PDF(199kb)

Flicker Jab Captures First G2 Title in This Year’s Centaur Stakes

Race favorite Flicker Jab claimed this year’s Centaur Stakes to capture his first G2 title and second graded victory. Sired by 2019 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) winner Saturnalia, the dark bay began his career in October 2024 and broke his maiden in his second start the following month. He finished sixth in his first graded challenge, the Ocean Stakes (G3, 1,200m), in February this year before claiming his first graded win in the Kitakyushu Kinen (G3, 1,200m) in July.

Four-year-old Flicker Jab broke sharply to take the lead but eventually gave way to Puro Magic and settled in second. The Saturnalia colt rounded the corners two to three lengths behind the pacesetter, picked up speed passing the 200-meter marker and gradually closed the gap to finally pin the leader 50 meters out for a one-length victory.

“I’m glad we were able to live up to expectations as the race favorite. He was calm in the gate, broke well and raced in good rhythm. The pace was fast but there was some distance between us and the pacesetter, so he was able to hold back and run an ideal race. This horse has speed, and he’s also learning to hold back when needed. I think he’s a horse to watch in future G1 races,” commented jockey Kohei Matsuyama.

Second choice Puro Magic surged out from stall nine and took the lead just before the corners. Setting a fast pace, the five-year-old daughter of Asia Express continued to show a good turn of foot in the lane, but was overtaken by Flicker Jab in the final strides.

Fifth choice Mama Cocha, 2023 Sprinters Stakes champion, hugged the rails in sixth and passed tired rivals with the tied second fastest closing speed in the stretch, but finished 1-1/4 lengths short of Puro Magic in third.

Third pick Fast Network broke smoothly and turned the corners in good striking position, around fifth, then swung slightly to the outside entering the lane to make bid. However, the six-year-old Hong Kong raider did not respond in the final 200 meters and faded to 15th.

“The horse jumped well and was in a very good position, but he didn’t respond in the last 200 meters. As for the Sprinters Stakes, we’ll see how his condition is and make a decision in a few days,” trainer Chor Hong Yip said in a post-race interview.

“The horse looked to be in good condition pre-race and felt good going to the start. He jumped very well, got into a great spot and travelled really well through the run. I was confident he was going to run really well. Unfortunately, he just didn’t finish like he normally would. I don’t know if it was because of the different track or the uphill run,” commented jockey Damian Lane.

Other Horses:
4th: (2) Craspedia—chased pace around 4th on rails, weakened in last 100m
5th: (4) Tinia—hugged rails around 10th, quickened but never threatened
6th: (7) Meisho Yozora—tracked leaders in 3rd, sustained bid until 200m pole
7th: (6) Protoporos—took economic trip around 11th, passed tired rivals
8th: (5) Diamond Knot—sat around 7th, lacked needed kick
9th: (10) Yabusame—settled around 11th, even paced
10th: (14) Tamamo Black Tie—saved ground in 15th, showed belated charge
11th: (11) Yoshino Easter—positioned wide around 7th, never fired
12th: (13) Karpuz Pelus—ran wide around 11th, unable to reach contention
13th: (15) Big Caesar—raced wide around 7th, showed little at stretch
14th: (16) Tamamo Icarus—turned corners widest around 11th, failed to reach contention
16th: (12) Red Mon Reve—missed break, trailed in far rear, never a factor

THE 40TH CENTAUR STAKES (G2)
3-year-olds & up, 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs), turf, right-handed
Sunday, September 6, 2026     Hanshin Racecourse          11th Race         Post time: 15:30
Total prize money: ¥ 128,730,000 (about US$ 831,000 <US$1=¥155>)
3-y-o: 55kg (about 121 lbs), 4-y-o & up: 57kg (about 126 lbs),
2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares, 1kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2023
Penalties: Winners*1 of G1 races…2kg (1kg*2), G2 races…1kg (0kg*2) [after Sep.6, 2025]
                                   G1 races…1kg (0kg*2) [before Sep.5, 2025]
*1Excluding 2yo race performances *2Penalties for grade races limited to Fillies/Mares
Course record: 1:06.7              Race record: 1:06.7 [Tower of London (JPN, by Raven's Pass), 2019]
Safety factor: 16 runners          Going: Good to Firm           Weather: Cloudy

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 6,798,541,100       Turnover for the Day: ¥ 13,955,458,400       Attendance: 13,220

Winner= 12 starts: 7 wins & 1 second / Added & stakes money: ¥ 60,134,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 176,816,000

* Centaur Stakes (G2)

The Centaur Stakes, named after the mythical creature Centaur, whose statue stands on top of the fountain at Hanshin Racecourse, began as a 1,400-meter G3 event in 1987 and was shortened to 1,200 meters in 2000 before being promoted to G2 status in 2006. The race serves as a major prep race for the Sprinters Stakes (G1, 1,200m), and past winners who went on to claim that sprint G1 event include Meiner Love (USA, by Seeking the Gold; ’98), Believe (JPN, by Sunday Silence; ’02), Fine Needle (JPN, by Admire Moon; ’18) and Tower of London (JPN, by Raven’s Pass; ’19).
In 2005, the Centaur Stakes was designated as an international race and was part of the Global Sprint Challenge up until 2010, during which Takeover Target (AUS, by Celtic Swing) became the first foreign contender to take part in the race in 2006 and finished second before going on to claim the Sprinters Stakes—the gelding also became the Global Sprint Challenge series champion that year. The race has also welcomed Hong Kong-based contenders preparing for the Sprinters Stakes—Green Birdie (NZ, by Catbird) who was second and 14th, respectively, in 2010 and 2011, and Lucky Nine (IRE, by Dubawi) who finished second in 2011—with Fast Network joining this year.
The home field taking on the challenge included: Puro Magic, who came off back-to-back wins in the Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3, 1,200m, Jun.13) and the Ibis Summer Dash (G3, 1,000m, Aug.2); Flicker Jab, winner of the Kitakyushu Kinen (G3, 1,200m, Jul.5); Diamond Knot, a three-year-old with two graded titles at 1,400m; Mama Cocha, victor of the 2023 Sprinters Stakes; and Red Mon Reve, runner-up in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) this spring.