Hopeful Stakes (G1) - Preview

Gendarme

 

Time Flyer

Lucas

Jun Valerot

Flatley

Sans Rival

There’s just one more present to be opened before the year ends, and with a great Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) something to be witnessed at Nakayama Racecourse last Sunday, the now Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes will bring the curtain down on the year’s racing in Japan, when it will be run, also at Nakayama, on Thursday, Dec. 28. The 34th running of the Hopeful Stakes will be the second newly promoted to Grade 1 status race this year, after the Osaka Hai in the spring. The race for 2-year-olds is over 2,000 meters on the turf course, and after the mile races (Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes) held earlier this month, the race gives other youngsters the chance to run over the longer distance, with an eye on next year’s Classics no doubt being thought of for some who will go to post on Thursday.

The race was formerly known as the Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai Stakes, but has had its current name since 2014, the year it also switched venues to Nakayama. The race has attracted 18 nominations for a maximum field of 18, and there are two fillies among the nominations. Recent big name winners of the race include Epiphaneia in 2012 (2014 Japan Cup winner), One and Only in 2013 (2014 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner), and Rey de Oro in 2016 (this year’s Tokyo Yushun winner). Rey de Oro also set the race record time last year, since the race has been held at Nakayama, winning in a time of 2 minutes, 1.3 seconds.

Lead up races to this year’s Hopeful Stakes have included the Grade 3 Kyoto Nisai Stakes run over 2,000 meters in November, Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes run over 1,600 meters at Kyoto in November, and Fuyo Stakes, run over 2,000 meters at Nakayama in September. Total prize money runs to approximately 152 million yen, with 70 million yen going to the winner. With a Young Jockeys Series of races also being held on the same day, the Hopeful Stakes will be Race 11 on the card at Nakayama, with a post time of 15:30 local time.

While a couple of big names (Wagnerian and Go for the Summit) are keeping their powder dry until races next year, here’s a look at some of the expected top picks for this year’s Hopeful Stakes:

Gendarme: The American bred Gendarme is an exciting prospect, having won both his starts so far, although they have been over 1,600 meters. He’s by Kitten’s Joy out of Believe, the latter a two-time Grade 1 winner in Japan, claiming the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and the Sprinters Stakes. He’s raced well forward in his runs and is coming off a win in the Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes over 1,600 meters. Jockey Yutaka Take will likely team up with trainer Yasutoshi Ikee here, and the trainer commented on Gendarme recently: “He’s come out of his last race well, and is developing nicely.  He’s a thin horse, but looks more muscular now.”

Time Flyer: Running in the Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. colors, Time Flyer is a big hope for trainer Kunihide Matsuda. The Heart’s Cry colt is two wins and two seconds from four career starts, and just got pipped at the post last time in the Grade 3 Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nisai Stakes over 2,000 meters, his first race at the distance. He’s been working solo recently on the woodchip course, with his big race jockey Christian Demuro. The trainer said, “He ran well last time and got into a good position early. On the run to the line, he just didn’t have enough, but it was a great run overall.”

Lucas: A full brother to 2015 JRA Horse of the Year, Maurice, on that fact alone, big things will be expected from Lucas. He won on his debut at Sapporo over 1,800 meters in August, and then finished second to Wagnerian in the Grade 3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in November. Running in the Silk Racing Co. Ltd., colors, Lucas has the great backing of trainer Noriyuki Hori – also the trainer for Maurice – and jockey Mirco Demuro. The jockey reported him to be “relaxed and in good shape” in recent training.

Jun Valerot: The colt by New Approach has only had two races to date, but has defeated his opposition away both times in 2,000 meter races, getting to the front and never looking back or looking threatened by his opponents. Both runs were at Kyoto, and the latest was a 3/4 length win in the Kigiku Sho in November. He’s something trainer Yasuo Tomomichi is really looking forward to.

Flatley: Bred at Northern Farm, the Heart’s Cry colt is one win from two starts, winning on his debut over 1,800 meters at Sapporo in August, and then finishing fifth most recently over 1,800 meters on a heavy track in the Ivy Stakes at Tokyo in October. Jockey Christophe Lemaire has partnered the colt both times and looks set for the ride again here. The jockey has a real soft spot for Heart’s Cry, the horse that gave him his first Grade 1 victory in Japan, and is more than happy to get aboard the stallion’s offspring. In what has been an incredible year, Lemaire will be looking for his fifth Grade 1 in Japan this year and his 15th top level JRA win overall. Of Flatley, trainer Kazuo Fujisawa said: “I think he can be forgiven last time as a young horse tackling the soft ground.”