PDF(156kb)

Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1) - Oju Chosan Lands Unprecedented Fourth Consecutive J-G1 victory in Record Time

Oju Chosan accomplished an unprecedented four consecutive J-G1 victories after a spectacular performance against archrival Up to Date who contributed in the winner’s race-record triumph that shortened the previous record set by Symboli Montreux in 1991 by 1.1 seconds with a fine runner-up performance. The victory was also the eighth consecutive grade-race win, another record for the son of Stay Gold, while T.M. Opera O accomplished the same on the flat in 2000. Despite sustaining a chip fracture in his right pastern following his previous J-G1 victory in April in the Nakayama Grand Jump, the six-year-old immediately returned to form with an overwhelming victory in his comeback start in the Tokyo High-Jump in October. Both trainer Shoichiro Wada and jockey Shinichi Ishigami claimed their fourth J-G1 title, all with Oju Chosan. Shinichi Ishigami also secured his second consecutive champion jump jockey title with the win.

The 2017 Nakayama Daishogai broke off to an exciting start with 2015 Best Steeplechase Horse Up to Date taking control approaching the second obstacle with Suzuka Presto and Crans Montana following a few lengths back and odds-on favorite Oju Chosan tracking the leaders in around fourth position while Le Pere Noel bided his time further behind in mid-division.

Up to Date continued to sprint away to a gaping lead that exceeded ten lengths approaching the 160-cm brush (fence no.6) and while Oju Chosan seized the chance to advance to second position as the field made the first change of hands to the left, Up to Date cruised over the obstacles solo with plenty of margin between him and the rest of the field.

Oju Chosan kept his eyes on the leader while Up to Date tried to maintain his advantage in preparation for the stretch run but while the gray son of Kurofune went on at a record breaking pace, the reigning champion steeplechaser edged closer with just one obstacle to go and was within a few lengths behind the leader entering the stretch. The two was in a fierce duel for the 2017 title but it was Oju Chosan who finally caught the grey fighter in the final strides and finished 1/2 length in front and in record 4:36.1 over the 4,100-meter course.

“We didn’t have a very smooth start but I was determined to pin down the leader in the end and I can only thank my horse to make it happen”, commented Ishigami. Trainer Shoichiro Wada added “The runner-up is a well-respected G1 winner and it means a lot to us to have won against him. Oju Chosan’s 2018 season will be much the same as it was this year, beginning with the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m; Mar.10) and then to the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,250m; Apr.14). Our next goal will be to aim for a third Nakayama Grand Jump title which Karasi has accomplished”.

Le Pere Noel, who came up with a late charge from racing mid-field through most of the trip, finished third while no match and more than ten lengths behind the first two.

Other Horses:
4th: (4) Thinking Dancer―settled around 9th, gradually advanced, showed belated charge at stretch
5th: (8) Sanrei Duke―raced around 8th, passed tired rivals at stretch, unable to match leaders
6th: (5) T M Opera Don―sat in 7th, entered 3rd or 4th to stretch, failed to respond at stretch
7th: (13) Meiner Fiesta―traveled in 6th, advanced to 4th, lacked needed kick after final jump (fence no.5)
8th: (14) Crans Montana―chased leaders in 3rd, unable to keep up with leaders after 7th jump (fence no.7)
9th: (3) Suzuka Presto―led to start then in 2nd, gradually fell back after 6th jump (fence no.5)
10th: (9) Miyaji Taiga―raced in 5th, made headway to 3rd, weakened at stretch
11th: (10) Yuki Viva Wonder―rated in around 8th, dropped back to 2nd from rear, passed tired rivals at stretch
12th: (1) Win Yard―traveled 2nd from rear, unable to reach contention
13th: (2) Biko Pililani―ran around 11th, failed to threaten
14th: (11) Samurai Fountain―raced 3rd from rear, no factor
15th: (12) Classic Mark―trailed in rear throughout

