Latest News

By Tony Megahey

Ballina’s young Japanese trainer and equestrian Daiki Chujo is as unknown to James McDonald and his agent, as he is to form analysts and punters, as he daringly offered the Kiwi champion the ride on a $5000 purchase.

Chujo has well-backed favourite Bahamut ($8 into $5.50 on TAB) in the $100,000, 1600m TAB Highway on the support card to the elite Group gallopers at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Ballina trainer Daiki Chujo

No expectations from the young father of three - just on a hope and a prayer for some of his overseas owners and for his modest northern stables with limited success.

However, given the journeys and adversity of Daiki, who left Japan at 16, couldn’t speak English and often slept in stables and haylofts in three continents, his all-consuming ambition for success on the big stage can be understood in contacting 'Team McDonald'.

Bahamut, a four-year-old Real Impact (Jpn) entire has won three races, the latest a modest Lismore Class 2 from seven opponents. However, no big noter Daiki.

Just a genuine, down to earth trier, doing his best.

And maybe McDonald realised those attributes because he stunned Daiki by taking up the offer to ride Bahamut at 56kg in a Class 3 prelude to a tremendous day of Group racing at headquarters.

“Surprised? I nearly jumped through the phone and so did some owners back in Japan who watch his big race wins!" Chujo said.

“We were only hoping, but maybe other trainers thought he wouldn’t be interested in the Highway with his rides in all the Group races.

“Apparently he looked at a replay and the form but I’m so happy just to be there for those races.”

Meanwhile, Daiki only saw horses on TV living in Saitama near Tokyo before travelling most of the racing world, learning to ride, battling and working in North Queensland initially then back home, on to Germany, the UK and back to North Queensland.

Before he returned to work in Newcastle with Kris Lees and Paul Perry. And finally going it alone with a small team in Ballina.

If a race riding career eluded Daiki, he rode trackwork and eventually became a representative equestrian rider and coach and race trainer.

Daiki operates “Japanoz” stables and equestrian riding school in Ballina.

“I’ve 16 in work and equestrians, I ride trackwork, coach and compete in eventing - Bahamut is an entire, always had ability.

"He’s three from 10, hoping he might be a Country Championships horse,” Daiki enthused.

"I thought why not try for the best riders that can tell you how far they might go? They didn’t say no, said they would come back to me after looking at the nominations and form.”

McDonald regularly rides in TAB Highways but not the slow ones.

“This horse always showed us something, was immature and slow to learn but he’s won three and still progressing. He was strong at 1700m, so 1600m is suitable from the draw - it’s still a country class 3 and he drops in weight.”

Daiki’s compatriot and close friend Noriyuki Masuda has ridden Bahamut in all the entire’s races.

Could it get any more entertaining than if the little-known trainer rang team McDonald around the time as Chris Waller locked in the champion’s Group rides.

“Yearlings from leading Japanese sires we’re just too expensive for us. So, we bought him online from the Inglis sales for $5000 as a yearling.

“He’s taken time but he’s far more than paid his way. He carried 60kg winning well at Lismore.

“That was first run back off two trials he’s come on, drops to 56kg and we know he’ll run the distance.”

And yep, “J-Mac” usually has a fair say in proceedings.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Royal Randwick here