Shohei Kaya's returning winning tonic

By Jordan Gerrans

In his five years away from the Queensland racing scene, Japanese hoop Shohei Kaya barely laid a hand on a horse.

The 47-year-old shifted back to the country of his birth for family reasons at the back end of 2020.

He went out a winner as he piloted Seriousness to victory for trainer Peter Rowe at Cairns’ Cannon Park in his last meeting before relocating.

Kaya returned to Australia in late 2025 and was quickly back into riding trackwork around Far North Queensland.

He grabbed his first winner in more than five years on Saturday afternoon at Atherton aboard The Cops for Cairns trainer Rodney Miller.

The veteran hoop was thrilled to score a returning victory after a lengthy spell out of the saddle.

“I spent the time in Japan with my kids and then I came back to trackwork in October and November of last year,” Kaya said.

“I never touched horses or even saw horses in Japan, it is just hard to get a job there, but I was not interested, anyway.

“When I came back to trackwork I got muscle sore and my balance was a bit hard to get back but I'm all right now.”

He relocated back to Australia in 2025 after one of his daughters returned to Cairns.

Kaya was back at the races in the middle of December last year in the Sunshine State and he has plugged away ever since.

“It is a good time to ride anyway, it is exciting,” the hoop said.

In a stroke of luck, the hoops comeback winner was a pick-up ride after he was initially set to partner Geraldine’s Wish for the training team of Trevor and Peter Rowe in the opening event from Atherton on Saturday.

When Geraldine’s Wish was scratched from the Ratings Band 0 - 55 Handicap over 1400 metres, Kaya quickly snapped up the ride on The Cops for former jockey-turned-trainer Miller.

After drawing barrier one, The Cops was able to score in a photo finish ahead of Third Master for Mareeba trainer Alex Malliff.

“The Cops is a bit of a one-paced horse,” Kaya said.

“I was going to lead or maybe be outside the leader. I was aggressive after jumping then I got my position.

“I went at a good pace, not too slow, not too fast – it was a good tempo.

“He kept going and then at the 400 metre mark, he was still going all right. Then at the 300 metre mark on the straight, the second horse (Third Master) passed me.

“I thought I was gone, but my horse kicked back, actually.”

It was a smart return to form for The Cops after the gelding had not run in the money since September of last year in four attempts.

Kaya has been busy riding trackwork for local trainers Alwyn Bailey and Stephen Massingham in Cairns since his return.

Kaya has more than 200 winners on his resume after riding across country Queensland and New South Wales since 2003.