Hayayakko (Japanese: ハヤヤッコ, Hayayakko; foaled 10 February 2016) is a retired Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He recorded seven wins from forty-five starts between 2018 and 2025, including the Copa República Argentina (GII) in 2024, the Hakodate Kinen (GIII) in 2022, and the Leopard Stakes (GIII) in 2019. He was the first white horse to win a JRA graded stakes race, and the first white horse to contest the Arima Kinen. His name translates to "fast and white".
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Background
Hayayakko is a white stallion bred in Abira, Hokkaido, by Northern Farm. He was sired by King Kamehameha, a son of Kingmambo, and his dam was Marshmallow, a white mare by Kurofune. He is part of the Shirayukihime white horse family; his relatives include Sodashi, Meikei Yell, Mama Cocha, and Yukichan. He was owned by Kaneko Makoto Holdings and trained by Sakae Kunieda at the JRA's Miho Training Center.
Racing career
2018: two-year-old season
Hayayakko debuted on 24 June 2018 in a 2-year-old newcomer race over 1800 metres on turf at Tokyo Racecourse. Ridden by Kosei Miura, he finished third. Although his white family was primarily successful on dirt, his trainer entered him on turf to explore his potential. On 5 August, he won his maiden race on turf at Niigata Racecourse by 0.6 seconds. He subsequently finished eighth in the Ivy Stakes and fourth in the Mochinoki Sho on dirt.
2019: three-year-old season
He began the year with two second-place finishes in allowance races before winning his third start on 23 March at Nakayama Racecourse. After finishing eighth in the Seiryu Stakes, he contested the Leopard Stakes (GIII) on dirt at Niigata on 4 August. Starting as the 10th favourite, he overtook Delma Rivale to win by a head. This victory made him the first white horse to win a JRA graded stakes race. The race also served as a memorial for Deep Impact, whose owner, Makoto Kaneko, won the tribute race with his own horse. He did not race again that year due to throat inflammation.
2020: four-year-old season
Hayayakko returned on 12 January, finishing second in the Pollux Stakes. After unplaced finishes in the Aldebaran Stakes, Heian Stakes, and Akhalteke Stakes, he placed third in the BSN Sho and fifth in the Radio Nippon Sho. On 25 October, he won the Brazil Cup (Listed) at Tokyo, rallying from last place to win by 0.4 seconds.
2021: five-year-old season
He started the season with a sixth-place finish in the Tokai Stakes (GII) and a third in the Sobu Stakes. After unplaced efforts in the March Stakes and Brilliant Stakes, he won the Sleipnir Stakes on 19 June, rallying from last place on a heavy track to win by 0.1 seconds. He finished the year with a tenth in the Sirius Stakes, a fourth in the Brazil Cup, and a ninth in the Betelgeuse Stakes.
2022: six-year-old season
After a 14th-place finish in the Tokai Stakes, his connections switched him to turf racing. He finished fifth in the Nikkei Sho (GII) and 15th in the Tennō Shō (Spring) (GI). On 17 July, he contested the Hakodate Kinen (GIII) on heavy turf. Ridden by Suguru Hamanaka, he advanced on the inside, took the lead at the top of the straight, and held on to win by 0.2 seconds, securing his first graded stakes win on turf. He finished the year with a tenth in the Sapporo Kinen and a fifth in the Chunichi Shimbun Hai.
2023: seven-year-old season
Hayayakko remained on the turf circuit, recording a sixth in the Nikkei Shinshun Hai, a fourth in the Kinko Sho, a sixth in the Niigata Daishoten, a fifth in the Hakodate Kinen, and a tenth in the Sankei Sho All Comers. On 9 December, he finished second in the Chunichi Shimbun Hai, recording the fastest final three furlongs of the race at 33.9 seconds.
2024: eight-year-old season
He began the year with a fourth in the Kinko Sho, followed by unplaced finishes in the Osaka Hai and Hakodate Kinen. After a third-place finish in the Thailand Cup, he contested the Copa Republica Argentina (GII) on 3 November at Tokyo. Carrying the top weight of 58.5 kg, he rallied from last place on the outside to win by 0.1 seconds. The victory made him the first eight-year-old to win the race since 1985, and the first horse to carry 58.5 kg to victory since 1988. On 22 December, he became the first white horse to contest the Arima Kinen (GI), finishing 15th.
2025: nine-year-old season
Hayayakko finished tenth in the Nikkei Sho on 29 March. On 1 June, he contested the Meguro Kinen (GII) at Tokyo. Ridden by Michael Dee, he drifted wide on the final turn and lost momentum, ultimately being pulled up. He was subsequently diagnosed with a ruptured superficial digital flexor tendon in his right foreleg. His retirement was announced on 6 June 2025 and was pensioned at Northern Horse Park in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, to live out his retirement.
Race record
The following table details all 45 starts of Hayayakko's racing career based on official JBIS and netkeiba records. Record current as of his final start on 1 June 2025.
Pedigree
Hayayakko is inbred 5 × 5 × 5 to Northern Dancer.
He is part of the Shirayukihime white horse family. His close relatives include Sodashi, Meikei Yell, Mama Cocha, and Yukichan.