As a descendant of the broodmare Venturesome, Charon was distantly related to several major winners including Silver Patriarch, Touch Gold, Discreet Cat, With Approval and Izvestia.

[3] In July 2010, the yearling was consigned by the Shiraoi Farm to the JRHA Select Sale and was bought for 12 million yen by Akatsuki Yamatoya.

He took the lead a furlong and a half from the finish and accelerated clear to win by six and a quarter lengths from the South African horse Vercingetorix with Dank in third place.

Despite doubts about his ability to cope with the soft turf he was made 7/10 favourite against sixteen opponents, with Yoshitomi Shibata taking over from the suspended Fukunaga.

Racing over a distance of 2400 metres for the first time for more than two and a half years, he started the 8/1 fifth choice in the betting behind Taghrooda, Avenir Certain, Ectot and Harp Star.

He raced in mid-division before making some progress in the straight but never looked likely to win and finished eighth of the twenty runners, five lengths behind the winner Treve.

On his final racecourse appearance, Just A Way was stepped up in distance again for the Arima Kinen over 2500 metres on 28 December and started third favourite behind Gold Ship and Epiphaneia.

After being held up at the back of the field by Fukunaga he made progress on the outside in the straight but was unable to reach the leaders and finished fourth behind Gentildonna, To The World and Gold Ship.

He also finished runner-up to Gentildonna in the Japanese Horse of the Year poll and third to Snow Dragon in voting for the JRA Award for Best Sprinter or Miler.