Japan Horse Racing Tips-Umanity.jp|TENNO SHO(SPRING)(G1) is held this weekend

Overwhelming favorite Oju Chosan renewed Karasi’s 2005-2007 record and claimed his fourth back-to-back Nakayama Grand Jump victory. This marks his 11th consecutive graded steeplechase win, and sixth J-G1 triumph which include two Nakayama Daishogai titles. Following his 2018 Nakayama Grand Jump victory, the son of Stay Gold was briefly switched to flat racing where he marked two wins out of three starts and finished ninth in the year-end Arima Kinen. Sent back to challenge the jumps, he kicked off this season in good form immediately claiming the Hanshin Spring Jump win. Oju Chosan has given trainer Shoichiro Wada all of his six J-G1 titles and jockey Shinichi Ishigami, who grabbed an additional one in the Nakayama Daishogai with Nihonpiro Baron last year, now celebrates his seventh.

The eleven-horse field broke evenly before Miyaji Taiga took the lead after the first jump (obstacle no. 5), followed by Meiner Prompt in second and Oju Chosan in third. Challenged by Nihonpiro Baron from the outside coming out of the first dip, Oju Chosan swiftly advanced to threaten the leader before the brush fence (no. 6) but settled in second and eventually behind Nihonpiro Baron in third at the sixth jump (no.5). As the three climbed out of the dip together and cleared the seventh jump (grand hedge no.7) side by side, Miyaji Taiga once again paved the way but was caught in the backstretch and was through while Oju Chosan approached the 11th jump (no.9) next to Thinking Dancer in front of the others. The heavy favorite saved ground rounding the final turn and held off the challenge from the eventual runner-up to secure his fourth title by a good 2-1/2-length margin.

“The pressure from the other runners during the run was enormous—this was definitely the toughest race I’ve ever experienced. Besides one, we cleared all of the jumps well and he stretched to the line beautifully. I had no doubts about his strength and it’s a real joy to win four in a row,” commented Shinichi Ishigami after the ceremony.

Thinking Dancer was settled in around sixth and mid-pack most of the journey, made headway after the 10th jump (no.8) and caught up with the eventual winner at the 11th obstacle (no.9). Although the sixth-pick chestnut was no match against the defending champion despite a good challenge up to the final jump (no.10), Thinking Dancer showed good stayer talent clearing the wire seven lengths ahead of the next finisher.

Fourth favorite Meiner Prompt tracked the leaders in second, then fourth near the pace and dropped back a bit after the seventh jump (no.7). However, after clearing the final jump in fifth, the seven-year-old gelding emerged with another gear and overtook two tiring runners down the stretch for third.

Other Horses:
4th: (6) Rapid Ship—traveled around 8th, gradually advanced after 7th jump (no.7), responded well after final jump (no.10)
5th: (10) Taisei Dream—settled in 5th, made headway to close in on leaders after 10th jump (no.8), weakened after final jump (no.10)
6th: (1) Nihonpiro Baron—raced behind Oju Chosan, advanced to 2nd after 5th jump (no.6), gradually fell back after 7th jump (no.7)
7th: (8) Le Pere Noel—raced around 8th, unable to reach contention
8th: (2) Miyaji Taiga—set pace, faded after 10th jump (no.8)
9th: (11) Yamanin Sylphe—sat 3rd form rear, no factor
FF: (7) Toa Tsukihikari—trailed in rear throughout, unseated rider after final jump (no.10)
FF: (9) Shigeru Boss Zaru—ran 2nd from rear throughout, unseated rider after final jump (no.10)

After a thrilling Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) last weekend saw another exciting filly in Gran Alegria carry off the honors, attention this coming week focuses on the 3-year-old colts, when they will battle it out at Nakayama Racecourse near Tokyo, in the 79th running of the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas). It represents the start of a long and arduous road of the Triple Crown races, a tough enough assignment that has only seen seven Triple Crown winners in Japanese racing history. The last horse to accomplish the feat was Orfevre in 2011.

This year 19 colts have been nominated for the race, which is run over 2,000 meters of the inner turf course at Nakayama. With the start in the homestraight, runners must negotiate four corners throughout their run, making it a hard task and leaving very little room for error. Some of the step races leading into this year’s Satsuki Sho have included the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, run over course and distance last December, the Grade 3 Kyodo News Service Hai, run over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in February, and the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho, run over 2,000 meters at Nakayama in March. The latter is an official Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) trial.

First favorites have been faring quite poorly, in similar fashion to favorites in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), and just two have won the first colts’ Classic in the last 10 years. The last one to do so was Logotype in 2013. Record time for the race is 1 minute, 57.8 seconds, set by Al Ain in 2017. Horses trained at the Ritto Training Center in the west of Japan have won the race six times in the past decade, winning twice more than horses trained at the Miho Training Center, closer to Tokyo.

It’ll be a big weekend at Nakayama Racecourse, with the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1) being run on the Saturday, followed by the Satsuki Sho on the Sunday. The latter will be Race 11 on the card, with a post time of 15:40 local time. Final declarations and barrier draw will come out later this week.

