Daiwa Major, Champion Japanese Miler and Influential Sire, Dies Aged 25

Daiwa Major, the Japanese-bred miler whose Grade 1 victories and subsequent stud career left a lasting mark on racing and breeding, died of natural causes at Shadai Stallion Station in Abira, Hokkaido on January 20, 2026. He was 25. The stable reported he appeared normal during its early-morning check before staff found he had deteriorated and he passed away around 4:20 a.m. local time.

On the racecourse Daiwa Major combined top-level speed with durability, collecting multiple Grade 1s including the 2004 Satsuki Sho, the Autumn Tenno Sho, and back-to-back Mile Championships in 2006-07. Those wins established him as Japan’s premier miler of his generation and set the stage for a stud career that extended his influence beyond one mile. Trainer Hiroyuki Uehara (上原博之) noted Daiwa Major’s resilience during his career, including a recovery from a throat condition that tested the horse and the team, and emphasized the stallion’s enduring contribution to the stable and to Japanese bloodstock.

At stud, Daiwa Major became a highly successful sire and broodmare sire, producing numerous graded winners. His genetic impact has been notable not only in progeny that excelled at a mile but also through descendants that demonstrated staying power; the emergence of Double Major, a dual Royal Oak winner, highlights the stallion’s ability to transmit stamina as well as speed. That versatility made his offspring attractive at sales and valuable in mating plans seeking balanced athleticism.

For the industry, Daiwa Major’s death is both emotional and practical. Shadai Stallion Station is one of the centerpieces of Japanese breeding, and the loss of a long-serving stallion reduces the living roster of proven sires whose influence can be directly marketed to breeders. Bloodstock values and breeding strategies often hinge on the availability and legacy of stallions; Daiwa Major’s record as a sire and broodmare sire will continue to factor into pedigrees at yearling sales and in mating decisions for seasons to come.

Culturally, champions like Daiwa Major occupy a special place in Japan’s racing community, where on-track accomplishments and subsequent breeding successes help define eras. His arc from classic winner to influential stallion captures the lifecycle that fans and breeders celebrate: peak performance followed by genetic legacy. As his immediate connections and a broader fan base mourn, his descendants will carry his imprint through the Japanese turf and beyond.

The practical takeaway for readers and participants in the industry is clear: Daiwa Major’s bloodlines remain active and worth watching. His passing closes a chapter, but his impact on pedigrees and the breeding landscape will be evident in upcoming seasons as his progeny and descendants continue to race and shape Japanese thoroughbred racing.