THE 140TH Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1)
3-year-old & up, 4,100 meters (about 2.56 miles), turf
Saturday, December 23, 2017   Nakayama Racecourse     10th Race      Post time: 14:45
Total prize money: ¥ 142,660,000 (about US$ 1,240,522 <US$1=¥115>)
3-y-o: 61kg (about 135 lbs), 4-y-o & up: 63kg (about 139 lbs), 2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares
Safety factor: 16 runners

FP=Final Position / BK=Bracket Number / PP=Post Position / Wgt=Weight / FF=Fail to Finish / DS=Distance

1. 1.Oju Chosan (JPN), bay, horse, 6-year-old
   Stay Gold / Shadow Silhouette (Symboli Kris S)

   Owner: Chosan Co., Ltd.	Breeder: Naoyoshi Nagayama
   Trainer: Shoichiro Wada	Jockey: Shinichi Ishigami
   21 Starts, 11 Wins (19 Starts, 11 Wins *steeplechases only)
   Added money: ¥ 66,525,000	Career earnings: ¥ 466,653,000 (¥ 466,653,000 *steeplechases only)
   Principal Race Performances:	'17&'16 Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,250m)	1st
   	'16 Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m)	1st
   	'17&'16 Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, 3,110m)	1st
   	'17 Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m)	1st
   	'16 Tokyo Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,110m)	1st

   
   
2. 2.Up to Date (JPN), gray, horse, 7-year-old
   Kurofune / Linear Muse (Tony Bin)

   Owner: Koji Maeda	Breeder: North Hills Co,. Ltd.
   Trainer: Shozo Sasaki	Jockey: Mitsuaki Hayashi

   
   
3. 3.Le Pere Noel, dark bay or brown, horse, 7-year-old
   Admire Moon / Santa Mama (Lear Fan)

   Owner: K. Hidaka Breeders Union	Breeder: Daiten Farm
   Trainer: Hideaki Fujiwara	Jockey: Jun Takada

* Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1)
The history of the Nakayama Daishogai dates back to 1934 when the biggest jump race in Japan was established in the aim of providing equal excitement to the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), which was the most popular race in flat racing. The highest level of steeplechase racing was originally held as a biannual event held in April and December until the spring version was renamed the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,250m) in 1999. Still, the two jump races continued to position itself as the only two obstacle races of J-G1 level of equal standard and its results serving as a decisive factor in the selection of the seasonal JRA Award for Best Steeplechase Horse. In addition to the Nakayama Grand Jump, which was designated an international race in 2000, the Nakayama Daishogai became an international steeplechase event open to foreign contenders in 2011.
The Nakayama Daishogai features 11 jumps over the figure-of-eight-shaped course which includes six up-and-downs over the banks. The first half resembles that of the Nakayama Grand Jump while the Nakayama Daishogai does not include the movable hurdles along the outside turf track and the total distance being 150 meters shorter. The 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.
Last year's winner Oju Chosan successfully defended his Nakayama Grand Jump title this year, becoming only the second horse after Australia's Karasi (IRE, by Kahyasi) who claimed three Nakayama Grand Jump titles between 2005 and 2007 to win three J-G1 titles in a row. The 2016 Best Steeplechase Horse had come off his latest win in the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, 3,110m; Oct.15) while extending his winning streak to seven.
This year's Nakayama Grand Jump runner-up Sanrei Duke and third-place finisher Up to Date came off seventh in the Tokyo High-Jump and a win in the Hanshin Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,140m; Sep.16), respectively. Le Pere Noel, who finished third in last year's Nakayama Daishogai, was second in the Hanshin Jump Stakes. Other notable runners were the Kyoto Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,170m; Nov.11) champion Meiner Fiesta and third-place Suzuka Presto, the Tokyo Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,110m; Jun.24) and the Shuyo Jump Stakes (3,110m; Nov.18) victor Thinking Dancer, and the Illumination Jump Stakes (3,570m; Dec.2) runner-up Miyaji Taiga.