Here’s a look at some of the colts expected to be in the lineup:

Saturnalia: The well-bred colt is a half-brother to 2014 Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia and is out of dual Oaks winner Cesario. He remains unbeaten in three career starts and will be having his first run this year after having won the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at the end of last year over the course and distance of the Satsuki Sho. Assistant trainer Yasuyuki Tsujino said: “He showed both mental and physical strength last time when winning the Hopeful Stakes. After that he had a break at Northern Farm Shigaraki and came back to the stable on March 13. His work since has been good and we have enough time to get him just right for the race.”

Admire Mars: The Best 2-Year-Old Colt of 2018 lost his unbeaten record in his one race this year, when he finished second to Danon Kingly in the Grade 3 Kyodo News Service Hai over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in February. His big race rider will be Mirco Demuro, who’s partnered him in all his races so far. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said, “In the Kyodo News Service Hai, he was out in front, and I thought he might be able to sustain things to the end, but the pace was a bit slow and the winner was just able to find a bit more at the finish. He’s had a break at the farm, but we now have this race in mind for him.”

Danon Kingly: The Deep Impact colt is unbeaten in three starts, and jockey Keita Tosaki will be hoping he can give him another win in the race, having won last year on Epoca d’Oro. Danon Kingly has one win at Nakayama, and that was over 1,600 meters last December. Trainer Kiyoshi Hagiwara said: “After his last race he went to Northern Farm Tenei for a break and came back to the stable on March 22. On March 27, he worked on the woodchip course with his race jockey, and everything was confirmed as being fine with him.”

Velox: The colt has had a couple of easy wins so far this year, the latest in the Wakaba Stakes over 2,000 meters at Hanshin in March. Jockey Yuga Kawada has struck up a good partnership with the horse, who is by Just a Way, a winner of the Dubai Turf in 2014. Assistant trainer Teruhiko Saruhashi commented: “It was a good win last time in the Wakaba Stakes and he’s come out of that race well. There’s no tiredness about him and things are as usual.”

Satono Lux: Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee has already won one Grade 1 race this year with Al Ain in the Osaka Hai. The colt is by Deep Impact and was bred at Northern Farm, and he has the distinction of being the highest priced horse sold at the 2017 Select Sale. He’s coming off a win in the Listed Sumire Stakes over 2,200meters at Hanshin in February. The trainer stated, “After his second win he was quite tired, so we had to miss the Kisaragi Sho. After completely recovering, we took in the Sumire Stakes, and he’s recovered quickly after winning that race.”

Meisho Tengen: Another Deep Impact colt, Meisho Tengen managed to improve on his fifth place in the Grade 3 Kisaragi Sho over 1,800 meters at Kyoto in February to go on and win the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho over 2,000 meters at Nakayama on heavy ground. He’s trained by Kaneo Ikezoe. “He won well last time, despite the heavy ground, and I was worried about that, given his run in the Kisaragi Sho. So I can take a lot from his last run and he’s been his usual self since,” the trainer said.
Emeral Fight: Winner of his last two races, including the official Guineas trial, the Grade 2 Fuji TV Sho Spring Stakes most recently, the colt by Kurofune would seem suited to the Nakayama track. His closing speed last time just saw him grab a narrow win. Trainer Ikuo Aizawa said, “He got into a good position last time in the Spring Stakes and then went on to run a strong race. Since then we’ve been able to work him in the usual way, and we just keep things light with him for the time being.”

Japan-trained Kluger, a 7-year-old by King Kamehameha, finished fourth in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile held at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

In a 20-horse field, the Tomokazu Takano-trained horse made a late charge in the final furlong but was not enough to catch the top three finishers. Carrying a moderate 53kg with Tommy Berry, Kluger finished 2.7 lengths off of the winner, Brutal, a 3-year-old colt running under 49.5kg. Dreamforce finished a length behind Brutal, with Hugh Bowman's Hartnell rounding out the Top 3.

"He missed the start but used advantage of the inside draw," Takano said of his horse. "He couldn't really get into the flow of the race, but I'm satisfied with his actions in the final stretch - he ran his heart out."

"I was able to get good position after the start," Berry said. "The pace picked up before the final straight and it took him about 100 meters to get going. But he showed great speed in the last 200, 250 meters and I'm thankful for his efforts."

It’s the first Classic of the year in Japan this coming Sunday (April 7), and the race will be run at Hanshin Racecourse as usual, following hot on the heels of the Grade 1 Osaka Hai last weekend. The 79th running of the race for 3-year-old fillies is run over a mile on the outer turf course at Hanshin, and such is the competition for a start in the line-up, 28 nominations have been put forward for a maximum 18 runner field. The fillies are all set to carry 55kg.

