While Australian media cried foul that no Aussie women jockeys were invited to the Women Jockeys’ World Cup held last weekend in Sweden, Japan celebrated with a win for Nanaka Fujita, pictured below.
There are several women riders in Japan, however, Fujita is reportedly the only woman riding on the prestigious JRA circuit in the country, where she holds the current record for most wins by a female jockey.
Breeding and Racing reports that Fujita won the points-based Women Jockeys’ World Cup against nine other rivals representing eight countries, winning two of the five eligible races.
Reigning champion, Sweden’s Josefin Landgren, came second on 43 points and Great Britain’s Jane Elliott was third with 38.
Dennis Madsen, Svensk Gallop’s Director of Racing said on svenskgalopp.se, “We are delighted for Nanako who helped us make the Women Jockeys’ World Cup a truly international competition. The Women Jockeys’ World Cup, and in particular, Japan’s participation has generated a huge amount of interest in Swedish racing and we are grateful to all media, trainers, jockeys, owners and commercial partners who have supported the third running of this event at Bro Park.”
Final standings were:
Nanaka Fujita (JPN) 48 points
Josefin Landgren (SWE) 43 points
Jane Elliott (GB) 38 points
Sophie Ralston (IRE) 34 points
Georgia Cox (GBR) 31 points
Ulrika Holmquist (SWE) 28 points
Alison Massin (FR) 27 points
Jeane Alves (BRA) 25 points
Rebecca Danz (GER) 12 points
Kaia Sophie Ingolfsland (NOR) 10 points
