1994: three-year-old season Sakura Laurel was a physically weak horse with problems in his
hocks. Due to this condition, he performed poorly in his first two races, finishing ninth and third place respectively. Due to his weak legs, the owner decided to try him on a dirt track for his next race. This proved successful as he started in fifth place and moved to the outside in the straight and won by three lengths. After another two races, Sakura Laurel's owner decided to try him again on turf in preparation for the
Japanese Derby, where he came sixth. Two weeks later, he ran on dirt again and finished second, three quarters of a length behind Taiki Blizzard. His jockey for that race,
Olivier Peslier commented, "The winning horse was certainly strong, but this horse is also strong. Perhaps he's better suited to turf?" Sakura Laurel proved his ability on dirt once again, winning his next race by breaking away early and finishing two and a half lengths ahead. Sakura Laurel's next race would be the
Aoba Sho, a qualifying race for the Derby. In the race, he followed the pack from the back and made a strong run from the inside of the track in the straight. He aimed for the favourite, Air Dublin, but he failed to catch up and finished third. With the third place finish, Sakura Laurel had earned priority entry for the Japanese Derby but he had to pull out at the last minute due to inflammation in the right hind
fetlock, In the autumn season, Sakura Laurel ran in the Sado Stakes at
Niigata in which he finished third. He then ran in the
St. Lite Kinen in
Nakayama, a qualifying race for the
Kikuka Sho, The owner decided to enter him in races of lower grades, where he managed to finish second in his next two races at
Tokyo Racecourse. Sakura Laurel was then assigned as a companion horse for
Sakura Bakushin O who was competing in the
Mile Championship. In the Hirasan Tokubetsu, he started from the back and broke away in the straight to win by two lengths, marking his third win in his career. He then returned to the Kanto region in the Toji Stakes, where he took the lead from the third corner and won by two lengths. He made a move from the outside at the third corner, absorbed the stalling leaders, and passed Offside Trap in second place at the final corner. Futoshi Kojima who rode her in that race quoted, "I don't think my move was too early. But when I was going left, the way I changed positions was a little awkward". His trainer, Sakai refused to give up on this horse even though the diagnosis was so bad and almost forcing Sakura Laurel to retire from racing. This injury subsided him for the whole remaining season as he recuperated.
1996: five-year-old season Sakura Laurel returned to training in March 10, this time for
Nakayama Kinen. His main jockey, Futoshi Kojima retired and
Norihiro Yokoyama was appointed as his replacement. When the race started, He mostly sit at third from the back of the pack and started advancing from the third corner. In the final corner, he moved to the outside of the leaders and made a strong comeback .The favourite,
Genuine and the 14th-favorite, Pegasus were trying to break away from the inside, but Yokoyama used his finishing speed to overtake them from the outside, and Yokoyama eased off the reins to cross the finish line in the lead. The 384-day gap between graded races won was the second-longest in history, behind Suzuki Parade's 461-day gap. He continued the momentum by racing in the race he missed last year which was Tenno Sho Spring. Heading into the race, he was the third favourite behind two horses of the year,
Narita Brian and
Mayano Top Gun. Starting from the first position in the first gate, Sakura Laurel ran in the middle of the pack, closely following Narita Brian. Amid a slow pace, Narita Brian made a move on the far side of the pack on the second lap, closing in on the leading Mayano Top Gun, and the two horses were side-by-side before the final corner. He then followed the duo closely into the final corner. Narita Brian took the lead in the final straight before Sakura Laurel unleashed his finishing burst from behind and passed him, widening the gap and took home the win. Yokoyama reminisced, "I rode Sakura Laurel with confidence. I think one of the reasons for the victory was that I was able to get close to (Narita) Brian at the fourth (final) corner. He used his finishing kick better than I expected. In the straight, he had more explosive power than his opponent. When I passed (Narita) Brian, I was sure of victory." A withdrawal from
Takarazuka Kinen after that race was surely in the books as the owner did not want to push him too much with congested schedule. The rest of the calendar decided by only participated in another three races -
Sankei Sho All Comers,
Tenno Sho (Autumn) and
Arima Kinen. In September, Sakura Laurel ran excellently in the Sankei Sho All Comers. He started well in the middle and broke away on the inside and extending the lead from all runners including Mayano Top Gun to win the race. His excellent form giving confidence for the owners in the next race, Tenno Sho Autumn. In this race, he got off to a slow start. Although he made some pushes from the outside in the straight, he was unable to secure a clear path at the crucial moment. After moving to the inside, he made some progress, but was more than half a length behind the leading
Bubble Gum Fellow, finishing third. Sakai thought Yokoyama rushed the opening and Yokoyama agreed that he rode the horse badly that day. Following the plan, Sakura Laurel next race would be the Arima Kinen on December 22. This race ceremoniously generated the highest sales in history with a whopping total of 87,510,424,000 yen, which later became a
Guinness World Record for single-race sales. In the race, he started from sixth position and like usual, chasing in the middle pack. He managed to find a path outside around Marvelous Sunday as he passed the final corner. In the final straight, it was a three horse battle between Mayano Top Gun,
Marvelous Sunday and Sakura Laurel in which Sakura Laurel ran alone from the outside and surged forward to win the Arima Kinen. This is the first win in Arima Kinen for all parties involved (Yokoyama, Sakai and Sakura Commerce). A fantastic season by Sakura Laurel with four wins out of five races including two G1 wins earned him
Japanese Horse of the Year and also
JRA Award for Best Older Male Horse. He was voted unanimously on the older horse award. He was rested until the Tenno Sho Spring. As usual, he stuck in the middle of the pack from the start of the race and changed her gear in the third corner. The three horse battle in previous Arima Kinen happened again but this time it was Mayano Top Gun who managed to pull out the victory. This result convinced the owner to sent her for Arc expedition in France. He was put on
Prix Foy as a warmup for the Arc but even with
Yutaka Take on the helm, he finished last in that race. Take immediately dismounted after the race and a detailed examination the following day, September 15, revealed a partial rupture of the right front flexor tendon. == Racing form ==