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Irogotoshi Successful in Defending Nakayama Grand Jump Win

Second favorite Irogotoshi successfully defended his title in this year’s Nakayama Grand Jump and became the fourth jumper after Gokai (2000-2001), Karasi (2005-2007) and Oju Chosan (2016-2020, 2022) to win back-to-back victories in this prestigious J-G1 event. After his first victory last year, the son of Vincennes finished sixth in the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, 3,110m), after which he was given the rest of the season off, and kicked off this season on March 17 in a flat race, the Spica Stakes (3 Wins Class, 1,800m) in which he was 13th. For both trainer Kazuya Makita and jockey Yu Kuroiwa, the victory was their second J-G1 title after last year—Makita also has three grade-titles in flat racing while Kuroiwa has a total of five graded victories, all over jumps.

Irogotoshi broke smoothly, soon settled in mid-division between rivals going right-handed and advanced to around fourth position approaching the big brush fence (no.6). Maintaining good rhythm as the field switched to the left, the seven-year-old bay moved closer to the front, overtaking June Velocity after the big hedge (no.7) into third position while still more than five lengths behind the pacesetter along the backstretch. Picking up speed approaching the third corner, he was more or less uncontested after hitting the front after fence no.9 to successfully pull away to a three-length victory.

“I am thrilled to have won today. Not just for myself but because I was able to validate his win last year,” commented jockey Yu Kuroiwa.

Fifth favorite June Velocity rated in a forward position in around second or third while saving ground near the rails throughout most of the trip, gave an impressive late charge as soon as being shifted to the outside after landing fence no.10, and overtook Nishino Daisy 50 meters out for second.

Third favorite Nishino Daisy stayed close to the pace in fourth along the outside and overtook the leader after the big brush (no.7), switching to the left-handed course. Opening the gap from the rest of the field by more than sixth lengths at one point, the son of Harbinger weakened with 800 meters to go, allowing his rivals to inherit the lead with two fences to go, but continued to chase the leaders into the stretch and found another gear in the last furlong in his attempt to close in on the eventual winner. While overtaken by June Velocity in the last strides, the eight-year-old bay was well ahead of the remaining group by four lengths.

Odds on favorite Meiner Grand, who was looking into picking up his sixth consecutive win and second J-G1 title, was off slow and, although soon advancing to mid-division, was more than ten lengths behind the pacesetter for most of the way, failing to threaten throughout the race to a distant sixth.

Other Horses:
4th: (2) Ecoro Duel—sat around 5th, overtook past pacesetter before wire, never threatened top finishers
5th: (5) Village Eagle—set pace up to 5th jump (no.6), remained in contention but weakened after final jump (no.10)
7th: (12) Daishin Clover—settled near favorite, unable to reach contention
8th: (9) Giga Bakken—chased pace in 2nd early, faded after 7th jump (no.7)
9th: (11) Florstadt—ran around 6th, gradually dropped back
10th: (3) Wonder Clover—was off slow, raced 2nd from rear, no factor
FF: (6) Tamamo Wakamusha—traveled around 5th early, unseated rider soon after 3rd jump (no.2)
FF: (7) Portafoglio—trailed in rear throughout trip, pulled up before final jump (no.10)

THE 26TH NAKAYAMA GRAND JUMP (J-G1)
4-year-olds & up, 4,250 meters (about 2 and 2/3 miles), turf
Saturday, April 13, 2024     Nakayama Racecourse      11th Race         Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 142,660,000 (about US$ 1,011,773 <US$1=¥141>)
4-y-o: 62kg (about 137 lbs), 5-y-o & up: 63kg (about 139 lbs), 2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares
Course Record: 4:43.0       Race Record: 4:43.0 [Oju Chosan (JPN, by Stay Gold), 2018]
Safety factor: 16 runners    Going: Good to Firm         Weather: Fine

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 2,145,086,200    Turnover for the Day: ¥ 8,860,882,700              Attendance: 21,473

Winner= 31 starts: 6 wins, 1 second & 4 thirds (6 starts: 3 wins & 2 thirds *steeplechases only)
Added & stakes money: ¥ 66,420,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 208,495,000 (¥ 146,820,000 *steeplechases only)

* Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1)

The Nakayama Grand Jump, the biggest steeplechase event in spring, span off from the biannual Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m) steeplechase races in 1999. The history of the Nakayama Daishogai dates back to 1934 when the two races, one each in spring and autumn, were created for the purpose of making them the most prestigious and attractive races in steeplechase racing, just like the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in flat racing.
In 2000, a year after the Nakayama Grand Jump received its current name, the race became an international event. Seven foreign runners from five countries took part and Boca Boca (IRE, by Mandalus) from France finished second to Gokai (JPN, by Judge Angelucci) that year. During 2000 - 2010 when the Nakayama Grand Jump was an invitational event, St. Steven (NZ, by Hula Town) was the first foreign contingent to claim the title in 2002. He finished third the following year while Australian contender Karasi (IRE, by Kahyasi) became the first horse to win three consecutive titles between 2005 and 2007. In 2013, eighth favorite Irish raider Blackstairmountain (IRE, by Imperial Ballet) became the first European contender to claim the title.
The Nakayama Grand Jump features 12 jumps over the figure-of-eight-shaped course, which includes five up-and-downs over the banks and three hurdles set on the outside turf towards the final stretch. The 310-meter 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.
Defending champion Irogotoshi who was given a long rest following a disappointing sixth in the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, 3,110m) in October last year, kicked off this season in the flat-race Spica Stakes (3 Wins Class, 1,800m, Mar.17). Meiner Grand, the 2023 Nakayama Daishogai victor and Best Steeplechase Horse, extended his winning streak to five in his 2024 comeback, the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m, Mar.9), which he won by an overwhelming seven lengths. Also coming off the Hanshin Spring Jump were Nakayama Daishogai third-place finisher Ecoro Duel (2nd) and 2022 Nakayama Daishogai winner Nishino Daisy (4th). The field also included Daishin Clover, third-place finisher of the 2023 version of the Nakayama Grand Jump, June Velocity, two-time J-G3 winner who came off a second in the Shunrei Jump Stakes (Open Class, 3,390m, Feb.24) and Village Eagle, who came off his third consecutive Pegasus Jump Stakes (Open Class, 3,350m, Mar.16) title.