G1 – 1200m – Turf
Horse Racing
Season
Takamatsunomiya Kinen – Form Comments
| 1 | Seiun Kosei | Talented sprinter with six wins from 20 starts, including a first G1 score when taking this race last year. Has not won since but ran well when 2L 2nd behind Fine Needle in the G3 Silk Road Stakes (1200m) in January. Usually races handy, sometimes leads. |
| 2 | Rieno Tesoro | Four wins from 11 starts from 1200m to 1600m. Won all 4 starts as a juvenile in 2016, culminating with a victory in the JPN-G1 Zen Nippon Nisai Yushun (1600m, dirt) at Kawasaki. Proved that was no fluke when 1.5L 2nd in the G1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo last May. Below par since, including 10th in her seasonal debut in the G3 Ocean Stakes (1200m) on 3 March. |
| 3 | Blizzard | Winner of eight from 29, four over 1200m. Only stakes win in the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin in January, 2017. Yet to win since, but has two placings over the Sha Tin 1200m this season, including 3rd to Mr Stunning in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint in December. Unraced since 5th in G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) in late January. Second trip to Japan after 5th in G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) in October. Tactically versatile, but can sit handy. Untested on ground worse than good. |
| 4 | Snow Dragon | The 2014 JRA champion sprinter reproduced something near his best when 1L 4th to Red Falx in last year’s G1 Sprinters Stakes. Ran 11th in his seasonal debut in the G3 Ocean Stakes (1200m) on 3 March, but his second-up form has always been better. |
| 5 | Nobo Baccara | Seven wins from 32 career starts. Winless since the G3 Capella Stakes (1200m, dirt) in 2016. Performed below par (7th & 10th) in two starts on turf, both 1200m G3 races, last year. Ran 13th in the G1 February Stakes (1600m, dirt) at Tokyo last start. Usually tracks behind the pace. |
| 6 | Red Falx | Hopes remain high for him to win another G1 after his success in the Sprinters Stakes in October, despite the fact he is now a seven-year-old. Finished a close 3rd in his seasonal debut in the G3 Hankyu Hai (1400m) on 25 February latest. |
| 7 | Nac Venus | Peaked latest with close runner-up finish to King Heart in the G3 Ocean Stakes (1200m) on 3 March. Races from any position and no track worries. Relishes inside draws. |
| 8 | Let’s Go Donki | Winner of the 2015 G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas). Did well at sprint trips last year when 2nd in both this race and the G1 Sprinters Stakes in October, while her year culminated in a 6th to Mr Stunning in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint in December. Finished 5th in her second outing over dirt in the G1 February Stakes (1600m) at Tokyo in February. |
| 9 | Fine Needle | Seven wins from 23 starts. Peaked with a win in the G2 Centaur Stakes (1200m) last September. Failed to replicate that peak in the G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) in October. Freshened and back to form with a win in the G3 Silk Road Stakes (1200m) in January. Sits handy. |
| 10 | Diana Halo | Very consistent but fell short at her one attempt at the top level. This five-year-old mare went wire-to-wire to win the G3 Hankyu Hai (1400m) on 25 February latest. Can lead or sit on speed. Fast track suits. |
| 11 | Dance Director | Seven wins from 24 starts between 1200m to 1600m. Rounded out last year with a nose second to Isla Bonita in the G2 Hanshin Cup (1400m) at his latest start in December. Yet to succeed at G1 level. Hold-up runner but can sit handier. |
| 12 | Nero | Rounded off last term with back-to-back wins in the G3 Keihan Hai (1200m) in November. Finished 4th to King Heart in the G3 Ocean Stakes (1200m) latest. Has performed when taking the lead but has fallen short at G1 level. |
| 13 | Reine Minoru | Three wins from 13 career starts, with wins at 1200m & 1600m. Peaked with a victory in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) last year. Disappointing when 7th in the G2 Hanshin Cup (1400m) in December but good effort when 6th to King Heart in the G3 Ocean Stakes (1200m) latest. Settles behind the pace. |
| 14 | Rhein Meteor | Peak win when taking the G3 Ibis Summer Dash (1000m) at Niigata last July, before 1.25L 2nd to Fine Needle in the G2 Centaur Stakes (1200m) in September. Well-beaten in last 3 starts, including latest when 13th in the G3 Ocean Stakes (1200m) on 3 March. Settles back. |
| 15 | Jeune Ecole | Won the G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes (1200m) in track record time last June, but was well beaten in her last three starts, including 12th in the G3 Ocean Stakes (1200m) on 3 March most recently. Usually races from midfield or further back. A fast pace will suit her. |
| 16 | Shining Lei | G2 Hopeful Stakes (2000m) winner as a juvenile in 2014. Rejuvenated as a sprinter last year with successive wins in the Listed Azuchijo Stakes (1400m) in May and G3 CBC Sho (1200m) in July. Widest draw did not help when last of 18 in the G2 Hanshin Cup (1400m) in December latest. Races close to speed. |
| 17 | King Heart | Second behind Jeune Ecole in the G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes (1200m) last June and 4th in the G3 Kitakyushu Kinen (1200m) in August. Notched his first graded stakes win when showing impressive closing speed in the G3 Ocean Stakes (1200m) on 3 March latest. |
| 18 | Rhein Spirit | Eight wins from 41 starts, including 6 wins over this distance. 3rd to Diana Halo in the G3 Kitakyushu Kinen (1200m) last August. Won his seasonal debut in the Listed Yodo Tankyori Stakes (1200m) at Kyoto in January, before below-par 8th in the G3 Ocean Stakes (1200m) on 3 March latest. Sits handy and relishes fast track. |
Others
23/03/2018
23/03/2018
23/03/2018
