Sanacion

Sanacion: Everything points to a big run for this 7-year-old who has six wins from seven starts in steeplechases. He led all the way to win the J-G2 Hanshin Spring Jump over 3,900 meters in March, and finished third in last year’s J-G1 Nakayama Daishogai.  The first two home that day, Up to Date and Acorn Path, will not contest the Nakayama Grand Jump, seemingly making it easier for Sanacion. Regular jockey Makoto Nishitani will be in the saddle, and he knows what it’s like to win the race, kicking home Maruka Rascal to win in 2008. An assistant for trainer Mikio Matsunaga said, “We’ve just got him at the right pitch with his training hopefully. The key to his development is such that he doesn’t have to run an extreme race. Something similar to his previous race at Nakayama would be good, and if everything goes right, he must have a good chance.”  Sanacion runs in the Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. colours, and is looking to add to his 190 million yen prize money to date.

Wanted: A 6-year-old by Tanino Gimlet, Wanted is trained by Kunihide Matsuda, and has three wins, one second and three thirds from 19 starts in steeplechases. He finished eighth in last December’s J-G1 Nakayama Daishogai, and then 10th in the Pegasus Jump Stakes. The trainer said, “He lost a shoe in the Nakayama Daishogai and had some fetlock joint problems, and was ridden in his latest race three months later with some care. He’s a horse with a track record at Nakayama, and I believe he can match the others with the improvement he’s showing.”

Oju Chosan: This 5-year-old by Stay Gold had two starts in turf races before being sent out in his career as a hurdler. He finished last of 14 in his first steeplechase, but after that things started to look up. Since then, his record stands at three wins, two seconds and a third from 10 steeplechase starts. His only race this year saw him finish second in an open class race at Nakayama in March over 3,200 meters. Trainer Shoichiro Wada commented, “In his last race, the winner had a bit of a weight advantage and that didn’t help. We took his hood off and that made him run better it seems. He’s been training well, and like in his last race, if he can run on from mid division in the race, I’m looking forward to what he might be able to do.”

Bright Boy: This 7-year-old only has four starts as a jumper. He won on his debut, then finished 10th and third, and most recently finished second in the Pegasus Jump Stakes.  He’s raced three times at Nakayama and his regular partner over the jumps is jockey Taro Kusano. An assistant for trainer Mitsuhiro Ogata said, “He’s certainly becoming better and ran well last time. His jumping has also gotten better and he’s getting up high over the fences. He has stamina too, and with what he’s been showing us, I’m really looking forward to the race.”

Wonderful World

Wonderful World: Winner of the Pegasus Jump Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths, Wonderful World was bred at Shimokobe Farm and has two wins from a five race steeplechase career so far. The 5-year-old by Taiki Shuttle will be going beyond the distance of the Pegasus Jump Stakes (3,350 meters) for the first time. An assistant staff for Yoshitada Takahashi said, “He ran on well to win in his last race and I think it’s a big thing to win at Nakayama. Of late, he’s shown a lot of ability, his racing sense has improved, and we’re looking forward to what kind of race he’ll run here.”

Meiner Fiesta: Owned by K. Thoroughbred Club Ruffian and trained by Hitoshi Nakamura, this grey 6-year-old by Symboli Kris S has had 19 starts over fences. He’s won twice, finished second on six occasions and has fallen three times. It’s hard to know what to expect from him, but having finished fifth most recently to Sanacion in the J-G2 Hanshin Spring Jump, the enigmatic grey could give them all a run for their money.