PDF(188kb)

Oju Chosan Proves Invincible with Sixth Nakayama Grand Jump Victory

Race favorite Oju Chosan claimed his sixth Nakayama Grand Jump title following a five-year winning streak between 2016 and 2020. At the same time, the 11-year-old son of Stay Gold renewed his own record for most J-G1 wins to nine total—he also renewed the record for career grade-race wins over obstacles at 15. Oju Chosan is the first jumper, ten years and over, to claim the title since Karasi (2005-2007) after the race was established under the Nakayama Grand Jump name in 1999. It was the first J-G1 title since the Nakayama Daishogai (Oju Chosan) for both trainer Shoichiro Wada and jockey Shinichi Ishigami. Wada has a total of nine J-G1 titles, all with Oju Chosan, while Ishigami claimed his 10th J-G1 title while reaching a milestone of 1,000 career rides over obstacles.

Oju Chosan broke smoothly from stall seven and quickly secured his usual position among the front group and within close range from Village Eagle who made the pace for most of the 4,250-meter trip. Shinichi Ishigami and his mount cruised along, looking extremely comfortable over the jumps while shifting right to left and right again to save ground, gradually moved up from fifth position to third or fourth then advanced rapidly turning for home towards the last obstacle. Landing the last fence in tandem with Blason d’Amour who had assumed command soon after previous jump, the eleven-year-old bay climbed the uphill stretch with impressive power to pull away to a 1-1/4-length victory.

“I can’t find any words to express how great he is. Last time out in the Nakayama Daishogai, we were running away from Blason d'Amour but this time was the other way around. I was confident though that we would be able to out-finish our rival,” commented Shinichi Ishigami.

Blason d’Amour was unhurried early, third from last of the nine-horse field which didn’t spread out too far and was about ten lengths from the leader to the last horse for most of the way. The son of Deep Impact moved closer to the eventual winner approaching the backstretch and was given the go after fence nine to assume command before turning for home with Oju Chosan also picking up speed and chasing him on his outside. It was a duel between the two going up the uphill stretch until the winner pulled away in the last 50 meters and Blason d’Amour had to settle for second while holding off a tremendous late charge from Meiner Leone.

Meiner Leone kept his eye of the race favorite while saving ground in around sixth or seventh and was eased further back near the rear. Picking up speed again along the backstretch, the son of Stay Gold had plenty in the tank in the last 200 meters to threaten Blason d’Amour, finishing half a length behind that foe in third.

Other Horses:
4th: (6) Ken Hovawart—sat near winner, lacked needed kick after 11th jump (no.9)
5th: (8) Village Eagle—set pace, sustained lead until final corner, weakened in stretch
6th: (4) Satono Pursuit—raced around 4th behind winner early, failed to keep up after final jump (no.10)
7th: (5) Meiner Prompt—tracked leader in 2nd early, gradually dropped back
8th: (9) Kitano Teio—ran near rear throughout, no factor
9th: (3) My Sunshine—traveled around sixth early, fell back after 7th jump (no.7), faded

THE 24TH NAKAYAMA GRAND JUMP (J-G1)
4-year-olds & up, 4,250 meters (about 2 and 2/3 miles), turf
Saturday, April 16, 2022     Nakayama Racecourse      11th Race         Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 142,660,000 (about US$ 1,240,500 <US$1=¥115>)
4-y-o: 62kg (about 137 lbs), 5-y-o & up: 63kg (about 139 lbs), 2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares
Course Record: 4:43.0       Race Record: 4:43.0 [Oju Chosan (JPN, by Stay Gold), 2018]
Safety factor: 16 runners    Going: Good                     Weather: Fine

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 1,841,840,400       Turnover for the Day: ¥ 9,129,058,500       Attendance: 7,829

Winner= 38 starts: 20 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds (30 starts: 18 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds *steeplechases only)
Added money: ¥ 66,315,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 941,377,000 (¥ 915,457,000 *steeplechases only)

* Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1)

The Nakayama Grand Jump, the biggest steeplechase event in spring, span off from the biannual Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m) steeplechase races in 1999. The history of the Nakayama Daishogai dates back to 1934 when the two races, one each in spring and autumn, were created for the purpose of making them the most prestigious and attractive races in steeplechase racing, just like the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in flat racing.
In 2000, a year after the Nakayama Grand Jump received its current name, the race became an international event. Seven foreign runners from five countries took part and Boca Boca (IRE, by Mandalus) from France finished second to Gokai (JPN, by Judge Angelucci) that year. During 2000 - 2010 when the Nakayama Grand Jump was an invitational event, St. Steven (NZ, by Hula Town) was the first foreign contingent to claim the title in 2002. He finished third the following year while Australian contender Karasi (IRE, by Kahyasi) became the first horse to win three consecutive titles between 2005 and 2007. In 2013, eighth favorite Irish raider Blackstairmountain (IRE, by Imperial Ballet) became the first European contender to claim the title.
The Nakayama Grand Jump features 12 jumps over the figure-of-eight-shaped course, which includes five up-and-downs over the banks and three hurdles set on the outside turf towards the final stretch. The 310-meter 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 victor Meisho Dassai (JPN, H9, by Suzuka Mambo) is currently sidelined from racing after sustaining a ligament injury (desmitis) to his left foreleg last fall.
2021 Nakayama Daishogai winner and Best Steeplechase Horse Oju Chosan commenced his 11-year-old season with a 1-1/2-and-neck third in the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m, Mar.12) in which Meiner Prompt, a two-time third-place finisher J-G1 events, was a distant ninth. Ken Hovawart, runner-up in both the 2020 Nakayama Daishogai and last year’s edition of this race, came off a win in the Kyoto Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,140m, Nov.13). Village Eagle registered his second career win in the Pegasus Jump Stakes (3,350m, Mar.26) with Blason d’Amour, second in last year’s Nakayama Daishogai and My Sunshine following in second and third, respectively. The field also included Meiner Leone finished fourth in the Shunrei Jump Stakes (3,390m, Feb.26), his comeback start after a long break following his victory in the Pegasus Jump Stakes last year.