THE 40-year-old Mitsumasa (Mitsu) Nakauchida has spent his entire life around horses. Born in Japan, he transferred to school in Ireland at the age of 16. This is when his career in racing truly began in Wicklow.

He then studied equine business at West Oxfordshire College, spending four months working for Sir Mark Prescott on a placement. For over three years Nakauchida rode out every morning for trainers Richard Hannon and Sylvester Kirk. He even rode as an amateur jockey and had two winners from just 10 rides, both at Lingfield. They were Dolphinelle for Richard Hannon and Twoforten for Paddy Butler.

During his summer holidays, Nakauchida worked for Criquette Head in Chantilly and she helped him get a job with American champion trainer Bobby Frankel. Returning to Japan he worked as assistant trainer to Mitsuru Hashida. In 2012, Mitsu passed the JRA trainer’s examination and launched the Nakauchida Stable in March 2014.

Currently training over 50 horses in Japan, including for Godolphin, Nakauchida has handled the careers of Group 1 winners Danon Premium and Danon Fantasy. The latter was champion juvenile filly in Japan last year.

Nakauchida signed for a second lot at the sale, in addition to the €1.5 million Galileo colt. He gave €650,000 for Camas Park and Glenvale Studs’ Camelot colt out of a winning half-sister to the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Hurricane Run. “I have always liked Camelot’s progeny and he is very good looking. I’m sure he will run well in Japan. I’ve been coming here for the last three or four years. I am honoured to buy a yearling here,” Nakauchida said.