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Ecoro Duel Claim Second J-G1 Title With Convincing Victory in Nakayama Daishogai

Heavy favorite Ecoro Duel claimed this year’s Nakayama Daishogai in his third year-end J-G1 challenge in which he marked a third in 2023 and a second in 2024. After winning the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,260m) in April, the son of Kitasan Black came off a second in the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, 3,110m) on October 19 prior to this win and now becomes the third horse to win both J-G1 events in the same year after Up to Date (2015) and Oju Chosan (2016 & 2017). Both trainer Takaki Iwato and jockey Taro Kusano scored their second J-G1 title following the Nakayama Grand Jump with the horse this spring.

Ecoro Duel broke smoothly from stall 4 to secure a forward position behind pacesetter Neviim in third or fourth through the early part of the 4,100-meter trip. While making sure to secure an economic route as the field changed leads from right to left and right again after landing the hedge fence (No.7) that measures 1.6 meters in height and 2.4 meters wide, the son of Kitasan Black closed the gap on the leader as well as Vehrenberg after jumping fence No.3 for the second time. The three horses rallied from there until Vehrenberg began to tire with 1,000 meters to go and it became a duel between Neviim and Ecoro Duel. The two horses jumped the last fence (No.5) side by side and continued to rally going into the uphill stretch, but in the end, it was the Nakayama Grand Jump champion who still had enough to pull away strongly in the last 100 meters to grab his second J-G1 title by a dominating five-length margin.

“I hadn’t expected Neviim to lead and the way he was racing had me worrying for a while, but I knew that my horse would have the strength to beat him if he finds his finishing speed, which he did, so I was able to show how strong he is and well deserving to be named the best steeplechase horse of the season by winning both J-G1 events, which had been my goal towards this race. I hope also this win contributes to bring out the interest in jump races from the racing fans,” commented jockey Taro Kusano.

Neviim took advantage of the inside draw and assumed command rounding the first turn towards the second obstacle (No.1). While challenged by Vehrenberg and Ecoro Duel, the son of Kizuna showed terrific tenacity to wear out Vehrenberg and duel with the winner before finally succumbing the lead in the last 100 meters while still outfinishing the rest of the field by 1-1/2 lengths.

Vehrenberg chased the eventual winner soon after the start and overtook that foe after the second obstacle (No.1) to press the pace in second approaching the third fence (No.2). Keeping up with the leader’s pace while joined by the eventual winner approaching fence No.3 the second time, the gray was engaged in a three-horse rally and in contention before falling behind in the last 1,000 meters but still ran gamely to secure third place uncontested by the rest of the field.

Other Horses:
4th: (6) June Velocity—broke well, traveled in 4-5th eyeing race favorite early, made headway after final
5th: (9) Platina Dream—raced 3rd from rear, gradually advanced after 8th jump (No.2), cleared last fence (No.5) in 5th
6th: (3) Pietersite—broke sharply to dispute lead, eased back while still forwardly positioned, faded in last 800m
7th: (10) Meisho Atsuita—further back than mid-division early, even paced
8th: (8) Arde Duomo—ran off pace in eighth, no factor
9th: (2) Tamamo Ace—further back than mid-pack while shifting to inside changing leads, failed to reach contention
10th: (5) Tangent Arc—trailed in rear, never a threat

THE 148TH NAKAYAMA DAISHOGAI (J-G1)
3-year-olds & up, 4,100 meters (about 2.56 miles), turf
Saturday, December 27, 2025       Nakayama Racecourse       10th Race       Post time: 15:00
Total prize money: ¥ 152,900,000 (about US$ 974,000 <US$1=¥157>)
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: Cloudy

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 2,324,863,200       Turnover for the Day: ¥ 23,590,909,700       Attendance: 44,039

Winner= 24 starts: 6 wins, 5 seconds & 2 thirds (14 starts: 5 wins, 4 seconds & 1 third *steeplechases only)
Added & stakes money: ¥ 70,357,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 312,787,000 (¥ 301,747,000 *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 to provide 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, 4,260m) 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 season’s 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 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.
With defending champion Nishino Daisy (JPN, by Harbinger) retired, this year’s edition featured the Nakayama Grand Jump victor Ecoro Duel who came off a second in the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, 3,110m; Oct.19) where June Velocity claimed his sixth graded title and Platina Dream finished fifth. The Nakayama Grand Jump runner-up Neviim came into the race with his first grade-race victory in the Hanshin Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,140m; Sep.20). The field also included Vehrenberg who won three jump races at Nakayama, Meisho Atsuita, third-place finisher in the Kyoto High-Jump (J-G2, 3,930m) in May, and Pietersite, winner of the Illumination Jump Stakes (Open Class, 3,570m; Dec.6).