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Seven-Year-Old Gendarme Captures First G1 Victory in This Year’s Sprinters Stakes

Eighth favorite Gendarme displayed a skillful run to capture his first G1 title and registered a mother-and-son Sprinters Stakes victory—his dam Believe is the 2002 Sprinters Stakes victor. The son of Kitten’s Joy won his first two career starts including the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, 1,600m) and marked a runner-up effort in his first G1 attempt in the Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000m) during his two-year-old season. Unsuccessful in the spring classics as a three-year-old, he focused on mile-distance races from autumn that year then switched to sprint from his five-year-old fall season in 2020. He claimed his second graded title in this year’s Ocean Stakes (G3, 1,200m) in March but finished 11th in the following Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) and was 17th in his previous start, the Kitakyushu Kinen (G3, 1,200m) on August 21. Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee marked his 21st JRA-G1 title following his win in the 2019 Osaka Hai with Al Ain and jockey Kiwamu Ogino registered his second grade-race victory and first G1 title in his seventh season as a jockey.

Quick out of the gate, Gendarme surged out to the front but eased back to third as T M Spada and First Force rallied to set the pace. Following the leaders in good striking position, the seven-year-old dark bay closed ground rounding the corners, pinned the leaders entering the stretch and ran strongly while managing to hold off a powerful challenge by Win Marvel by a neck.

“We had a good gate and were able to race smoothly as he handled the break smoothly, which was a challenge for him. The horse responded well in the stretch and I think he was able to show his strength. I was aware of the closing horses behind us but I just concentrated on letting the horse do his best. I’m really happy that I was able to win my first G1 title and I’m grateful for Gendarm,” commented Kiwamu Ogino.

Easing back to eighth after a good break, seventh pick Win Marvel found little room at the top of the stretch but threaded through horses and chased Gendarm in the last 200 meters with the third fastest late speed to cross the wire in second, while holding off the rest of the field by 3/4 length.

Unhurried in 13th, fifth choice and Takamatsunomiya Kinen victor Naran Huleg was unable to find a clear path in early stretch and switched to the outside at the furlong pole. The chestnut quickened with the fastest drive over the last three furlongs but failed to threaten the top two finishers to finish third.

Breaking from a wide draw, race favorite Meikei Yell advanced to fourth in the backstretch and traveled wide around the corners but failed to respond in the stretch to finish 14th.

Other Horses:
4th: (4) Diatonic—traveled around 5th, ran willingly inside Win Marvel, tired in last 100m and missed third-place seat before wire
5th: (9) Namura Clair—ran around 7th, turned wide to lane, showed brief response until 100m out
6th: (5) Eighteen Girl—hugged rails around 10th, ran gamely on inner stretch, weakened in last 100m
7th: (11) Travesura—settled around 11th, met traffic at 200m pole then showed brief effort
8th: (16) Maria's Heart—broke sharply, eased back to 2nd from rear, circled wide, passed tired rivals
9th: (15) Schnell Meister—raced 3-wide around 11th, met traffic 200m out, lost momentum
10th: (8) First Force—tracked leader after rallying for lead, gradually fell back at stretch
11th: (12) Vento Voce—sat 3-wide around 8th, showed little at stretch
12th: (3) Meisho Mimosa—saved ground around 5th, angled out for stretch run, weakened in last 200m
13th: (10) Taisei Vision—traveled around 13th, unable to reach contention
15th: (1) T M Spada—broke poorly but advanced to lead, sustained lead until early stretch, faded
16th: (14) Loving Answer—was off slow, trailed in rear, no factor

THE 56TH SPRINTERS STAKES (G1)
3-year-olds & up, 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs), turf, right-handed
Sunday, October 2, 2022      Nakayama Racecourse         11th Race         Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 368,200,000 (about US$ 3,202,000 <US$1=¥115>)
3-y-o: 55kg (about 121 lbs), 4-y-o & up: 57kg (about 126 lbs),
2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares, 1kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2019
Course Record: 1:06.7         Race Record: 1:06.7 [Lord Kanaloa (JPN, by King Kamehameha), 2012]
Safety factor: 16 runners      Going: Good to Firm            Weather: Fine

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 14,987,320,300       Turnover for the Day: ¥ 24,610,904,500       Attendance: 22,920

Winner= 29 starts: 7 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds / Added money: ¥ 173,360,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 415,512,000

* Sprinters Stakes (G1)

The Sprinters Stakes, initially established in 1967 as a major 1,200-meter sprint race for three-year-old and up, was designated as a spring G3 event in conjunction with the new grading system implemented in 1984. It was then upgraded to G2 in 1987 before becoming a G1 sprint race in 1990 with the date of fixture also shifted to the latter part of the season. The race now positions itself as the highest mark for sprinters together with the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) held in spring.
One of the first few JRA races to open its doors to foreign entries, the Sprinters Stakes has enjoyed the participation of many outstanding sprinters from North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Hong Kong raiders have taken home the title twice so far—Silent Witness (AUS, by El Moxie) was the first foreign contender to win the title in 2005 along with Ultra Fantasy (AUS, by Encosta De Lago) in 2010—while Australia’s Takeover Target (AUS, by Celtic Swing) won the 2006 version.
Last year’s top two finishers, Pixie Knight (JPN, C4, by Maurice) and Resistencia (JPN, M5, by Daiwa Major), in that order, withdrew from the race due to injuries but are expected to come back to racing, the former next year and the latter in November.
This year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen victor Naran Huleg kicked off his autumn campaign in this race and aimed for his second G1 title, along with another G1 winner (2021 NHK Mile Cup) Schnell Meister.
The winners of the “Summer Sprint Series” races who entered in this sprint G1 event included: Namura Clair (Hakodate Sprint Stakes [G3, 1,200m, Jun.12]); T M Spada (CBC Sho [G3, 1,200m, Jul.3]); Vento Voce (Keeneland Cup [G3, 1,200m, Aug.28]); and Meikei Yell (Centaur Stakes [G2, 1,200m, Sep.11]. Also among the lineup were Taisei Vision, runner-up of the CBC Sho and the Kitakyushu Kinen (G3, 1,200m, Aug.21), and Win Marvel, winner of the Aoi Stakes (G3, 1,200m) in May who came off a second in the Keeneland Cup.