The 59th Sprinters Stakes - Handicapper's Report on the Japanese Contenders

Satono Reve

Namura Clair

Mama Cocha

Toshin Macau

Lugal

Kangchenjunga

Puro Magic

The Sprinters Stakes, initially established in 1967 as a major 1,200-meter sprint race for three-year-olds and up, was designated as a G3 event in conjunction with the new grading system implemented in 1984. The race was then upgraded to G2 in 1987 before becoming a G1 sprint race in 1990 and then assumed Part I status to become an international G1 event in 2006. (Japan was promoted to Part I country of the International Cataloging Standards in 2007) The race, which was held in the year-end Nakayama meeting since 1990, was shifted to the current date of fixture in 2000—the final weekend of the early fall meeting. The Sprinters Stakes now positions itself as a pinnacle event for sprinters together with the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) held in spring.

Since the race opened its door to foreign-trained entries in 1994, 32 runners—a number exceeding those who have run in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen—have challenged the title, among which three, Silent Witness (AUS) from Hong Kong, Takeover Target (AUS) from Australia and Ultra Fantasy (AUS) from Hong Kong, have succeeded in taking home the title in 2005, 2006 and 2010, respectively.

Japan has not been able to produce a true world-class sprinter since Lord Kanaloa (JPN), who not only won back-to-back titles in this race in 2012 and 2013 but also the internationally recognized Hong Kong Sprint that earned him a rating of 128—the closest after that would be Gran Alegria (JPN) with 118 who stepped down from mile races to win the 2020 Sprinters Stakes. This year, however, Satono Reve won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen before marking two impressive runner-up efforts in Hong Kong and Great Britain and is expected to be the toughest opponent for the Hong Kong-trained Lucky Sweynesse in the coming Sprinters Stakes.

Satono Reve (JPN, H6, by Lord Kanaloa, out of Ciliege):
8 wins / 14 starts, 119S as of 2025 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1st)
After claiming consecutive graded victories in the Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3, 1,200m) and the Keeneland Cup (G3, 1,200m) last year, the son of Lord Kanaloa finished a disappointing seventh in the Sprinters Stakes but quickly regained his form in his first overseas outing, the Hong Kong Sprint (G1, 1,200m), where he secured a commendable third, only 3/4 length behind winner Ka Ying Rising. This year, he registered his first G1 title in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, then returned to Hong Kong for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (G1, 1,200m) where he finished second, 2-1/4-lengths behind Ka Ying Rising, and marked another second by half a length in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1, 1,200m) at Royal Ascot. These achievements have established him as Japan’s top sprinter. All eyes will be on how jockey Joao Moreira, who has been partnering with him since last year’s Hong Kong Sprint, handles his reins.

Namura Clair (JPN, M6, by Mikki Isle, out of Sun Queen):
6 wins / 22 starts, 113S as of 2025 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (2nd)
The Mikki Isle mare, winner of four graded races in the 2021 Kokura Nisai Stakes (G3, 1,200m), the 2022 Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3, 1,200m), the 2023 Silk Road Stakes (G3, 1,200m) and the 2023 Keeneland Cup (G3, 1,200m), added another title in the year-end Hanshin Cup (G2, 1,400m) last year. Though yet to claim a G1 title, she has proved competitive at the highest level, such as her three consecutive runner-up efforts in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen from 2023 to 2025 and her three third-place finishes in the 2022 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) and the 2023 and 2024 Sprinters Stakes. With her reliable turn of speed at the stretch, the six-year-old mare stands a strong chance of finally securing her much-awaited G1 title.

Mama Cocha (JPN, M6, by Kurofune, out of Buchiko):
7 wins / 22 starts, 112S as of 2025 Ocean Stakes (1st)
The 2023 Sprinters Stakes champion, though winless last year, demonstrated strong performances, securing a second in the Centaur Stakes (G2, 1,200m) and a fourth in last year’s edition of the fall sprint G1 event. The daughter of Kurofune has shown signs of regaining her true form this year, winning the Ocean Stakes (G3, 1,200m), placing third in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and finishing second in both the Keio Hai Spring Cup (G2, 1,400m) and her latest start, the Centaur Stakes. Her rating of 112 matches the rating she earned when she won the 2023 Sprinters Stakes and finished second in the 2024 Centaur Stakes.

Toshin Macau (JPN, H6, by Big Arthur, out of Yukino Mermaid):
8 wins / 24 starts, 116M as of 2025 Keio Hai Spring Cup (1st)
After a runner-up effort in last year’s Sprinters Stakes, his first overseas endeavor in the Hong Kong Sprint resulted in an unsuccessful ninth. The Big Arthur horse commenced this season with a fourth in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and then captured his fifth graded title in the Keio Hai Spring Cup, finishing 1-1/2 lengths ahead of Mama Cocha in a record-breaking time. Although this victory earned him a berth in the Yasuda Kinen, the six-year-old was given a rest to prepare for the autumn season. Coming off a third in the Centaur Stakes, a race he won last year, his sights are now firmly set on the upcoming G1 event.

Lugal (JPN, H5, by Duramente, out of Atab):
4 wins / 16 starts, 116S as of 2024 Sprinters Stakes (1st)
After claiming last year’s Sprinters Stakes, the son of Duramente has experienced three unsuccessful starts, finishing eleventh in the Hong Kong Sprint, seventh in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and fifth in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize. However, with ample time to recuperate since his latest start, the focus will be on whether the defending champion can regain his top form on the very track where he won his first G1 title.

Kangchenjunga (JPN, H5, by Big Arthur, out of Questa Volta):
6 wins / 20 starts, 114S as of 2025 Centaur Stakes (1st)
The five-year-old registered his first grade-race title in the Hankyu Hai (G3, 1,400m) in February and marked another graded victory in his most recent start, the Centaur Stakes, one of the prep races for the Sprinters Stakes. Sent off eighth favorite in the Centaur Stakes, the son of Big Arthur settled towards the rear off a fast pace and unleashed a remarkable finishing speed, clocking the fastest time over the last three furlongs, to overtake top two favorites, Toshin Macau (3rd) and Mama Cocha (2nd), for a 3/4-length victory.

Puro Magic (JPN, F4, by Asia Express, out of Medjerda):
5 wins / 14 starts, 106S as of 2025 Al Quoz Sprint (5th)
The Asia Express filly has three graded titles under her belt—the 2024 Aoi Stakes (G3, 1,200m), the 2024 Kitakyushu Kinen (G3, 1,200m) and the 2025 Ibis Summer Dash (G3, 1,000m). While the four-year-old was raced forwardly by making use of her early speed until her first start of this season, her racing tactics changed from the Al Quoz Sprint where she closed strongly from the rear to finish fifth. She then went on to mark her first victory in 13 months in the following Ibis Summer Dash where she demonstrated the fastest finishing speed after racing in 11th. Her highest rating to date is 109, which she earned for her victory in the 2024 Kitakyushu Kinen.