioritized Sawin’s confidence over an aggressive debut effort 511 527.

Personality

Wada is quiet, restrained, and difficult to read. His typical reports on a horse’s condition are brief—such as “Not bad” or “Good”—but his assessments carry weight because they are based on close observation from the saddle 90 97.

He is disciplined without being rigid. Wada studies unfamiliar conditions, listens to more experienced riders, and changes his approach when evidence demands it. His confidence is practical rather than boastful; after major success, he credits luck instead of claiming personal superiority 95 172.

He also has a playful side away from racing. During the celebration after the Tokyo Daisho, he earnestly explained how to grill vegetables and meat, declaring himself the “Yakiniku Magistrate” 174.

Abilities & Skills

Race Reading and Pace Judgment

Wada reads tempo, traffic, and track position while remaining resistant to other jockeys’ tactical pressure.

• Settled Mejiro Sakuya at the rear in the UAE Derby when the fast, compressed pace favored conserving her energy 106.
• Chose not to react prematurely to opponents, reminding himself to make decisions through his own awareness rather than follow another rider’s rhythm 106.
• Used the inside route in the Kentucky Derby’s mud, preserving Sakuya’s stamina rather than fighting for crowded central positions 125.
• Identified the narrow inside opening in the Alysheba Stakes, though Katona’s early expenditure left too little finishing power to capitalize fully 121.

Horse-Rider Rapport

Wada builds his rides around each horse’s individual temperament, movement, and limits.

• Developed a close working partnership with Mejiro Sakuya through repeated training and race preparation 89 90 97.
• Recognized Sakuya’s powerful lungs, muscular frame, and explosive acceleration despite her outwardly unimpressive workouts 105.
• Challenged Katona directly rather than avoiding him, believing that riding the volatile gelding was necessary to understand him 117.
• Guided Sakuya to her Tokyo Daisho victory by reading her breathing and stride, recognizing when she had reached her true racing form 171.

Track and Equipment Adaptation

Wada treats course analysis as part of his work rather than leaving it entirely to trainers and farriers.

• Inspected King Abdulaziz Racetrack across multiple lanes and concluded that its loose, powdery surface should be approached more like turf than conventional Japanese dirt 94.
• Supported switching Sakuya to lighter aluminum shoes with stronger grip for the Saudi surface 94.
• Evaluated Churchill Downs’ deep mud and concluded that no fixed strategy would be reliable in a crowded Derby; he would need to “navigate a maze” during the race 116.

Young-Horse Management

As a trainer, Wada emphasizes physical readiness and a horse’s mental relationship with racing.

• Personally oversees Sawin because the colt’s toe-out condition requires frequent hoof care and increases fatigue and injury risk 511.
• Used several riders during Sawin’s training to gather varied feedback and avoid creating bad habits 527.
• Instructed Duman Lai not to overuse the whip or force Sawin to peak effort in his debut, prioritizing a positive first racing experience 527.

Relationships

• Mejiro Sakuya — Regular jockey and closest racing partner. Their trust develops through the Saudi, Dubai, and Kentucky campaigns, culminating in her Tokyo Daisho victory 89 90 104 171.
• Arayama Katsunori — Trainer who recruited Wada for Sakuya. Arayama repeatedly trusts Wada’s firsthand judgments on training intensity and race tactics 80 104 120.
• Kitano — Sakuya’s owner, whose faith in Wada gives the jockey a strong sense of responsibility during major overseas races 100 105.
• Katona — Volatile chestnut gelding Wada rode to gain Churchill Downs experience. Wada respects his fighting spirit but struggles with his inability to settle during the Alysheba Stakes 117 121.
• Duman Lai — Veteran jockey recruited by Trainer Wada as Sawin’s rider. Their arrangement is founded on the shared condition that Sawin must not be forced to race before he is ready 511.
• Mejiro Sawin — Young colt under Wada’s care. Wada manages his physical weaknesses carefully and guides his early career with a long-term approach 511 527.
• Yutaka Take — Senior jockey who teases Wada before the Saudi Derby by warning that excessive whipping in the Middle East brings fines 100.

Major Story Arcs

Arc	Wada’s role	Key developments
Mejiro Sakuya’s early preparation	Newly assigned jockey	Begins riding Sakuya and establishes an understated but effective working relationship with her 89 90.
Saudi and UAE Derby campaigns	Rider, course analyst, tactician	Inspects unfamiliar surfaces, contributes to shoeing changes, and rides patiently from the rear when race tempo favors a late move 94 104 106.
Kentucky campaign	Sakuya’s Derby jockey; Katona’s warm-up-race rider	Studies Churchill Downs’ mud, learns from Katona’s difficult Alysheba Stakes ride, and adopts an inside-saving strategy for the Kentucky Derby 116 121 125.
Tokyo Daisho and retirement	Sakuya’s final jockey	Uses a newly aggressive dirt style to send Sakuya forward early and defeat Mr. Caesar decisively; retires after the victory 171 173.
Wada Stable and Sawin	Trainer	Recruits Duman Lai, manages Sawin’s hoof-related risks, and oversees the colt’s controlled but dominant debut 511 527.

Notable Quotes

“Never let yourself be dragged along by an opponent's rhythm.” 106

“No, I'm just a lucky guy.” 172

Trivia

• Wada was nicknamed the “Yakiniku Magistrate” after taking charge of grilling during Mejiro Sakuya’s Tokyo Daisho celebration 174.
• He is associated with a YouTube channel, Ryuji Wada’s Retired Racehorse Journey, through which he shares stories about retired racehorses 155.
• Before becoming a trainer, he attended the Hokkaido Select Sale with Kitano despite lacking confidence in evaluating yearlings 226.