Sunday 26 March sees the running of the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the feature Sprint race of the Spring Carnival in Japan. Even though it boasts International Group 1 status, overall prizemoney of over 202 million yen (approx. US$1,760,000), and prizemoney for the winner of 95 million yen (approx. US$830,000), it has failed to attract any foreign participants in 2006. However the race promises to be an interesting betting affair, with a full field of 18 likely to line up for the 1200m dash on turf.
This race is the only Group 1 race held at the Chukyo racetrack just outside Nagoya (the 3rd biggest city in Japan). The Chukyo turf track is approximately 1600m in circumference, with the 1200m course involving a straight run of over 400m, before a long anti-clockwise turn leading into the 314m straight. The long straight run from the barrier gives every horse a chance, as evidenced by the win of Admire Max in the race last year after starting from barrier 18.
Other past winners of the race include Shinko Forest who has subsequently stood at stud in both Ireland and Australia, promising young sire Shonan Kampf, champion sprinting mare Believe, as well as other speedsters Masa Lucky, King Halo, Trot Star, and Sunningdale.There are no proven Group 1 sprinters among the nominations this year, with last year's winner Admire Max, and champion Japanese Sprinter Durandal retiring to stud at the end of last year. Rhein Kraft, the winner of the Group 1 1600m Oka Sho (the Japanese 1000 Guineas equivalent) and the Group 1 1600m NHK Mile Cup in 2005, is one of two Group 1 winners amongst the nominations, although trainer Tsutomu Sekiguchi has indicated she may be kept for the Group 2 F&M Hanshin Hinba Stakes over 1400m on the 8th April depending on how she does in trackwork during the next week. If she does run here, she will likely be favourite for the race, and if she's fit and ready for the race, she should be very hard to beat. She is untried at 1200m, but she has a tendency to overrace, so the shorter distance may actually suit. She races on the pace usually, although the likely hot pace in this race may see her sitting just behind the leaders. She has had 10 starts for 5 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds, and 9 of those races were Group races, so she would clearly be the class horse of the field if Sekiguchi elects to run here.
The other Group 1 winner in the nominations is Win Kluger. The 6yo son of former champion Miler, Taiki Shuttle, Win Kluger was a top juvenile in Japan winning 4 of his first 8 starts, the 4th win being the Group 1 1600 NHK Mile Cup in 2003. However, he never came back the same horse, having 18 starts since for just 2 placings - 3rd in both cases. He finished 10th in this race last year, and even though there are no proven Group 1 sprinters in this year's nominations, it appears that a major form reversal would be necessary for Win Kluger to figure in the placings.
If Rhein Kraft does not line up for the race, the favourite will probably be the Irish bred Symboli Gran. A 4yo son of Grand Lodge, Symboli Gran took 8 races to finally break his maiden status, but since being switched back to sprinting distances, he has emerged as one Japan's top up and coming sprinters. He has 4 wins, 1 second and 2 thirds from 7 starts under 1400m (excluding his 2yo season) with his biggest win coming in the Group 2 CBC Sho over 1200m at Chukyo (the same course as this Takamatsunomiya Kinen last December. He handles any conditions, and although he was beaten last start in the lead-up for this - the Group 3 Ocean Stakes at Nakayama racecourse in Tokyo, it was a very impressive run as he missed the start before flying home to beaten just over a length into 3rd, carrying the top weight of 58kgs. He usually races just behind the leaders, so if he leaves the barriers with the field this time, he should be very hard to beat.
Another 4yo colt that is sure to be popular with Japanese racing fans, is the son of El Condor Pasa - I'll Love Again. Although yet to win a Group race, he was very unlucky when finishing 3rd in the Group 3 Crystal Cup for 3yos over 1200m in March 2005, and then finished 3rd (beaten less than 2 lengths) in the 2005 Group 1 NHK Mile Cup behind Rhein Kraft. This preparation he has been aimed at this race, and although he is yet to win in 2006, he has finished 3rd, 3rd and 4th in his 3 starts - all over 1200m.
Below is a summary of the form of all other horses nominated for the race:
Orewa Matteruze: A son of the mighty Sunday Silence. All of his 25 starts have been over 1400m or more, but this year he has been aimed at this race. He has 3 placings from 5 Group starts, and he usually races on the pace, so the Chukyo course should suit - even though he hasn't raced there since his race debut back in May 2003.
Kanetsu Tenby: A 7yo mare who saves her best for this course. She has had 38 starts since debuting back in 2002, from which she has recorded 6 wins. In her past 2 starts, she has tackled group company, with a very nice 2nd behind favoured runner Symboli Gran in the Group 2 CBC Sho last December over this course. She has 2 wins and a 2nd from 4 starts at Chukyo, and the other run was on a wet track, which she does not handle at all.
