2500m – Turf
Charro Negro |
3-year-old colt with only 8 career starts. Half-length 3rd at course and distance two back in September. 3rd last time over 2400m at Kyoto in October. Runs from any position. Best over good ground. Good speed. |
Cosmo Llave |
Raced primarily between 2200m and 2600m this year, with a win and a second in 10 starts. Sole win came from a lower-class 2600m conditions race in Fukushima in July. 5th latest at course and distance on 3 December. Untested on soft ground. Races held up. |
Enigma Variate |
Useful performer at 2000-2400m, but has not finished in the top three in six starts since March. Mainly raced over shorter distance than this. Last win was in August 2016, a 2000m race in Sapporo. Best when settles midfield. Acts on good and fast ground. |
Give And Take |
Two wins in 35 starts. Has not won since taking a 2000m event in Fukushima in November 2015. Placed once in 7 starts this year – nose 2nd in a 1800m event at Sapporo in August. Yet to win or place beyond 2000m. Usually settles midfield. |
Ichi Dai |
4yo colt with 4 wins, 10 seconds and five thirds in 28 starts. Consistent with best results between 2000m and 2500m. Won twice at this course early this year, including the second one over this distance in March. Fought on well to finish half-length 2nd over the course and distance on 3 December latest. Good late speed. Acts on all surface. |
Jacky |
This 3yo colt won his first 2 career starts over 1200m and 1400m. Placed once in 7 subsequent runs from 1200m to 1800m. Fair 5th when stretched to 2600m last time in a handicap at Fukushima on 18 November, for which he travelled well and quickened nicely in the home straight. Longer distance may suit. |
Japoni Chara |
5yo mare, raced mainly from 1600m to 2000m. Stretched to 2600m for the first time latest in a lower-class race at Fukushima on 11 November. Sat handy and surged late for a half-length win. Up in class this time. |
Meiner Fresco |
6yo with 3 wins in 44 starts. Raced primarily between 2000m to 2600m. Beat Ichi Dai to win a 2200m, a class below this grade, at the course in January. Finished a head 2nd behind the same horse at course and distance in March. Unplaced in all 6 starts since, including 9th when he broke slowly from the gate over the course and distance on 3 December. Usually settles midfield. No ground concern. |
Phase Velocity |
Talented filly. Raced primarily over 1800m and 2000m. Career best when 4th in the Listed Sweetpea Stakes (1800m) at Tokyo in May 2016. Did well this autumn, first winning a 2000m lower class event at Niigata in August, before moving up to this class for a neck 2nd latest in a 2400m race at Tokyo in November. Good late speed. Tactically versatile. Chance here. |
Prime Seller |
4yo gelding, with 3 wins so far over 2200m to 2600m, including a win over the course and distance a class below in September 2016. One win from four starts in 2017 came last time when pipped the leader at the wire in a 2200m race a class below at Niigata in October. Ran a nose 2nd behind Stay Bravissimo in a 2600m race in Fukushima in July. Can sit handy or settle midfield. Return to Nakayama a plus. |
Stay Bravissimo |
Very consistent 4yo. Finished in the top 4 in 16 of his 18 career starts. In prime form as he scored a win and 2 thirds from his last three starts, all over 2400m to 2600m, including his defeat of Prime Seller in a 2600m race a class below in Fukushima in July. Finished third in this race last year. Habitual poor starter. Can expect better if break is good. No ground concern. |
Sublime Kaiser |
3 wins from 26 starts over 2000m to 2500m. Last win was at course and distance in April 2016. Ran a second and 2 thirds from 7 starts this year. Last start was a 6th over the course and distance on 3 December, following a 4-month spell. Likely to improve. |
Takeru Ramses |
Finished 8th and 6th in this race in 2016 and 2015. Winless in 11 starts since taking a 2600m race a class below at Sapporo in August 2016. 3rd in a 2600m handicap at Hakodate in July, his only placed run this season. Usually settles midfield or back but often late out of the gate. Yet to win at this level, but could be thereabouts if he breaks well. Best on sound surface. |
Win Volare |
This 4yo colt won once with 3 seconds and 2 thirds in his 6 recent starts, all in this class and over 2400m to 2600m. Usually lead or races close to the speed but was held up last time when a neck 2nd in a 2400m handicap at Tokyo on 7 October. Improvement expected. Will run under same weight as last four starts. Can handle give. |
