Mayano Top Gun

Mayano Top Gun began his career racing on dirt and won three of his nine races in the early part of 1995. He was then switched to turf being placed twice at Grade II level in September and October. He emerged as top class performer in the late autumn, winning the Kikuka Sho over 3000 metres at Kyoto on 5 November. In December he contested one of Japan's most prestigious weight-for-age races, the Arima Kinen over 2500 metres at Nakayama and won from Taiki Blizzard and Sakura Chitose O.

In March 1996, Mayano Top Gun was matched against the 1993 Japanese Horse of the Year Narita Brian in the Hanshin Daishoten and was beaten into second place. In June at Kyoto he recorded his biggest success as a four-year-old when he won the Takarazuka Kinen over 2200 metres, beating Sunday Branch and the mare Dance Partner. Later in the year he finished second to Bubble Gum Fellow in the Autumn edition of the Tenno Sho.

In March 1997, Mayano Top Gun won the Hanshin Daishoten from Big Symbol and Gigaton. A month later he contested the Spring edition of the Tenno Sho over 3200 metres at Kyoto. He won from Sakura Laurel (winner of the race in 1996) with Marvelous Sunday in third place.