Current leader of the series is Takeover Target (AUS, 7g, by Celtic Swing) with 33 points while Les Arcs (USA, 6g, by Arch) follows in second with 11 points. Japanese raider, She Is Tosho is tied for third place with 10 points. Other foreign contenders running in the race include Benbaun (IRE, 5g, by Stravinsky) tied for 8th with 5 points and last year's Sprinters Stakes winner Silent Witness (AUS, 7g, by El Moxie). All four contestants who have proven to meet top international standards will be a challenge for the Japanese sprinters among which I have picked up a few that could be considered to have a good chance for this year's title.
She Is Tosho (JPN, 6m, by Sakura Bakushin O, rating: 112 S) landed her fifth grade-race victory in her last start, the Centaur Stakes (JPN-GII) in grand style, traveling from behind the pace setters then exerting a good kick after the last turn that allowed her to overtake her rivals that included GSC series leader, Takeover Target, then further widen her margin to three-lengths. Although she has always run well at Chukyo Racecourse, her starts at Nakayama have not yet marked favorable results in the past. Her chances in the coming race will depend on whether she is able to perform up to the same standard as she did in her last start.
Orewa Matteruze (JPN, 6h, by Sunday Silence, rating: 114 S-M) was sent to post favorite in the Yasuda Kinen (GI, 1,600m) this spring, after two consecutive grade-race victories in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (JPN GI, 1,200m) and the Keio Hai Spring Cup (GII, 1,400m), but finished a disappointing 10th. He has not raced since the mile race, but has been kept in training. If he is up to his form, obviously, he should have a good chance to win the race.
Symboli Escape (JPN, 5h, by Sakura Bakushin O, rating: 100 M) is one of the recent up-and-coming sprinters, who have come off an impressive victory in his previous start against open company. His sire, Sakura Bakushin O, is a two-time title holder of the Sprinters Stakes during 1993-1994 and has produced many outstanding sprinters.
Venus Line (JPN, 5m, by Fuji Kiseki, rating: 104 S), who exhibited an impressive kick in the stretch to mark her first grade-race win in the Hakodadate Sprint Stakes (JPN-GIII, 1,200m) and Cheerful Smile (JPN, 6m, by Sunday Silence, rating: 103 S) who won the Keeneland Cup (JPN-GIII,. 1,200m) have both beaten She Is Tosho in their respective victories and are worth looking out for in the coming race.
Lastly, one of the most promising of the three-year-old generation in the race
would be Suteki Shinsukekun (USA, 3c by Danzig, rating 106 M) who
won wire-to-wire in his last start in the Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap (JPN-GIII,
1,600m)—it was his second grade-race victory after the Arlington Cup (JPN-GIII,
1,600m) in February this year. A Danzig colt possessing outstanding speed, Suteki
Shinsukekun is a still growing three-year-old that can handle distances
between 1,200m to a mile.
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