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Croix du Nord Wins Third Straight in G1 Hopeful Stakes

Heavy favorite Croix du Nord won this year’s Hopeful Stakes in his bid to become the leading candidate for JRA’s Best Two-Year-Old Colt title. The brown colt has emulated 2020 Triple Crown victor Contrail in capping off his debut campaign undefeated with three consecutive wins—the Kitasan Black colt won his debut start in June over 1,800 meters and scored a graded win in the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, 1,800m) on November 16. Trainer Takashi Saito claimed his eighth JRA-G1 title, the first since the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Geraldina, and second Hopeful Stakes victory following with Killer Ability in 2021. Jockey Yuichi Kitamura scored his sixth G1 title, his last being the 2020 Arima Kinen with Chrono Genesis.

Croix du Nord broke sharply from gate 6 but allowed the early leaders to pass and settled off the rails in mid-division behind a brisk pace led by Jun Asahi Sora. Gradually making headway soon after seeing Faust Rasen quickly go by on his outside, the unbeaten colt found another gear soon after entering the stretch in third or fourth and continued to increase his speed as soon as he reached the top of the uphill stretch to win by a comfortable two-lengths margin.

“I can’t say that the race went exactly as planned, but I had complete faith in him and knew that he would make it through whatever situation he would be in during the race. It was his first time going right-handed and against a full gate of 18 runners, but I totally believed he would handle that too. His physical condition since his last start had improved and his movement was sharp. I wanted him to finish the last of his two-year-old start at a good note so that we would be able to focus on his three-year-old campaign which now will carry much expectation. I am so grateful for everyone who had supported me which is why I am standing here today as a G1 winner and I hope to give my best again next season,” commented Yuichi Kitamura.

Sixth pick Giovanni was unhurried after the break, sitting in mid-field while saving ground along the rails with the race favorite close on his outside. Keeping to the inside into the straight, the Epiphaneia colt shifted out to join the eventual winner in his stretch run for home and while unable to match the winner, showed great effort to overtake Faust Rasen for second.

17th choice Faust Rasen allowed most of his rivals go past after the break, content to sit near the rear early, but made an aggressive move along the backstretch to overtake the field reaching the pacemaker with 800 meters to go and grabbing the lead entering the stretch. Finally shaking off Jun Asahi Sora who continued to fight to regain the lead but tired after the furlong pole, the Mozu Ascot colt was quickly overtaken by the winner at 100-meter mark and then by Giovanni in the final strides to finish third.

Other Horses:
4th: (16) Tjuta—sat wide around 5th, showed effort but no match for top 3 finishers
5th: (4) Claudiai—traveled around 5th, needed more at stretch
6th: (10) Ask Stein—settled around 10th, drifted to outside at final corner, never threatened
7th: (3) Jet Magnum—tracked leader in 2nd, ran gamely until 100m out
8th: (5) Reve de l’Opera—saved ground around 13th, lacked needed kick
9th: (8) Del Avar—raced around 16th, checked at final corner, passed tired rivals
10th: (2) Shonan Macbeth—hugged rails around 3rd, checked at early stretch, lost momentum
11th: (18) Masquerade Ball—ran around 14th, checked at final corner, showed little
12th: (13) Jun Asahi Sora—set pace early, faded after 200m pole
13th: (15) Piko Chan Black—chased leaders around 3rd, gradually dropped position
14th: (7) Yamanin Bouclier—sat wide around 11th, checked at final corner, even paced
15th: (14) Realize Aurum—positioned around 14th, unable to reach contention
16th: (12) Magic Sands—raced wide around 9th, drifted to outside at final corner, showed little
17th: (17) Amakihi—traveled wide around 11th, dropped back after 3rd corner
18th: (9) Arion Smile—trailed in rear throughout, no factor

THE 41ST HOPEFUL STAKES (G1)
2-year-olds, Colts & Fillies, 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs), turf, right-handed
Saturday, December 28, 2024       Nakayama Racecourse         11th Race        Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 152,200,000 (about US$ 1,080,000 <US$1=¥141>)
2-y-o: 56kg (about 123-124 lbs), 1 kg allowance for Fillies, 3 kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2022
Course Record: 1:58.9                 Race Record: 2:00.2 [Regaleira (JPN, by Suave Richard), 2023]
Safety factor: 18 runners              Going: Good to Firm             Weather: Fine

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 18,555,547,700       Turnover for the Day: ¥ 33,502,595,600       Attendance: 35,933

Winner= 3 starts: 3 wins / Added & stakes money: ¥ 71,274,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 116,789,000

* Hopeful Stakes (G1)

Established in 1984 under the name of Radio Tampa Hai Sansai Himba Stakes as a G3 race for two-year-old fillies run over 1,600 meters at Hanshin Racecourse, the race held in December has undergone various changes in its status over the years. The distance was extended to 2,000 meters while the runners were limited to colts and geldings in 1991, opened its doors once again to fillies and mares in 2000 and acquired international status in 2010. In 2014, the race was given the Hopeful Stakes name, upgraded to G2, excluded geldings and shifted to a new venue, the Nakayama Racecourse where the first leg of the three-year-old Triple Crown, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1), is held over the same distance. In 2017, the race made its final elevation in grade and has become JRA’s 24th G1 flat race.
Even before becoming a G1 race, the Hopeful Stakes was highly regarded as the championship event for two- year-old middle-distance prospects aiming for the three-year-old classics and chosen as the main target in place of the traditional two-year-old G1 championships, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies run over 1,600 meters. As a result, the 2,000-meter race attracted many talented runners and subsequent G1 title holders such as 2010 Satsuki Sho and 2011 Dubai World Cup (AW, 2,000m) winner Victoire Pisa (JPN, by Neo Universe), 2013 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, 3,000m) and 2014 Japan Cup (2,400m) victor Epiphaneia (JPN, by Symboli Kris S), 2017 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, 2,400m) champion Rey de Oro (JPN, by King Kamehameha), 2019 Satsuki Sho winner Saturnalia (JPN, by Lord Kanaloa) and 2020 Triple Crown victor Contrail (JPN, by Deep Impact).
Coming off their second wins into this year’s edition were Magic Sands (Sapporo Nisai Stakes [G3, 1,800m, Aug.31]), Jet Magnum (Fuyo Stakes [Open Class, 2,000m, Sep.28]), Masquerade Ball (Ivy Stakes [Listed, 1,800m, Oct.19]), Shonan Macbeth (Hyakunichiso Tokubetsu [1 Win Class, 2,000m, Nov.3]) and Croix du Nord (Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes [G2, 1,800m, Nov.16]). The field also included Ask Stein, winner of the Cosmos Sho (Open Class, 1,800m) in August as well as Giovanni and Claudiai, respective runner-up and third-place finisher in the Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3, 2,000m) in November.