Horse Racing

Hopeful Stakes: Lovcen Triumphs in His 2nd Career Start

Powered by a strong closing kick, the World Premiere offspring overtook the frontrunners in the final strides in the 42nd running of the Hopeful Stakes.

by
JRA News
December 27, 2025

Seventh favorite Lovcen won the 42nd Hopeful Stakes in his second start of the season on Saturday, December 27 at Nakayama Racecourse.

The dark bay colt won his debut start over 2,000 meters by three lengths at Kyoto on November 9 and has now become the first horse to claim the Hopeful Stakes coming off just one career start since the race was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2017.

In Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, Saturday's victory gave trainer Haruki Sugiyama his seventh Japan Racing Association G1 title. It was the trainer's first G1 win since the 2024 Sprinters Stakes with Lugal.

Jockey Kohei Matsuyama registered his eighth JRA G1 triumph following his win with Star Anise in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on December 14.

Securing Victory in the 42nd Hopeful Stakes

Breaking from stall No 4, Lovcen was unhurried, settling on the rails in mid-division while T O Al Ain (Takeshi Yokoyama's ride) set the pace and led the field into the lane. Buried on the rails, the son of World Premiere was shifted out sharply at the 200-meter pole for clear sailing. Lovcen then displayed an incredible closing kick to overtake the frontrunners in the final strides for a 3/4-length victory. (Watch the race on the JRA's YouTube channel.)

"I was hoping that he would break well, run in good rhythm and have plenty left in the tank, which I'm happy that he did," Matsuyama said. "He had shown a remarkable turn of foot in training, so I knew he would have the strength to catch the leaders.

"Since his first win was over yielding ground, the colt has proven his versatility today so we have a lot to look forward to in his future starts."

Spirited Competition at Nakayama Racecourse

Fourth pick Forte Angelo (Tom Marquand) traveled in fourth to fifth, in close pursuit of the race favorite, Anduril (Yuga Kawada), up to the final corner. Finding himself behind a wall of horses in the straight, the Fierement progeny switched lanes to the outside and dug in furiously. But Forte Angelo was overtaken by the winner while beating Ask Edinburgh (Yasunari Iwata) before the wire to secure second.

Breaking sharply from a wide stall, ninth choice Ask Edinburgh traveled behind Forte Angelo in fifth to sixth, made a strong bid into the straight and took command 100 meters out. First caught by the fast-closing winner and then the runner-up right at the finish line, Ask Edinburgh placed half a length behind Forte Angelo.

Aurum Ares (Yuji Hishida) and Badrinath (Ryusei Sakai) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Anduril broke well and, gradually from the outside, improved position to sit in third from the front in the backstretch. The Saturnalia colt remained a factor in the straight but ran out of steam in the last 100 meters and gave way to the fast-closing runners to finish seventh.

Read the full report, including details on each of the Hopeful Stakes entrants, on JRA News.