Lucky Kid gives Godolphin another Japan Road victory in Hyacinth

Feb 22, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Lucky Kid wins the Hyacinth S. at Tokyo (Photo by Tomoya Moriuchi/Horsephotos.com)

Godolphin’s homebred Lucky Kid took over the top spot on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard when scoring a 22.50-1 upset in Sunday’s Hyacinth S. at Tokyo.

The Triple Crown nominee banked 30 points. That propelled Lucky Kid past the winner of the previous Japan Road event, fellow Godolphin homebred Pyromancer, who has 20 points from his victory Dec. 17 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun.

Pyromancer has long been penciled in for the March 28 UAE Derby (G2) on the Euro/Mideast Road. Lucky Kid will now likely accompany him on the Dubai venture.

If both Godolphin runners depart from the Japan Road as expected, its Kentucky Derby (G1) invitation will be up for grabs in the series finale, the March 28 Fukuryu S. at Nakayama.

Trained by Yukihiro Kato and ridden for the first time by Mirai Iwata, Lucky Kid was a longshot because of his recent eighth in a Tokyo allowance. But the son of Grade 1-winning millionaire Discreet Cat had won his Oct. 19 debut over this same track and 1600-meter (“metric mile”) trip. In between, he placed third in the Hyogo Junior Grand Prix.

Bettors sided with blueblood Arcadia Cafe as the odds-on favorite in the Hyacinth. Although he was last seen finishing third in the Cattleya S., the Japan Road opener, his stature as a half-brother to two Hyacinth winners, Cafe Pharoah (2020) and Luxor Cafe (2025), offered hope of a forward move.

Arcadia Cafe arguably undermined his chances by failing to relax early. Initially settled off the pace, he was too eager to go after pacesetting Taiki Blitzen. Arcadia Cafe remained aggressive even as he sped to the lead on the far turn. He opened up into the stretch, but soon tired and shortened stride.

Lucky Kid and Itterasshai swept past the favorite in tandem. Yet Lucky Kid picked up more strongly and edged away. Then Don Erectus got into gear late to reduce the margin, but Lucky Kid reached the wire with his neck still in front.

Don Erectus, who was also runner-up in the Cattleya, added 15 points to his account for a total of 20. He was not nominated to the Triple Crown by the early deadline, but could be made eligible by April 6.

Triple Crown-nominated Itterasshai checked in third (nine points). Neither the fourth-placer Boku Mada Nemuiyo (six points) nor the fifth Your Felicity (three points) are nominated at this stage. Arcadia Cafe weakened to sixth, trailed by Seize the Throne, Yu Pharoah, Summer Madness, and Taiki Blitzen.

Lucky Kid clocked 1:36.7 to advance his record to 4-2-0-1. The bay is the second Hyacinth winner by Discreet Cat, after another Godolphin homebred, Combustion (2022). Interestingly, they were bred on the same cross; both are out of mares by Pyro.

Lucky Kid’s dam (mother), Happy Go Lucky, is a descendant of two champion fillies who won the Cheveley Park (G1) at Newmarket. Happy Go Lucky’s maternal grandmother, Embassy, captured the Cheveley Park in 1997. Embassy is herself a daughter of Pass the Peace, the 1988 Cheveley Park heroine.

Lucky Kid could try to emulate sire Discreet Cat, who romped in the 2006 UAE Derby.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, commented on godolphin.com about plans:

“Lucky Kid is entered in the UAE Derby, and we now expect that he will be invited. His trainer is keen, and he will most likely join Godolphin Japan's other intended runner, Pyromancer, Japan's top two-year-old dirt horse last year.

“We certainly don't underestimate the task ahead, but it would be great to have two runners in the UAE Derby.”