Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1) - Preview

2010 Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1)

This weekend, which usually marks the beginning of summer racing following the spring's final G1 Takarazuka Kinen, sees yet one more top-level race before the break till autumn – the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1). Moved from its initially scheduled April 16 spot due to Japan's disastrous earthquake and tsunami, the 13th running of the jump race will be held at Nakayama on Saturday, July 2.

Usually a popular race with foreign-based runners, this year sees an entirely Japanese lineup for the second year in a row. Initially, four horses from abroad -- Art Success and Al Garhood from Australia, Majestic Concorde from Ireland and Fair Along from Great Britain -- had been expected to make the trip, but were withdrawn.

The Nakayama Grand Jump, the richest steeplechase in the world with a first-place prize of 70 million yen, is Japan's longest race at 4,250 meters (4,260 meters in 2011).

The absence of foreign-based runners this year and last is unusual in the race's 13-year-old history. The Nakayama Grand Jump, in its usual April spot has been a popular race for horses from abroad, who often pair it with the Pegasus Jump Stakes held the month previous.

The Nakayama Grand Jump, which opened its doors to overseas runners in 2000, actually dates back to 1934. Begun by the Nakayama Racing Club as the Daishogai Tokubetsu, it was first held over 4,100 meters in December 1934, then run twice a year from 1935. Named the Nakayama Daishogai from 1948, it was given its current name and G1 status in 1999. The autumn version (now held in December) is still called the Nakayama Daishogai.

The foreign-based runners have enjoyed success in the Grand Jump. The Irish-bred Boca Boca from France just failed to capture Japan's Gokai by 3/4 lengths in the race's inaugural year as an international event. The New Zealand-bred Rand, who was undefeated in all five of his starts over fences in New Zealand, won the Pegasus Stakes at Nakayama and was sent off the favorite for the 2001 Nakayama Grand Jump. Rand fell over the frontrunner during the race but regained his jockey and finished gamely in seventh place, as Gokai captured his second consecutive title.

Nakayama Racecourse

In 2002, St. Steven, also a New Zealand-bred, became the first foreign-based jumper to claim the Grand Jump title, after coming off a sixth-place finish in the Pegasus Jump. From 2005, the Eric Musgrove-trained, Irish-bred Karasi from Australia dominated the Grand Jump, capturing titles for three straight years after coming off third, second and third places, respectively, in each of the previous starts of the Pegasus Stakes.

For those at the windows wishing to take a hint from past races, winners from the past decade, except for last year, have all came from the top five choices for that year, with 13 of the runnerups and third-place horses also having emerged from the top 5. Last year's winner came as somewhat of a surprise, when eighth pick Merci Mont Saint took honors and first place.

Whether a horse ran in the Pegasus Jump Stakes has also proven a good indicator of success in the Grand Jump. Fifteen of the top three finishers over the past 11 years, including the six winning horses, have participated in the prep race. Though no horse in that period has won both the Pegasus and the Grand Jump in the same year, five of the Pegasus winners in the past 10 years have finished in the top three slots of the Grand Jump.

The Nakayama Grand Jump record (4,250 meters) is held by Japan's Blandices, who set a time of 4 minutes, 47.0 seconds in 2004.

In its early years, the race included obstacles that dwarfed those of other races of its time. It originally featured brick walls 1.4 meters high and 2.2 meters wide, brush fences 1.6 meters high, and hedges 1.5 meters high and 2.7 meters wide, all of which were considerably bigger than those seen today. There were 10 jumps, with six up-and-downs over banks. The distance was subsequently altered a number of times over the years, until it was returned to 4,100 meters in 1972 and then altered again to 4,250 meters in 2001.

Today, the race features 12 jumps over nine obstacles with a total 5 up-and-downs over banks. The biggest challenge includes a brush fence (obstacle 5), which measures 1.6 meters in height and 2.4 meters in width, and a hedge (obstacle 7) 1.6 meters high and 2.4 meters wide. The last three jumps are hurdle jumps set up on the outside turf coming into the final furlongs.

