Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (G1) - Preview

Fan Dii Na

Cadenas

Suave Richard

Rey de Oro

Satono Ares

Win Bright

America's Cup

It's a big weekend coming up next at Nakayama Racecourse, just outside Tokyo, when the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1) will take place on Saturday, April 15, followed by the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), on Sunday, April 16. It will be the 77th running of the colts' Classic, and some of Japan's greatest thoroughbreds have left their mark on the race. The roll call of horses to win the race includes Saint Lite (1941), Shinzan (1963), Symboli Rudolf (1984), and in the modern era, Deep Impact (2005) and Orfevre (2011), all horses that went on to win the Triple Crown.

The race is run over 2,000 meters on the inner turf track of the course, starting in front of the stands and comprising of just over a circuit of the track. There have been 19 nominations for this year's race, and one of them is the eye-catching filly, Fan Dii Na, bidding to become the first filly to win the race since Hide Hikari in 1948. Twenty three Satsuki Sho winners have gone on to win the Derby, the last to do so was Duramente in 2015. The total purse for the race is ¥216 million, with ¥100 million going to the winner. First favorites have only won twice in the last 10 years, and last year's winner, Dee Majesty, sent off eighth in the betting, kept another favorite out of the winner's enclosure. He also set a new record time for the race, winning in 1 minute, 57.9 seconds.

Lead up races to the Satsuki Sho have included three big races in March, namely the Grade 3 Flower Cup, Grade 2 Fuji TV Sho Spring Stakes, and Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho, the latter proving the most successful when runners come from this race and then take on the Satsuki Sho.

The final field for Sunday's big race, and the draw, will be available later in the week, but in the meantime, here's a look at some of the top names expected to feature in the Satsuki Sho, which will be Race 11 on the card on April 16, with a post time of 15:40 local time:

Fan Dii Na: By far the most fascinating runner to be nominated, the filly by Deep Impact is unbeaten in three starts, and what's more is coming off a five-length victory in the Grade 3 Flower Cup over 1,800 meters at Nakayama in March. She recently worked on the hill on April 5 at Ritto Training Center, putting in a four furlong time of 54.1 seconds, with three furlongs in 39.1 seconds, and a final furlong time of 12.4 seconds. Jockey Yasunari Iwata thinks she's “certainly a match for the colts,” while trainer Tomokazu Takano commented:  “She's eating well and there's no problem with the way she's coming on. It'll be the second time to transport her to Nakayama, and keeping her calm will be the main thing. She's up against colts this time, and she's still immature, so it won't be easy.”

Cadenas: This colt, also by Deep Impact, has an impressive record to date, always finishing in the top two from five starts so far. His latest win was in the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho over 2,000 meters at Nakayama last month, and he was sent off favorite for that race.  Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga has ridden him the last three times, and is expected to ride him again this Sunday, while trainer Kazuya Nakatake is seeking just his second Grade 1, having won the 2009 NHK Mile with Jo Cappuccino. An assistant trainer for Nakatake said, “Looking at his last win, we're able to look ahead to the Satsuki Sho. He's recovered well from that last race, and so that's been a help. He's eating well, so everything's fine up to now.”

Suave Richard: The Northern Farm bred colt was an expensive purchase at the 2014 select sale, but his \59 million prize money tally so far has gone some way to repay his connections.  He's two wins and two seconds from four starts, and in his only race this year he ran out a 2-1/2 length winner of the Grade 3 Kyodo News Service Hai over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in February. Jockey Hirofumi Shii has ridden him in all his races and is lined up for the ride again. Trainer Yasushi Shono commented: “He showed he could race last time when winning.  He's come back from the farm in top condition and seems to have developed. We've transported him long distance a couple of times now, and it's not a problem.” The trainer is looking for his first Grade 1 title.

Rey de Oro: Rey de Oro has won all three of his starts so far, and they've all been over 2,000 meters, including the Grade 2 Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama last December, the last time he ran. The King Kamehameha colt is one of two entries for trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, looking to avenge Soul Stirring's defeat last week in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas). Rey de Oro's latest work at Miho Training Center saw him put in a four furlong time of 52.7 seconds, three furlongs at 38.6 seconds, and a final furlong time of 12.9 seconds. Assistant trainer Daisuke Tsumagari said, “It's taken time for him to recover from his Hopeful Stakes run, but we wanted to give him that time. Now on his return to the Miho Training Center, he's been working well uphill and on the woodchip course, and has filled out quite a bit.”

Satono Ares: The other runner from the Fujisawa stable, Satono Ares was last year's champion 2-year-old colt. He won the Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes last December over a mile at Hanshin, and is three wins and two seconds from a six race career to date. He has never raced beyond 1,800 meters, but being by Deep Impact, it shouldn't be a problem.  Tsumagari commented: “His timing was off a little in his last race, and he had trouble finding his rhythm. He's a horse with power, and he needs to just use what he has to run his best race.”

Win Bright: The grey colt by Stay Gold has won his last two races, both at Nakayama, the latest being the Grade 2 Fuji TV Sho Spring Stakes over 1,800 meters. He generally races midfield, before producing the goods at the finish. Bred at Cosmo View Farm, his big race jockey will be Masami Matsuoka. He is trained by Yoshihiro Hatakeyama, who recently said, “He's by Stay Gold, so he can be a bit unruly, like he was in the paddock last time. He still ran a good race though, and I was pleased with what he did to win. I think he's improved from that and will prove versatile enough from now.” The trainer is another looking for just his second Grade 1, after winning the NHK Mile in 2013 with Meiner Ho O.

America's Cup: By Manhattan Cafe, America's Cup has four runs and has won three times, including his latest race, the Grade 3 Kisaragi Sho over 1,800 meters at Kyoto in February. It will be his first time at Nakayama, and also his first run over 2,000 meters. His trainer, Hidetaka Otonashi, is enjoying a good year so far, and commented: “He's put on about 10kgs, but I think come the race, he'll be about the same weight as he was for his last race. He should be able to run in a similar way to last time, although with a full field, he'll need to find his rhythm.”