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Ecoro Duel Scores Powerful Nakayama Grand Jump Win

Posted fifth favorite after a fourth-place finish in his previous start in the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m) on March 15, Ecoro Duel claimed his first J-G1 title in his fourth challenge at that level in this year’s Nakayama Grand Jump. The six-year-old began his racing career in January as a three-year-old and registered 1-1-1 out of 10 starts on flat before switching to steeplechase racing in his first start or his four-year-old season. The son of Kitasan Black notched his first graded title in the Kyoto Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,170m) that year and while winless since, scored a third and a second, respectively, in the 2023 and 2024 Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m) and a fourth in last year’s Nakayama Grand Jump. Trainer Takaki Iwato, who opened his yard in 2002, captured his fourth grade-race and first G1 title at jump racing while winning four at the graded level on flat. Jockey Taro Kusano also marked his first G1 and fifth graded jump racing victory in his 19th season.

Breaking from stall seven, Ecoro Duel settled in third while Pietersite set the pace before overtaken by second favorite June Velocity at the fifth jump (obstacle no.6). Coming out of the center dip (no.2) the second time around, the son of Kitasan Black moved up pressing the pace in second after the seventh jump (grand hedge, no.7), and went on to make an early bid in the backstretch, overtaking June Velocity before the 10th hurdle (no.8). The fourth-place finisher in last year’s version easily stretched his lead there on and was unchallenged to the wire, landing a comfortable eight-length victory.

“I couldn’t hold back the tears. I’d been riding him in almost all of his races (after his switching to steeple chase races) so winning the Grand Jump, which is always a jump-jockey’s dream and since it had also been a while from my last Grand Jump challenge due to injuries, is just wonderful,” commented Taro Kusano after the race.

Sent off sixth choice, Neviim raced around seventh before gradually advancing after the seventh jump (no.7) and increased speed from the second corner (2nd lap). While never a threat to the winner, the son of Kizuna picked off Impress and Meiner Grand after the final jump (no.10) and was driven to the wire to secure the runner-up seat by 2-1/2 lengths.

Fourth pick Impress was forwardly positioned in third to fourth and briefly retreated to fifth after the seventh jump (no.7) but made headway in the backstretch to clear the 10th fence (no.8) in third. With furious speed, Impress picked off the tired June Velocity before the last turn to enter the stretch in second but failed to find another gear and finished third.

Race favorite and last year’s sixth-place finisher Meiner Grand was off slow, unhurried in third from the rear and dropped back to trail second from last after the fifth fence (grand brush fence, no.6). Gradually accelerating to mid-division after the eighth obstacle (no.2), the seven-year-old shifted out to enter the straight in fourth and briefly rallied with two rivals for the runner-up seat but was eased after the last obstacle (no. 10) due to heatstroke and was fifth.

Other Horses:
4th: (4) June Velocity—tracked leader in 2nd, took command after 5th jump (no.6), challenged by winner after 7th jump (no.7), surrendered lead after 10th jump (no.8), weakened
6th: (6) Smile Through—settled in 5th, lost balance at 7th jump (no.7), failed to threaten
7th: (5) Arundel—sat 2nd from rear, gradually improved position after 5th jump (no.6), showed little after 11th jump (no.9)
8th: (12) Pietersite—set pace, maintained lead up to 5th jump (no.6), faded after 9th jump (No.3)
9th: (9) Platina Dream—ran in 9-10th, unable to reach contention
10th: (10) The Rest Nowhere—trailed in rear, no factor
11th: (2) T M Tatsumaki—traveled around 6th, outrun after 6th jump (no.5)
FF: (11) Burn Passion—raced around 7th, advanced to 3rd at 7th jump (no.7), dropped back after 10th jump (no.8), unseated rider at final jump (no.10)

THE 27TH NAKAYAMA GRAND JUMP (J-G1)
4-year-olds & up, 4,260 meters (about 2 and 2/3 miles), turf
Saturday, April 19, 2025      Nakayama Racecourse      11th Race         Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 152,900,000 (about US$ 974,000 <US$1=¥157>)
4-y-o: 62kg (about 137 lbs), 5-y-o & up: 63kg (about 139 lbs), 2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares
Course Record: 4:50.5        Race Record (4,250m): 4:43.0 [Oju Chosan (JPN, by Stay Gold), 2018]
Safety factor: 16 runners     Going: Good to Firm           Weather: Fine

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 2,008,261,900       Turnover for the Day: ¥ 8,731,592,700       Attendance: 21,934

Winner= 22 starts: 5 wins, 4 seconds & 2 thirds (12 starts: 4 wins, 3 seconds & 1 third *steeplechases only)
Added & stakes money: ¥ 70,427,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 224,330,000 (¥ 213,290,000 *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.
2023-2024 Nakayama Grand Jump champion Irogotoshi (JPN, H8, by Vincennes) resumed training after a tendon injury sustained last season but was unable to regain his form in time and was withdrawn from this race. 2023 Nakayama Daishogai champion and Best Steeplechase Horse Meiner Grand commenced the current season with this race. Last year’s Nakayama Grand Jump runner-up June Velocity came off a close second in the Hanshin Spring Jump (J-G2, 3,900m, Mar.15) in which third-place Neviim and fourth-place Ecoro Duel were seen finishing third and second, respectively, in last year’s Nakayama Daishogai. Smile Through came into the race after claiming his second graded title in the Kokura Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,390m, Feb.15) where Arundel finished fourth. Impress extended his winning streak to four when winning the Pegasus Jump Stakes (Open Class, 3,350m, Mar.22), a prep-race in which Burn Passion was third.