The G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) on Sunday (2 October) afternoon at Nakayama Racecourse kicks off Japan’s autumn slew of big races with an intriguing and even field engaged in what shapes as a blisteringly fast edition of one of the Japanese Racing Association’s two Group 1 sprints.

The Sprinters Stakes carries a purse of JPY368.2 million (approx. HK$20 million) and pays JPY170 million (approx. HK$9.2 million) to the winner.

There’s no towering giant in the race’s 56th running. Schnell Meister, winner of the 2021 G1 NHK Mile Cup (1600m) and runner-up in the 2022 G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) joins 2022 G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) winner Naran Huleg as the only two entrants with top-level victories on their resume. And though they both will figure among everyone’s favourite picks, it’s Meikei Yell who’s attracting the most attention, as is this year’s G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (1600m) third-place finisher Namura Clair.

Meikei Yell is a long-legged four-year-old filly by Mikki Isle, whose racing career returned big wins over the mile, though he was also runner-up in both top sprints.

Meikei Yell won her debut over 1200m, however, was aimed at the longer distances until her 18th in the Oka Sho in April of 2021 put her back on the sprint track.

Five of her next six starts were over 1200m, all at Group-race level. Fourth in last year’s Sprinters Stakes and fifth in this year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the Group 1 winner’s circle continues to elude her. But the Takamatsunomiya Kinen was her only loss from four starts this year and her three wins were all in mixed company.

Just off the G2 Centaur Stakes (1200m) on 11 September, Meikei Yell is shaping as the one to beat. However, her wins this year have all come at left-handed tracks and last year’s Sprinters Stakes is still the only bid the Ritto-based filly has made at Nakayama. She does, however, have four wins from right-handed tracks.

Jockey Kenichi Ikezoe, who rode the filly for the first time in the 2021 Sprinters Stakes, is now going to the gate having won three out of five from their partnership to date.

On Wednesday (28 September) morning, Ikezoe breezed Meikei Yell over the Ritto woodchip course with all looking fine.

“Last year in the Sprinters Stakes,” Ikezoe said, “She was high-strung and impatient, but even so, was able to finish in fourth place. I remember thinking how much potential she had.”

Now, things may finally be coming to fruition. Physically, Meikei Yell, out of the Harbinger mare Shiroinger, has greatly matured, especially over the summer. “She is very solid now,” Ikezoe said.

But the lanky bay filly is still easily worked up. Last out, in the Centaur Stakes, Ikezoe said: “She was pretty switched on going onto the track but after bringing her back down to a canter in the warm-up she remained calm and stayed that way behind the gate and while loading. I think it was her best mental state thus far.”

Keeping her calm on Sunday will be the jockey’s biggest concern.

“We started using draw reins and pacifiers on her from this year and they have had a huge effect on her. She is now able to hold back and be more patient,” Ikezoe said.

Still, Ikezoe will not be able to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

“I think, as long as she’s racing, the most important thing is going to be for her to not lose her rhythm. She gets worked up very easily and I need to be extremely attentive to her mood on race day and in the preliminaries,” he said.

“Once out of the gate, it’ll be a battle between me and her. I have to be very careful to give her a solid ride. If I do, she’ll be patient and remain calm,” Ikezoe said.

“There’s only two full weeks between races. She’s limber. Her footwork this week was good and her time was better than I’d thought it would be.

“I think she’ll go to the gate in very good shape and I’ll be riding for the very best results.”