Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) - Preview

Red Falx

Let's Go Donki

Melagrana

Shuji

Solveig

Talking Drum (left)

Seiun Kosei

The year’s first Grade I race over turf - the Takamatsunomiya Kinen -- is hosted by Nagoya’s Chukyo Racecourse this coming Sunday, March 26.

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen, a race first designed in 1971 by Prince Takamatsu and run under the name the Takamatsunomiya Hai, received its current name in 1998, was designated an international race in 2001, and saw its first two foreign-based participants two years later. The current version of the race, which includes the latest renovations to the Chukyo course, dates to 2012.
Long a fan favorite, with its fast pace and stars such as Lord Kanaloa, Curren Chan and Kinshasa no Kiseki, this year sees no strong standout and no foreign-based horses in the lineup either. Last year’s Best Sprinter Mikki Isle, runnerup in last year’s Takamatsunomiya, has been retired. Two certain top picks were knocked out of action in the leadup to the race. Dance Director suffered a break on Feb. 23. Two days later connections of Big Arthur announced that the 2016 record-setting champion was also not running in the Takamatsunomiya due to injury. With no one horse in the 1,200-meter sprint considered a shoo-in step in and headline, the mood is mixed, the outcome forecast murky. Though many fans may feel tempted to pass on a wager, they could miss out on a fat return by doing so.

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen, which is also the third leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, is the 11th race on the Sunday card of 12 at Chukyo. Just a little over a minute from the 3:40 p.m. post time, one horse will rake in 98 million yen of the total purse of over 212 million yen.

Last year, Big Arthur rewrote the record book with a winning time of 1 minute, 6.7 seconds.

Here’s a look at some of the likely top picks.

Red Falx - The 6-year-old gray by the American-bred Swept Overboard surprised last autumn in capturing the Sprinters Stakes and his first top-level win. He had preceded that with a string of dirt races, moved to the turf and won the G3 CBC Sho before claiming the Sprinters. His next hurdle, however, an overseas trip, proved a bit too high with a resulting 12-place finish in the Dec. 11 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Now back for his first run since Hong Kong, Red Falx has had success over the Chukyo turf and boasts a perfect three for three, with two of those races over 1,200, one a furlong longer. “I thought he would give us a solid run in the Hong Kong Sprint,” says trainer Tomohito Ozeki, “but he mustn’t have been fully recovered from the Sprinters Stakes.”
“Since then, we haven’t overworked him and we’re going straight in to this race. On March 16, I gave him a long workout and his movement was good. He’s had a nice bit of time off and his recovery has gone well. He is very well suited to Chukyo and I’m looking forward to the race.”

Let’s Go Donki - Eighth in last year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the 5-year-old daughter of King Kamehameha has recently given her best performances since at the G3 level, including a win last time out in the 1,400-meter Kyoto Himba Stakes. That victory was her first since the 2015 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), and unlike in that race, where she went wire to wire, she won the Kyoto Himba traveling from midfield with a nice display of late speed on a somewhat slow track. Though Let’s Go Donki’s best results over 6 furlongs are two third-place finishes, the Chukyo course, with a hill in his stretch, is suited to the racing style she displayed in the Kyoto Himba Stakes.

Melagrana - The Australian-bred Melagrana, a 5-year-old mare by the Australian champion sprinter Fastnet Rock, scooped two races in a row and jumped from an open-class win to an impressive first in the G3 Yukan Fuji Sho Ocean Stakes last time out on March 4 at Nakayama. Following that race, jockey Keita Tosaki said, “Riding her again after three months, I feel she has matured even more from her previous race. She’s a clever horse and I think she can handle any kind of race.” Though her last two wins came at Nakayama, Melagrana has fared well at Chukyo as well, with one win over the distance from her two starts at the venue.

Shuji - Fourth in last year’s Sprinters Stakes, Shuji returned to win the G2 Hanshin Cup amid strong competition, then last time out ran eighth in the G3 Hankyu Hai. That loss was attributed to his being overly agitated. Having less time between races this time, things are expected to go better. A 4-year-old son of two-time Takamatsunomiya winner Kinshasa no Kiseki, Shuji’s best performance at the top level was the Sprinters’ fourth, but a G1 victory is believed to be well within this colt’s reach. “He was agitated for the Hankyu Hai after a layoff,” says trainer Naosuke Sugai. “And he was pressured on his outside and tense during the race. But that should have given him a chance to let off steam and we’ve taken care to watch his mental state since then. He had poor results in the (Chunichi Sports Sho) Falcon Stakes at Chukyo last year but that was over 1,400 meters and on a sloppy surface. He has a fourth place in the Sprinters and ample ability.”

Solveig - Even as a 3-year-old last year, the Daiwa Major-sired Solveig turned in a fine third-place performance in the Sprinters Stakes. Last time out in the Silk Road Stakes, she took the lead for the first time and was pressed from start to finish. She battled gallantly but was overtaken in the stretch. She needn’t lead, however, and a more relaxed run would likely stand her well. The venue this time, in closer proximity to where Solveig is based at the stable of Ippo Sameshima, should also prove an advantage over the long hauls of her three starts before last. 

Talking Drum - Last time out, Talking Drum won his first graded stakes race, the G3 Hankyu Hai, on his second start after reaching open-class competition. He has put on muscle and was able to travel up the inside in a style first for him. Though it’ll be his first 6-furlonger in a while, if he can get an economical ground-saving run, he has a chance. “I worked him in tandem on March 16 and pushed him hard. He looks to have maintained his condition. This year, with no big star, I have my hopes up and think he’s up for the challenge,” said trainer Makoto Saito.