The initial plan for the business was for Kawakami, assisted by his PR manager Yusuke Ichikawa and Racing Manager Shinya Mori, to source tried horses out of Japan as well as yearlings in Australia for an intended client base of Japanese and Australian owners who shared a mutual appreciation of the other country's racing.
But it was an opportunity out of left field which may prove an inspired first purchase for Rising Sun. Not only did they purchase a horse out of the United Kingdom, but the horse, Centroid (GB), also happens to be the half-brother to the Champion mare Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
"We bought him at a tried sale in the UK back in October last year. I had a bit of a connection there with some Japanese guys who I have a good relationship with. They were at the Sale looking for a good horse for us. We are starting a new syndicate and are looking for horses all over the world. we came across this horse called Centroid, who was Enable's half-brother," Kawakami told TDN AusNZ.
"There is a Japanese owner in the UK who wanted to have a couple of runners up there so we bought him for that owner, with the mind of bringing the horse to Australia because we are starting this syndicate."
The Rising Sun team inspecting yearlings
Centroid has not quite lived up to his half-sister's lofty reputation, winning twice in seven starts for Dermot Weld in the famous Juddmonte colours. However, he did find form for his new owners under the eye of Jane Chapple-Hyam.
"We paid only 7000 gns (AU$13,083) for him. He was really cheap. He raced under his new Japanese owner's name, twice in the UK and ran second both times. We were really happy with how the horse progressed. We decided to bring that horse to Australia.
"We bought him off the previous owner and they stayed in for 20 per cent. So he's out here now."
Centroid is set to enter the stables of Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani on leaving quarantine.
"We are lucky to kick things off with Centroid. He seems like he's going really well. He will start off rated in the low 70s in Australia and he should go through the grades," Kawakami said.
"The last run in the UK was quite brilliant. He raced against Raymond Tusk, who was only beaten 5l in the Melbourne Cup in 2019, that gives you some confidence, being by Dansili as well, who has done well in Australia. Hopefully, he can give us a really good start.
"The last run in the UK was quite brilliant. He raced against Raymond Tusk, who was only beaten 5l in the Melbourne Cup in 2019." - Kosi Kawakami
"We've got a theory, especially having watched horses from the UK in Japan over the years, that they are not really used to going around in circles every day. It’s really key to them to have that uphill training track or something similar. Ballarat obviously has all that and Matt being a British trainer, he knows how to prepare the British horses."
Dansili (GB), sire of Centroid (GB) | Image courtesy of Juddmonte
A winner at 2000 metres and 2500 metres in Ireland, Centroid will be targeted in that distance range when he begins his Australian career.
"He looks like he stays well enough, but at the same time, he did fail in a two-mile race when Dermot Weld had him. We have changed the training style there and we got him going really good," Kawakami said.
"At this stage we'll keep to him a mile and a-quarter to a mile and a-half, in that range. I reckon he will be a really nice mile and a half horse."
Kosi branches out
Kawakami is well known in Australian racing circles, having arrived here in 2001, where he had a career as a respected jumps jockey and was a well-regarded track worker with Lindsay Park, Mike Moroney and Aaron Purcell.
He also worked as racing manager for Japanese horses travelling in Australia, including G1 Caulfield Cup winner Mer De Glace (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) and G1 Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}).
Lys Gracieux (Jpn)
Given his passion for racing both in the country of his birth and his adopted homeland, it made perfect sense to try and connect the two countries in a racing business, which is aptly named Rising Sun Syndicate.
"I've been working in both the Japanese and Australian racing industry for a long time. I've been working with these Japanese horses coming over here, and that's been my life's work. I really want to get Japanese horses involved in Australian racing and also Australian people involved in Japanese racing," he said.
"I really want to get Japanese horses involved in Australian racing and also Australian people involved in Japanese racing." - Kosi Kawakami
"I would love to get Japanese owners to buy shares in Australian horses and to have a run in Australian racing, just to see how good Australian racing is. For the Australian owners, we are planning to buy some nice Japanese tried horses, and to give the Australian owners that opportunity. We love to help both owners and it seems like it’s going well so far."
Having worked so closely with champion Japanese horses over the years, Kawakami feels he brings a first-hand knowledge of the right horses to thrive in the Australian environment.
"I have been heavily involved with those Japanese horses, so I know what sort of Japanese horses will do well over here. If you bring the wrong horses, you will not have many good results," he said.
"Japanese racing might have a lot of depth in it, but it doesn't mean you can just bring anything. You have to have the right type. I know the right people, the grooms, the jockeys and the breeders. I get a lot of insight."
Yearlings fit into Rising Sun's plans
Kawakami, along with Ichikawa and Mori, who also act as bloodstock managers, have also worked extensively in identify potential yearling purchases in Australia for Japanese buyers. They have applied those skills to their work with Rising Sun as well, securing two yearlings at the recent Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
"We have done a lot of bloodstock work ourselves. I have been in the industry for a good 20 years, so I know what to look for and with the other two managers, we are three Japanese guys and we look through the horses," he said.
"We had a bit of success in the past, purchasing horses for other owners, so we are pretty confident we have got some nice horses."
Rising Sun purchased a Foxwedge colt from Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds for $45,000 and a colt by Tosen Stardom (Jpn) from Fairview Park Stud for $14,000.
The Foxwedge colt is out of Sheilarized (Authorized {Ire}), the half-sister to stakes winner Office Bearer (Officer {USA}), while the Tosen Stardom colt is a half-brother to three winners, out of Conca Bella (Show A Heart), the sister to G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Woorim.
