In the autumn of 1984 he defeated Mr C B in the Grade II Mainichi Okan and overcame a top-class international field to win the Japan Cup.
His sire was Boysie Boy, an Irish-bred colt who raced in Europe and produced his best performance when finishing second to Habitat in the 1969 Prix du Moulin.
[1] Katsuragi Ace began his second season by finishing unplaced over 1600 metres at Kyoto in February and then won the Shunran Sho at Hanshin in March.
Katsuichi Nishiura took over from Sakiyama when the colt appeared in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai three weeks later and won from Lead Hoyu and Dokan Yashima.
On 13 May at Kyoto he defeated Sunny Ciboulette (Hanshin Futurity takes) and the mare Global Dyna to win the Grade III Keihan Hai.
On 25 November, in front of a crowd of 112,000 at Tokyo, Katsuragi Ace was one of fourteen horses to contest the fourth running of the Japan Cup and started a 40/1 outsider.
The overseas challengers included Strawberry Road, Kiwi and Bounty Hawk (VRC Derby) from Australasia, Majesty's Prince from America and the British-trained gelding Bedtime.
Wearing a distinctive white hood, Katsuragi Ace went to the front soon after the start and opened up a big lead, but appeared to weaken approaching the final turn and faced several challengers early in the straight.
He rallied strongly in the closing stages, however, and won by one and a half lengths from Bedtime, with Symboli Rudolf in third, Majesty's Prince fourth and Mr C B unplaced.