Sunday, March 30 sees the running of the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the feature sprint race of the Spring Carnival in Japan. Even though it boasts International Group 1 status, overall prize money of over 202 million yen (approx. US$1,760,000), and prize money for the winner of 95 million yen (approx. US$830,000), it has failed to attract any foreign participants again in 2008. However the race promises to once again be an interesting betting affair this year, with a full field of 18 likely to line up for the 1200m dash on turf (there are 37 nominations).
This race is the only Group 1 race held at the Chukyo racetrack just outside of 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 left-handed turn leading into the 314m straight. The long straight run from the barrier gives every horse a chance, and horses from outside barriers such as 17 and 18 are often in the finish – including 2005 victor Admire Max (barrier 18), and last year’s runnerup Peer Gynt (barrier 17).
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, Sunningdale, and Orewa Matteruze.
Last year’s winner Suzuka Phoenix (a 6yo son of Sunday Silence) lines up to defend his title on Sunday, and he is likely to be the well-supported favorite. His tendency to get back in his races worried the Japanese racing fans last year, so even though he started favorite, it was an open betting race, and he started at the odds of 4.5.However, jockey Yutaka Take settled him closer than usual, and he raced away to win easily in the end. This year, Take will not be riding as he is in Dubai to ride Vermilion and Vodka in their respective races at the Dubai World Cup meeting, and instead Yuichi Fukunaga takes the reins. After his easy win last year, he will be expected to run very well on Sunday, and as long as Fukunaga has him relatively handy in the run, he should be very hard to beat.
The biggest danger to the favorite looks to be Super Hornet. Very unlucky not to be a Grade 1 winner already, going down by a neck in two Grade 1 races in his career, Super Hornet has raced the best horses in Japan, and his class alone should have him in the finish here. This is his first 1200m race but he can be placed midfield and the stunning finishing burst that he has –if he does get back (as in Grade 2 win over 1400m 2 starts back) – should hold him in good stead here. The last two winners of this race were both having their first run over 1200m, so there is no reason why this should work against Super Hornet.
Laurel Guerreiro held off likely favorite Suzuka Phoenix last start in the Hankyu Hai (Grade 3) over 1400m. He had shown signs of being a promising horse last year in his 3yo season, but was out of form late in the year. This time he has come back in great form, leading in both of his last races and fighting on very well. His connections have always believed he is best over 1200m, but they did not make the decision to run here until finding out that last year’s Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes winner Aston Machan would not be running on Sunday. Laurel Guerreiro has been leading in his recent races, and clearly connections were concerned that Aston Machan being in the race would lead to a very fast tempo which would reduce their chances. With her out, Laurel Guerreiro may be very hard to run down.
The above three horses look the best chances in a race that does not seem to have as much depth as some of the past runnings of the race. Below is a summary of the form of other horses nominated for the race that are likely to gain a start, and be given a chance by the local racing fans:
M O Winner: A 7yo horse who has gradually improved with age. He has 34 starts, mostly over 1200m, and after some bad runs during the past year, he ran very well last start when just beaten at the Nakayama course in a top-tier lead-up race. He was not beaten very far in this race last year, and he looks one of the best rough chances in the race this year.
Fine Grain: An up-and-coming son of Fuji Kiseki who finished second at the NHK Mile Championship as a 3yo. Immediately after, he suffered a major injury and was off the scene for a long time before coming back to race. It took him a while to show anything, but brought back to 1200m his last two starts, he has won both in impressive style. This is a much tougher field than what he has been facing recently, but he was always expected to be up to Grade 1 level.
Tamamo Hot Play: Does not seem to perform on rain affected tracks, but if the track is good, he has a very big finish and should not be far away. Finished 7th in this race in 2005 and 9th in 2006, but was not beaten by much. Last year, he finished 10th, but the track was wet, so he had excuses. If the pace is on, he should be closing very hard at the finish.
Precise Machine: This horse loves this Chukyo track and has been a good sprinter - including finishing 3rd in this race last start. Now a 9yo and out of form in recent starts, he may not have that many supporters, but his recent runs have not been suitable (including dirt races and 1800m Grade 2 turf races), and back to 1200m at Chukyo racecourse, a big run would not surprise at all.
Limitless Bid: Another 9yo – this one a son of Sunday Silence who burst onto the scene two years ago with successive Grade race wins over 1200m then 1400m - both on dirt. He has no major victories on turf, but never far away on that surface and should be finishing on well at the end.
Maruka Phoenix: Demoted to 12th last start after passing the finishing line in 4th place, this horse has come through the classes in fine style. He was beaten at his first test at Grade level last start, but that was 1400m against very good horses (including Suzuka Phoenix and Laurel Guerreiro) and back to 1200m here – a distance where he has won most of his recent races - he looks a genuine place chance.
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