Centaur Stakes (G2) - Preview

The Centaur Stakes may be a Grade 2 race, but it is far from secondary in terms of significance.

It marks the start of the second half of the eight-race Global Sprint Challenge; it is the fifth and final leg of the Japan Racing Association's Summer Sprint Series; and it kicks off another exciting season of Japanese autumn racing lined up with international races galore.

The Centaur Stakes, named after the half-man, half-horse Greek myth character, was set up in 1987 as a Grade 3 competition at Hanshin Racecourse over 1,400 meters before being adjusted to the current distance of 1,200 meters in 2000. It received international status in 2005 along with the launch of the Global Sprint Challenge, and was upgraded to Grade 2 in 2006, becoming more and more essential to the JRA's fall fixtures over the years.

The Centaur Stakes has been able to accept up to eight overseas entries since 2007, when Japan earned promotion as a Part I nation. No foreign horses, nevertheless, will be taking part in the race this Sunday afternoon after the four selectees - Inxile, Regal Parade and Tax Free all trained by David Nicholls, as well as 3-year-old filly Serious Attitude - all withdrew.

The Hanshin course, renovated just three years ago, remains mostly flat apart from the final 800 meters. It dips over the next 600 meters before a steep rise of 50 meters leading to the finish line. Unlike the old Hanshin track which was much tighter and partial to some wild results, the new course is widely viewed as a more fair ground for racing, but requiring more stamina to go along with the pace.

The following are the early favorites for the 23rd Centaur Stakes. Post time is at 3:35 p.m.:

Sleepless Night SLEEPLESS NIGHT: The more prominent of Kojiro Hashiguchi's two 5-year-old mares the trainer is entering in the Centaur Stakes, Sleepless Night will be racing for the first time since the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen on March 29 when she finished second to Laurel Guerreiro half a length behind. Last year, the daughter of Kurofune won five straight en route to capturing the Sprinters Stakes and had Hashiguchi eyeing Dubai this spring. That plan was scrapped after Sleepless Night broke out with a rash before her trip, but the horse reiterated her class in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen - her first race in six months. She has won nine and placed twice in 11 starts at 1,200 meters on turf and dirt, and has proven that she does not rust during layoffs. It's between Sleepless Night and Laurel Guerreiro for the prestige of race favorite.

Laurel Guerreiro LAUREL GUERREIRO: Trainer Mitsugu Kon's 5-year-old became a Grade 1 champion at last in the spring, going wire-to-wire to hold off Sleepless Night to win the 1,200-meter Takamatsunomiya Kinen. Laurel Guerreiro took a shot at the Yasuda Kinen in his next race, but slumped to 15th out of 18, once again showing that he is better suited for the sprint competitions and not the mile. The King Halo son has had enough work over the summer, and should be race ready on Sunday during opening weekend at Hanshin where he can expect a fast track - just the way Laurel Guerreiro likes it. The only visible disadvantage is that he will be running with 59 kilograms, which could be tough on a horse who prefers to be on the lead. Veteran rider Shinji Fujita, though, must have a plan in getting the fall campaign off to a good start for his mount.

Kanoya Zakura KANOYA ZAKURA: If history is at all relevant to a race's outcome, then Kanoya Zakura must like her chances in the Centaur Stakes. Kojiro Hashiguchi's other mare in the field has raced here the last two years, taking second in 2007 as a 3-year-old and winning it in 2008. Last year's victory also made Kanoya Zakura - a daughter of legendary Japanese sprinter Sakura Bakushin O - the winner of the Summer Sprint Series and could very well defend the title this weekend; she is tied for first on 14 points with Grand Prix Angel, who will not run in the Centaur Stakes. Sandalphon, who will run in the race, is third on 10 points. Jockey Futoshi Komaki has a knack for stealing the show, and it would not be the least bit surprising if he did just that with Kanoya Zakura, upstaging the two Grade 1 winners in the field.

Sandalphon SANDALPHON: Another offspring by Sakura Bakushi O, the 6-year-old's stock has risen after a strong summer highlighted by a win in the Grade 3, TV Nishinippon Corp. Sho Kitakyushu Kinen on Aug. 16, beating a group which included fellow Centaur Stakes entries Kanoya Zakura, Cosmo Bell and Maruka Phoenix. Sandalphon weighed in at a hulking 542 kilograms in the Kitakyushu Kinen as he won his first graded race, which will make him the heaviest horse in the Centaur Stakes' field of 16. The Mikio Matsunaga-trained horse will be partnered for the first time by big-race jockey Hirofumi Shii, which says a lot about the faith and confidence the trainer has in Sandalphon. If he can overcome the 57 kilograms on him, Sandalphon could be laughing all the way to the bank with the winnner's check of 60 million yen.

Soldier's Song SOLDIER'S SONG: Trainer Ippo Sameshima's 7-year-old has darkhorse written all over him. Soldier's Song is by legendary sire Sunday Silence, and took third in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, trailing only Sleepless Night and Laurel Guerreiro. Soldier's Song will be ridden on Sunday by Katsumi Ando, arguably the best there is in the game alongside Yutaka Take. He is not the quickest out of the gates, but will have plenty of time to recover on the long Hanshin stretch to perhaps hit the wire first for his first graded victory.

Suzuka Causeway SUZUKA CAUSEWAY: By Giant's Causeway, the Mitsuru Hashida-trained horse had been a model of consistency until the Yasuda Kinen where he finished 12th among 18. In the nine races leading up to the Yasuda Kinen - including the 1,400-meter, Grade 2 Keio Hai Spring Cup which he won - Suzuka Causeway had not come in under fourth, and there's no reason to believe the 5-year-old will not go back to his steady ways. Former partner Yutaka Take once said he was "Reasier to ride than a bicycle," which should make it all the more easier for current rider Hiroki Goto to steer him toward contention.

Ultima Thule ULTIMA THULE: She has missed a year-and-a-half of her career due to injury, but it looks like the Shadai Race Horse-owned 5-year-old is finally ready for takeoff. The daughter of Fuji Kiseki is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Ibis Summer Dash in sloppy conditions, just her second graded test in a nine-race career including five wins. Trainer Masashi Okuhira has Grade 1 hopes for Ultima Thule somewhere down the roa, and it would not be shocking for her to take that first step toward greatness.