Costa Nova repeats in BC WAYI February; Lucky Kid takes Hyacinth

Katsumi Yoshida’s Costa Nova successfully defended his title in Sunday’s February (G1) at Tokyo, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Earlier over the same metric mile distance, Godolphin’s Lucky Kid captured the Hyacinth S. on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Although both races have potential implications for the U.S. scene, their more immediate impact might well come on Dubai World Cup night March 28. Costa Nova is under consideration for the Godolphin Mile (G2), while Lucky Kid has entered calculations for the UAE Derby (G2) on the Euro/Mideast Road.

February (G1)

Costa Nova was regaining the winning thread for the first time since last year’s February, but his losing streak consisted of only three races. The son of Lord Kanaloa had placed in two of them, finishing third in the May 5 Kashiwa Kinen and most recently runner-up in the Nov. 15 Musashino (G3) here.

Trainer Tetsuya Kimura revealed that he ramped up Costa Nova’s work regimen in preparation for the February, and the adjustment paid dividends. Anchored near the back of the pack early with Christophe Lemaire, the 2.40-1 second choice exploded down the lane to prevail in the cavalry charge.

Peptide Nile, the upset winner of the February in 2024, briefly threatened to pull a 53-1 stunner. The eight-year-old tracked in third and pounced on early leaders Sixpence and Lord Couronne in the stretch. But Peptide Nile could not hold off the swarm of closers, chief among them Costa Nova sweeping widest of all. 

Costa Nova outfinished Wilson Tesoro, a regular bridesmaid in Japan Racing Association Grade 1s, by a half-length. Reigning Champions Cup (G1) heroine W Heart Bond, the 2-1 favorite, crossed the wire the same margin adrift in third.

“I am happy to have won the first Grade 1 of this season with Costa Nova, with whom I’ve partnered for some time,” Lemaire said. “He broke nicely, and we were able to relax during the trip behind Wilson Tesoro. I had great response from the horse as soon as I shifted him to the outside for the stretch drive and, from then on, he was extremely strong up to the wire.”

Rattling off a field-best sectional in :35.2 for the last 600 meters (about three furlongs), Costa Nova posted a final time of 1:35.4. 

Brian Sense recorded the next-best sectional in :35.6 to get up for fourth. Next came Omega Guinness, Peptide Nile, Natural Rise, slow-starting Ramjet, Sixpence, Perriere, Lord Couronne, Sunrise Hawk, Sakura Toujours, Long Run, Saimon Xanadu, and Happy Man. 

Costa Nova joins Copano Rickey (2014-15) and Cafe Pharoah (2021-22) on the honor roll as back-to-back February winners. His scorecard stands at 14-8-2-1, including a victory in the 2025 Negishi (G3) as his stepping stone to this race a year ago. 

A homebred from Northern Farm, Costa Nova was produced by the Heart’s Cry mare Colorful Blossom. 

Hyacinth S.

The Hyacinth likewise set up for closers, only a less predictable one in the 22.50-1 Lucky Kid. Mowing down the tiring odds-on favorite, Arcadia Cafe, and Itterasshai, Lucky Kid withstood the late charge of Don Erectus by a neck. The Yukihiro Kato pupil, piloted by Mirai Iwata, negotiated the metric mile in 1:36.7.

Don Erectus settled for second again, after filling the same role in the Cattleya S. as the first leg of the Japan Road. Itterasshai, who checked in third, is the only other early Triple Crown nominee in the top five aside from Lucky Kid. Boku Mada Nemuiyo and Your Felicity reported home fourth and fifth, respectively. Arcadia Cafe, who expended far too much energy early, wilted late to sixth in the 10-horse field.

The Hyacinth offered points on the 30-15-9-6-3 basis to the top five finishers, so Lucky Kid now tops the Japan Road leaderboard with 30 points. Second in the standings is his Godolphin colleague, Pyromancer, the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun winner with 20 points. Both Triple Crown nominees are now slated to ship for the UAE Derby, leaving the Japan Road invitation to be determined in its finale, the March 28 Fukuryu S. at Nakayama.