1

Maria Elena

The 4-year-old daughter of Kurofune showed an upward curve in 2021, finishing in top three in six out of eight starts.  Proved suited to 2000m this term and won the G3 Kokura Kinen over this distance by 5L for her first graded win in August. 

2

Karate

Disappointing 16th in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) in June, but showed dramatic improvement when finishing strongly with 1.75L win in the G3 Niigata Kinen over this distance last month.

3

Panthalassa

It was the most exciting finish in this year’s Dubai World Cup Day when Panthalassa and Lord North dead-heated for victory in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m).  A respectable 2nd to Jack D’Or over 2000m in the G2 Sapporo Kinen last time.

4

Potager

Caused a bit of surprise when landed his first G1 success in the Osaka Hai (2000m) in April, the 5-year-old son of the late Deep Impact finished out of frame in the last two starts.
  

5

Danon Beluga

The 3-year-old son of Heart’s Cry will return for the first time since 4th-place in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m) in May.  The highly regarded colt won the 1800m G3 Kyodo News Hai (1800m) in February before 4th in the G1 Satsuki Sho (2000m).
 

6

Geoglyph

The 3-year-old son of Drefong has six starts with three wins.  He found another gear to dig in to overtake Equinox and won the G1 Satsuki Sho (2000m), but struggled over the 2400m when over 6L 7th in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m) last time. 

7

Equinox

The son of Kitasan Black has only four starts so far, but he was quite impressive with 2 wins and 2 seconds.  He was a neck short when beaten by Do Deuce in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m) last out. 

8

Shahryar

The 4-year-old colt by the late Deep Impact clinched this year’s G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) at Meydan in March before his first challenge at Royal Ascot in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes (1993m) when 4th in June last time.
 

9

Jack d’Or

Never missed on board in all 11 starts with 7 wins.  Set the pace but weakened to 5th in the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) in April.  Raced handy and prevailed at the wire in the G2 Sapporo Kinen (2000m) on his return from a 4-month break last out.

10

North Bridge

Four of his five wins are at 2000m.  Clinched the first graded race success in the G3 Epsom Cup (1800m) before 2.8L 5th in the G2 Mainichi Okan (1800m) last time.

11

Red Galant

A two time winner at G3 over 2000m this season, but unable to finish on board at G2.  Finished over 6L 9th in the G2 Kyoto Daishoten (2400m) in October last time.  First attempt at G1.

12

Babbitt

The St. Lite Kinen winner in 2020 sidelined for more than a year due to the tendon injury, and finished 3L 4th on his return in the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers (2200m) last time. 

13

Ablaze

Ran 0.5L 2nd in the G3 Nakayama Himba Stakes (1800m) in March.  She comes off a 5th place in the G2 Fuchu Himba Stakes (1800m) on 15 October last out. 

14

Uberleben

Has not tasted any success since last year’s G1 Japanese Oaks (2400m), the 4-year-old Gold Ship sired Uberleben finished fifth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) in March, but never fired in the stretch when 11th in the G2 Sapporo Kinen (2000m) last time. 

15

Cadenas

8-year-old with 4 wins in his career.  Winless since February 2020.  Beaten over 8L when 7th in the G3 Kokura Kinen over this distance. Hold up runner.