Star Sprinters Clash At Nakayama As Top-Level Racing Resumes In Japan

[Wandering Eyes]

A 16-strong field loaded with two past winners of the G1 Sprinters Stakes will vie for the 1200-metre feature at Nakayama on Sunday.

Seventh in the 2024 edition to Lugal (Duramente) with Namura Clair (Mikki Isle) third, Satono Reve ran third in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint last December. After defeating Namura Clair in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March, he was a good second to Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize a month later. In action during Royal Ascot, the Lord Kanaloa entire ran second to Lazzat (Territories) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. Sunday is his first start back and he leaves from stall seven.

Said trainer Noriyuki Hori, “His two seconds in his recent overseas races were disappointing, but they were both very solid performances. The horse has a lot more experience now and has developed considerably as a racehorse. I don't think he's not suited to the Nakayama 1200 meters. I think he's capable of getting good results and proving that he is suited to the race.”

Since taking the 2023 Sprinters Stakes, Kurofune mare Mama Cocha has enjoyed mixed fortunes. This term she has fared better, winning the G3 Ocean Stakes in March over this course and distance. Third in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen later that month, she has rolled a pair of twos–in the G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup to Toshin Macau (Big Arthur) and to Kangchenjunga (Big Arthur) in September's G2 Shankei Sho Centaur Stakes, respectively.

Adding an extra dash of intrigue is Hong Kong raider Lucky Sweynesse (Sweynesse). In his pomp when the champion four-year-old and champion sprinter on the island in 2023, the four-time Group 1 winner appears to be rounding back into form. A winner of the G2 Sprint Cup over this trip in April of 2024, he was sixth and fourth, respectively, in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize and the G3 Sha Tin Vase in the spring. The current racing season is less than a month old, and he ran an encouraging second in a Class 1 handicap on opening day.

Ka Pilina (Dunkirk) enters after defeating June Blair (American Pharoah) in the 1200-metre G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes in June in a record 1:06.60, while Puro Magic (Asia Express) won the G3 Ibis Summer Dash over 1000 metres in August.

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