The volume and height of obstacles was also reduced to prevent serious accidents due to increasing speed, but the race is still the most challenging steeplechase race in Japan requiring a great deal of speed as well as jumping abilities and stamina.

This year, 14 horses have been registered for the race, which allows a maximum of 16 participants. Standouts as likely top picks on Saturday include:

Merci A Time MERCI A TIME: Merci A Time, who failed to finish in last year's Nakayama Grand Jump, is back as a 9-year-old this year, making him the most senior of the 14 horses registered for the race. He has had a lean year following a second in the 2009 Nakayama Daishogai in December. Not unusual in his 39-race career, the Chief Bearhart son has been run alternately over the flat and over jumps. Following the 2010 Nakayama Grand Jump in April 2010, Merci A Time returned to the track in the fall with a flat race as prep for the Nakayama Daishogai, in which he placed 5th. He was given another flat race his last time out, on March 19, in preparation for what was expected to be the soon-to-follow Nakayama Grand Jump. When the race was postponed, he was given time off, then returned to training in mid May. Despite not having his usual flat-race prep this year, his connections are hoping the veteran's experience can land him a good showing. Merci A Time won the Nakayama Daishogai in 2007, then went on to second in the race the next three years. Merci A Time took on the Nakayama Grand Jump from 2006 for three years straight, showing consistency with a fourth, third and second. He sat the race out in 2009, only to come back but fail to finish last year. His career starts of 39 have brought him six wins, six seconds and three thirds.

Open Garden OPEN GARDEN: Second in last year's race, following a seventh-place finish in the Pegasus Stakes, Open Garden returned to the track after over a year off with a winning appearance in the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2), run this year on March 21 at Hanshin. To the gate the ninth choice in the Hanshin Spring Jump, Open Garden surprised with a show of power and stability. Running from back of midfield for the race's first half, he gradually moved up to point himself within reach of the finish line. Open Garden is the 7-year-old son of Gokai, winner of the Grand Jump in 2000 and 2001 and runnerup in 2002. Open Garden, currently three for 28 with three seconds and four thirds, could spell, with a win of the Nakayama Grand Jump, the first father-son winning pair in the race's history.

T M Toppazure T M TOPPAZURE: An 8-year-old by flat-race champion T.M.Opera O, T M Toppazure has three jump-graded-race wins to his name, two of them coming in 2009. He has failed to notch a win since the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2) in October 2009, but is still running consistently. Sixth in last year's Nakayama Grand Jump, he most recently took on the Kyoto High- Jump (J-G2) and finished eighth. That followed a second in the Hanshin Spring Jump. His connections say he has been training with an eye to capturing the big race and has come along well. Familiar with the course and the distance, the main concern will be if T M Toppazure can settle and find his rhythm for a good showing on Saturday.

Meiner Neos MEINER NEOS: This 8-year-old son of Stay Gold has been in fine form since early last year and has done especially well in his last four outings paired with Daichi Shibata. He will be taking on the Nakayama Grand Jump for the first time, his third G1 overall. His recent form, however, has shown he has what it takes to garner that first big win. His eight races of 2010 saw him pocket one of them, and make the board (including one second and two thirds) in all but two others. He is coming off a win of a 3,200-meter open-class race but took third in the December Nakayama Daishogai. Meiner Neos has shown considerable maturity in recent races and an ability to quicken from any position. He has also shown a strong sense of presence, a trait especially important in jump races. Meiner Neos has had seven wins, seven seconds and fifth thirds in 42 races.

Dear Majesty DEAR MAJESTY: A 5-year-old by Brian's Time, Dear Majesty did a turnaround by winning his last two years. These came on a losing streak of seven races since last August and may indicate that in making the move to jump races, Dear Majesty has found his niche. Granted, the leap from a jump maiden to an open to a G1 is huge, but he will definitely be a horse to watch.

Suzuka Spencer, Nadleeh, Plateado, Takara Boss, and T M Buyuden are also be ones to watch for a surprise come Saturday. Post time is 3:40 p.m.