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Nishino Daisy Wins J-G1 Title in Fourth Start over Jumps in Nakayama Daishogai

Fifth favorite Nishino Daisy landed his first J-G1 title in only his fourth career start since switching to steeplechase racing. Claiming two G3 titles on the flat at 1,800 meters in the Sapporo Nisai Stakes and the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes, the Harbinger colt also finished third in the Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000m) as a two-year-old and was fifth in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) during his three-year-old campaign. However winless during three seasons at three, four and five, Nishino Daisy was switched to jump races and finished third in his debut start in May this year. He proceeded to score his first win over fences in June and was runner-up in his last start, the Shuyo Jump Stakes (Open Class, 3,110m) on November 19. Trainer Noboru Takagi has won the 2014 Sprinters Stakes (Snow Dragon) and the 2016 Champions Cup (Sound True) in flat racing but the Nakayama Daishogai is his first J-G1 title. Jockey Yusuke Igarashi won his third J-G1 title after 2013 Nakayama Daishogai and the 2014 Nakayama Grand Jump, both with Apollo Maverick.

Nishino Daisy was unhurried and reserved in mid-field off the rails, turned wide after the second fence (no.1) but soon got back into the flow. Still held back turning left after the fifth fence (no.6) and saving ground along the rails, the son of Harbinger made his move upon landing the big hedge (no.7), advanced to second then assumed command early in the backstretch from where the bay began to extend his speed to open the gap by several lengths by the last fence (no.5). Showing no sign of slowing down, Nishino Daisy romped home uncontested to cross the wire by a comfortable three-lengths margin.

“I’m really happy and I had a very good ride. His inexperience showed in parts of the race, right from the first fence, but he responded well and, with Oju Chosan in view during most of the trip, we were able to gear up really well in the last half. He’s a natural with a lot of strength and I was sure that he had the ability to face this high-quality field,” commented jockey Yusuke Igarashi.

Third pick Xenoverse broke nicely from an outside draw and moved up near the leaders soon after the first fence (no.5) to position in third or fourth. Maintaining his position for most of the trip thereafter, the son of Deep Impact found another gear upon landing the last jump (no.5) and entered the homestretch in second. However, the winner was already at a distance where Xenoverse was unable to cause any serious threat while succeeding to finish second by more than a length from the next finisher.

Sixth favorite Meiner Leone raced off the pace, second or third from the rear and gradually advanced between horses to mid-division as the field turned right after the big hedge (no.7). Turning for home around sixth position, he accelerated impressively through an opening inside to finish third.

Race favorite Oju Chosan took advantage of an inside draw to race along the rails, positioned in the front group around fourth to begin then eventually settled a little further back between fifth and seventh position, shifting to the inside to save ground as the field changed leads from right to left then right again. Falling behind to about seven lengths from the leader along the backstretch, the 11-year-old son of Stay Gold was unable to pick up enough speed to close in on the leaders once entering the homestretch to finish sixth in his final start of his career. The legendary jumper will retire with nine J-G1 victories out of 12 starts at the highest level and an overall record of 18-2-4 in 32 career starts over obstacles.

Other Horses:
4th: (6) Muscle Beach—settled in 9th early, dropped position to last after 5th jump (no.6), made headway after 8th jump (no.2), had too much ground to make up
5th: (2) Village Eagle—set pace until 7th jump (no.7), used up after 9th jump (no.3)
7th: (5) Blason d'Amour—sat in 8-9th early, last at 5th jump (no.6), passed tiring rivals thereafter
8th: (8) Ken Hovawart—advanced to 2nd after 3rd jump (no.2), took brief lead after 7th jump (no.7), weakened after 10th jump (no.4)
9th: (10) T M Chuhai—ran around 7th early, dropped back after 5th jump (no.6)
10th: (3) T M Tatsumaki—traveled around 6th early, outrun after 5th jump (no.6)
Failed to Finish: (4) Asakusa Genki—chased pace in 2nd early, gradually fell back, unseated rider at final jump (no.5)

THE 145TH NAKAYAMA DAISHOGAI (J-G1)
3-year-olds & up, 4,100 meters (about 2.56 miles), turf
Saturday, December 24, 2022      Nakayama Racecourse      10th Race       Post time: 14:45
Total prize money: ¥ 142,660,000 (about US$ 1,240,500 <US$1=¥115>)
3-y-o: 61kg (about 134-135 lbs), 4-y-o & up: 63kg (about 139 lbs), 2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares
Course Record: 4:36.1                Race Record: 4:36.1 [Oju Chosan (JPN, by Stay Gold), 2017]
Safety factor: 16 runners             Going: Good to Firm         Weather: Fine

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 2,385,561,800       Turnover for the Day: ¥ 11,866,809,900        Attendance: 27,663

Winner= 24 starts: 5 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds (4 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third *steeplechases only)
Added money: ¥ 66,385,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 207,464,000 (¥ 82,969,000 *steeplechases only)

* 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. The two jump races continue to be the only two J-G1-level obstacle races of equal standard with their results serving as decisive factors 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 is 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.
Four-time Best Steeplechase Horse and defending champion Oju Chosan won his sixth Nakayama Grand Jump title in April and aimed his 10th J-G1 victory in his final career start in this race. Xenoverse came off his first graded win in the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, 3,110m, Oct.16) in which Oju Chosan was a disappointing ninth. The Kokura Summer Jump (J-G3, 3,390m, Aug.27) winner Asakusa Genki finished second in the Illumination Jump Stakes (Open Class, 3,570m, Dec.3) with Nakayama Grand Jump fifth-place finisher Village Eagle in third. The field also included Blason d'Amour, Meiner Leone and Ken Hovawart who finished second, third and fourth, respectively, in the Nakayama Grand Jump.