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Majesty Bio, headed for season's JRA award with Nakayama Daishogai triumph

Majesty Bio turned in another brilliant performance in his first J.G1 victory and his third grade-race title this season in Nakayama Daishogai—he is the first four-year-old colt since Maruka Rascal in 2006, to capture the title. It was also the first J.G1 title for Koshi Yamamoto who has partnered the colt since his runner-up effort in the Illumination Jump Stakes early this month while his trainer, Tsuyoshi Tanaka—four time winner of this event as a jockey—became the seventh trainer in JRA history to capture the Nakayama Daishogai title, both as a jockey and as a trainer.

Sent to post race favorite, the Opera House colt was rated well off the pace, third from last under Koshi Yamamoto, made headway approaching the brush (fence 4) and seated in fourth position behind the leaders before the last fence. While going wide into the stretch, the bay produced a terrific turn of speed for a 1/2-length victory. Third choice Dear Majesty, who had beaten Majesty Bio by nine length in the Illumination Jump Stakes, was also given a great ride by Jun Takada, advancing from fifth to third position in the first half then taking over the lead for the second circuit, before being caught by the winner in the final strides. Fourth pick Don Gracias made pace in the first half, showed effort to regain his lead briefly before the last fence and held on well for third place.

Other Horses:
4th: (3) Meiner Neos— traveled fourth from last while saving ground, headway approaching fence 4, matched leaders approaching last fence, third into final stretch, outrun by winner 200 meters out
5th: (4) Spring Ghent— pressed pace in second most of the way, unable to quicken after final turn
6th: (5) Dear MyHorse— failed to threaten leaders from traveling mid-division
7th: (6) Just Ruler— chased leaders in third in the first half, tired after last jump and faded
8th: (7) Coreles Ardan— never a factor
9th: (9) Top Montjeu— well behind throughout
10th: (1) Mejiro Clinton— advanced to fourth position from slow break, outrun early

1. Majesty Bio (JPN), bay, colt, 4-year-old
   Opera House / High Grade Bio (Hector Protector)

   Breeder: Bio Co., Ltd.	Owner: Bio K.
   Trainer: Tsuyoshi Tanaka	Jockey: Koshi Yamamoto
   22 Starts, 5 Wins (Jump races: 9 Starts, 4 wins)
   Added money: ¥ 70,350,000	Career Earnings: ¥ 188,596,000
   Principal Race Performances:	’11 Tokyo High-Jump (J.G2)	1st
   	’11 Tokyo Jump Stakes (J.G3)	1st
   	’11 Niigata Jump Stakes (J.G3)	3rd

   
   
2. Dear Majesty (JPN), dark bay or brown, horse, 5-year-old
   Brian’s Time / Reve de Grand-pa (Machiavellian)

   Breeder: Hashimoto Bokujo	Owner: Chiyono Terada
   Trainer: Mitsugu Kon	Jockey: Jun Takada

   
   
3. Don Gracias (JPN), dark bay or brown, horse, 7-year-old
   Marvelous Sunday / Yawara Bright (Commander in Chief)
   

   Breeder: Kawashima Bokujo	Owner: Koichi Yamada
   Trainer: Masami Shibata	Jockey: Shigefumi Kumazawa

* Nakayama Daishogai

The history of the NAKAYAMA DAISHOGAI dates back to 1934 when the biggest jump race in Japan was established in the aim of providing equal excitement to the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), which was the most popular race in flat racing. The highest level of steeplechase racing was originally held as a biannual event held in April and December until the spring version was renamed the Nakayama Grand Jump in 1999. Still, the two jump races continued to position itself as the only two obstacle races of J.G1 level of equal standard and its results serving as a decisive factor in the selection of the seasonal JRA award for Best Steeplechase Horse.

In addition to the Nakayama Grand Jump, which was designated an international race in 2000, the NAKAYAMA DAISHOGAI became an international steeplechase event open to foreign contenders beginning this year.

The NAKAYAMA DAISHOGAI features 11 jumps over the figure-of-eight-shaped course which includes six up-and-downs over the banks. The first half resembles that of the Nakayama Grand Jump while the NAKAYAMA DAISHOGAI does not include the movable hurdles along the outside turf track and the total distance 160 meters shorter. The uphill stretch before the wire also is quite a test for many of the runners especially after running at a solid pace throughout the race.

Last year’s winner, Bashi Ken (JPN, by Silk Justice) was named Best Steeplechase Horse of the 2010 season but was unable to return to defend his title due to a tendon injury in March this year. The lineup of this year included Meiner Neos (JPN), winner of the Nakayama Grand Jump (J.G1, 4,260m) which was postponed from April to July this year due to the earthquake in March. The eight-year-old son of Stay Gold came off a fifth-place finish in his last start, the Illumination Jump Stakes (3,570m), which was his comeback race after discovering a fracture after his J.G1 victory. Dear Majesty (JPN) was also well backed after a winning the Illumination Jump Stakes by an overwhelming nine-length margin while Majesty Bio (JPN) made his first J.G1 challenge with two grade-race victories over obstacles and proving extremely consistent in finishing within the money in seven previous starts this season. Other notable runners included Don Gracias (JPN), winner of the Kokura Summer Jump (J.G3, 3,390m) and 2009 Nakayama Grand Jump victor Spring Ghent (JPN), who came back from an extended break since his J.G1 win and just one start on the flat over 2,000 meters earlier this month.

Symboli Montreux (JPN, by Mogami) set the record when winning the 1991 NAKAYAMA DAISHOGAI in 4:37.2.