The race became a Grade 1 back in 1984, and became a top level international race in 2010. Some big name winners in recent memory have included Buena Vista (2009), Apapane (2010), Gentildonna (2012), and Harp Star (2014). The latter was the last first favorite to enter the winner’s enclosure, as the principal market leader has only won the race three times in the last decade. It’s incredible to think now that last year’s winner, Almond Eye, went off the second favorite when she set a new record for the Oka Sho, winning the race in 1 minute 33.1 seconds.

Some of the step races leading into this year’s fillies’ Classic have been the Listed Anemone Stakes over 1,600 meters at Nakayama, the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Fillies’ Revue over 1,400 meters at Hanshin, and the Grade 2 Tulip Sho over 1,600 meters also at Hanshin, and all of these races were run in March. The Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) is invariably run on firm ground, and the best filly on Sunday will be awarded the ¥105 million winner’s check. The big race will be race 11 on the card at Hanshin on Sunday, with a post time in Japan of 15:40. Final declarations and the barrier draw will be available later this week.
Here’s a look at some of the fillies expected to be attracting attention:

Danon Fantasy: The Best 2-Year-Old Filly of 2018 got this year’s campaign off to a good start when she won the Grade 2 Tulip Sho over the same Hanshin course and distance in March, and the Deep Impact filly is now four wins from five starts. Trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, Danon Fantasy will be looking to give the trainer just his third Grade 1 success. Assistant trainer Teruhiko Saruhashi commented: “In the Tulip Sho she got into a good early position and was able to settle well. She had to be switched to the outside on the run for home, but accelerated well to go on and win. It was a good result to go into the big race next.”

Gran Alegria: Hailing from the stable of trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, who won the race in 2004 with Dance in the Mood, Gran Alegria will be making her first appearance of 2019 in the Oka Sho. She boldly took on the colts at the end of last year in the Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, where she started favorite, but had to settle for third. Assistant trainer Masaru Oehara said, “In her last race, the winner took us by surprise, and she did hang a bit in the homestraight. The result was unfortunate. Since then she’s had a break at Northern Farm Tenei, but has returned to the stable, and after settling in again she seems her usual self.”

Chrono Genesis: The filly by Bago has only been beaten once in four starts, and that was when she had to settle for second in the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies over the same course and distance at the end of last year, just being beaten by Danon Fantasy. In her only run this year, she just prevailed in the Grade 3 Daily Hai Queen Cup over 1,600 meters at Tokyo in February. Trainer Takashi Saito said, “It was a slow pace in the Queen Cup last time, but she was patient and able to hold off the other challengers at the finish. We could take a lot from that race. She’s since had a break at Northern Farm Shigaraki and returned to the stable at Ritto on March 14th.” Jockey Yuichi Kitamura just missed out with Danon Smash recently in the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, but rode a great race last Sunday to notch his first Grade 1 in the Osaka Hai on Al Ain, and he’ll be hoping his good fortune continues.

Beach Samba: Racing in the Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co. Ltd. colors, the Kurofune filly has always been there or thereabouts in her four starts to date. She was a close third in last year’s Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, and she was just beaten last time by Chrono Genesis in the Grade 3 Daily Hai Queen Cup. The dark bay filly is trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, who recently said, “In the Queen Cup, a horse next to her in the gate was quite agitated, so she didn’t make the best of starts and it made her timing throughout the race a bit off. Having said that, she flashed home with the fastest closing sectional time, and just lost out by a neck. So things should be fine as we look to her next race.”

Aqua Mirabilis: The filly by Victoire Pisa is two wins from just three starts, and comes into the race having won the Listed Elfin Stakes over 1,600 meters at Kyoto in February. She will likely be the big race ride of Mirco Demuro. Trainer Keiji Yoshimura commented: “Last time in the Elfin Stakes she produced a good run from the bottom of the hill, with her being saved for a steady run through the field from that point. It was firm ground despite the rain, and her final three furlong time of 33.3 seconds was quite impressive.”

Shigeru Pink Dia: The Daiwa Major filly has also only had three starts, and managed to get within a length of Danon Fantasy last time in the Grade 2 Tulip Sho. That was her only start this year, and in her 2-year-old career, she finished third in her debut race and then notched her first win last November. “She started slower than I would have hoped in the Tulip Sho, and then hung to the right later in the race. Despite these points, she still showed a good turn of foot to finish well. She’s had no problems since that run,” said trainer Kunihiko Watanabe.

No One: With plenty of races already behind her (six in total), No One has won her last two races, the most recent being the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Fillies’ Revue over 1,400 meters at Hanshin in March, where she actually dead-heated for first place. She’s by Heart’s Cry and is trained by Kazuhide Sasada. “She’s run pretty well since her debut, but early on there was still some looseness about her, but that seems to have gone now, and she ran well to win a big race last time. There was no damage after that race, and she’s training as usual,” said the trainer recently.

One other filly that deserves mention is Schon Glanz. Giving trainer Kazuo Fujisawa a strong hand in the race, the filly finished fifth to Danon Fantasy last time in the Grade 2 Tulip Sho over the same Hanshin course and distance. She has two career wins to her name, and jockey Yutaka Take will be looking to win the race for an incredible sixth time with the Deep Impact filly.