Gallant Arrow: A Group 2 and Group 3 winner who was also placed behind Durandal in the Group 1 Mile Championship over 1600m in 2003. The likely leader of the race, and if left alone will prove hard to run down. Any rain would help his chances.
Keenland Swan: A two time Group 3 winner who turned down an invitation for the Golden Shaheen Sprint in Dubai to run in this race. Finished 2nd in this race behind Admire Max last year and 5th in the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes won by Silent Witness later in the year. One of the few proven Group 1 performed sprinters in the race so must be given a chance even though his form from his 3 starts since the Sprinters Stakes reads 17th, 12th and 11th.
Copano Fujin: A 4yo son of Hennessy who has found it hard to break through for a Group win switching between turf and dirt races. Races on the pace and has been holding well recently, finishing in the top 4 in each of his last 6 starts - the last three of which have been Group 3 races. Should be thereabouts.
Golden Cast: Winner of the penultimate leg of the Global Sprinting Challenge in 2005 - the Group 3 Centaur Stakes. Has struggled since, but has been one of the most consistent group performed sprinters in Japan over the past few years. Would be hard to beat if he produced his best form.
She is Tosho: Smashed the track record for this course in May last year when carving out a time of 1:06.7, leading all the way. Won a Group 3 sprint the start after but since then has struggled to regain that form. Would probably start favourite here if in form, as she does like the track and is a very fast mare, but has proven in the past to be very hard to catch.
Tamamo Hot Play: A Group 2 and Group 3 winner who has a very big finish. Does not seem to perform on rain affected tracks, but if the track is good, then should not be far away. Finished 7th in this race last year, and 9th in his only other start at Chukyo, but both times was not beaten by very much. If the pace is on, he should be closing very hard at the finish.
Tosho Gear: A 6yo having his 22nd start, but this will be his first race on turf. Usually races on the pace in dirt races, but impossible to tell whether he will be able to keep up on turf. Any rain would help his chances.
Nike Ahead: Has started at huge odds in his past 4 starts and has been out of the placings at each occasion. Has not been beaten by far in some of those events, but he is still yet to finish in the placings in 5 group races, so even a place would surprise here.
Native Heart: Formerly a very good juvenile who stunned Japanese fans when winning the lead-up to this race when victorious in the Group 3 Ocean Stakes at Nakayama last start, at odds of 140/1. Now an 8yo, that win was his first in 3 years, but if he reproduces that effort here he could go close. Has a good finish, so a fast pace would help.
Precise Machine: An interesting nomination, as the horse has never started on a turf race over less than 1600m. Does have 2 wins from 2 starts at the Chukyo racecourse (in the 2003 and 2004 Group 3 Chunichi Shinbun Hai over 1800m), and will have some support with the former NAR jockey Yasunari Iwata booked to ride. Is first up from a 6 month spell, and only raced twice last year, so very hard to know what to expect, but on ability he definitely has some kind of chance.
Blue Shotgun: Last start winner of the Group 3 Hankyu Hai over 1400m at the Hanshin racecourse in Osaka. Has won 7 of his 47 starts - 4 wins over 1200m and 3 over 1400m, but very hard to know what to expect. At his best would give this a shake, but its been 2 1/2 years since he last recorded consecutive placings.
Meiner Albion: A 4yo son of former champion Japanese Sprinter - Meiner Love. Has 4 wins from 16 starts, but only one 2nd from 4 Group starts. Sits midfield, and seems to finish off his races best when there is not much speed on. Has never raced at Chukyo before, but his racing style should be suited.
Maruka Kiseki: One of the top sprinters in Japan in 2005 - including a very good 4th in the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes behind Silent Witness. However, while starting as one of the favourites each of his last 3 starts, he has disappointed with 2 fifths and a seventh. Will probably be kept safe by the Japanese racing fans in this race as well, and is good enough to win, but it would be easier to be confident if he had shown a little more this preparation.
Limitless Bid: A 7yo son of Sunday Silence who burst onto the scene earlier this year with successive Group wins over 1200m then 1400m - both on dirt. Was placed on turf over this course in the 2004 Group 2 CBC Sho which is definitely a good guide. Last start failed over 1600m on the dirt, but is obviously in good form this year and a forward showing is likely.
Wonder Seattle: Has finished worse than 10th in each of his 6 starts over the past 18 months, has never finished in the first ten in a group race, and will start at huge odds here. Even a placing would be a huge surprise.
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