After the exciting Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) on April 13, the Satsuki Sho, the first colts' Classic of the year, will be run on Sunday, April 20.
The race, which is held at Nakayama Racecourse in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, is the first leg of the Triple Crown series of races for 3-year-old colts. It sets the winner up for a tilt at the other two races and a shot at stardom, reserved for just a select number of very special horses.
First run at the former Yokohama Racecourse back in 1939, the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho, also known as the Japanese 2000 Guineas, was transferred to Tokyo Racecourse four years later, at which time it got its current name. It was then switched to Nakayama Racecourse in 1949, and in 1950 the distance was set at 2,000 meters. Previously, it had been run over 1,850 meters.
The race is run on the inner turf track at Nakayama and invariably attracts plenty of nominations as the colts set out on a possible path to glory. Looking back over the past two decades, big-name winners have included the great Deep Impact (2005), Victoire Pisa (2010), Duramente (2015) and Contrail (2020), the latter being the last Triple Crown winner in Japan.
Info on the 2025 Satsuki Sho
There were 21 nominations this year for the maximum field of 18, and all colts (no geldings are permitted to run) carry a set weight of 57 kg. The first three horses to finish in the official trial races (the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen and the Grade 2 Spring Stakes) receive an automatic entry, along with the first two home in the Wakaba Stakes. All these horses are among the entries.
The record time for the Satsuki Sho was set in 2024, when Justin Milano won in 1 minute, 57.1 seconds.
Sunday's winner's check is ¥200 million JPY ($1.4 million USD).
Only two first favorites have won in the past 10 years, and Contrail was the last to do so in 2020. Twenty-four Satsuki Sho winners have gone on to win the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).
The 85th running of the Satsuki Sho will be the 11th race on the Sunday card at Nakayama. Post time is 3:40 PM.
Here's a look at some of the colts set to compete in Sunday's race:
Croix du Nord to Race for the 1st Time in 2025
Kitasan Black progeny Croix du Nord is an exciting prospect, and will probably go to post as a very short-priced favorite, in what will be his first run as a 3-year-old this Sunday. He was last seen winning the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes in December 2024, which is run over the course and distance of the Satsuki Sho.
"Last time in the Hopeful Stakes, he got a position quite naturally, and the jockey rode him well," trainer Takashi Saito said. "It was the horse's first run at Nakayama, but he ran a strong race."
Saito then said, "He's had a break at Northern Farm Shigaraki since, and on returning to the stable, he looks about the same, and things seem as usual with him."
Jockey Yuichi Kitamura will be looking for his seventh JRA Grade 1 win aboard Croix du Nord.
Giovanni Owns Impressive Results
Jockey Kohei Matsuyama has struck up a good partnership already with Epiphaneia offspring Giovanni, having won on him twice and finished second three times in the horse's five career starts.
Trainer Haruki Sugiyama is pleased with Giovanni's progress so far.
"He was able to get a good position in the Wakaba Stakes, although the pace was slow to begin with," Sugiyama said. "When the pace quickened later in the race, he used his legs well to adjust, and I thought he ran a good race."
The trainer added, "He ran nice and straight, with the second horse on his inside, so we could learn from this. I think he should be able to run well at any track."
Faust Rasen Brings Speedy Ability to the Satsuki Sho
The Mozu Ascot-sired Faust Rasen finished third in the 2024 Hopeful Stakes and achieved a good win in this year's Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen over 2,000 meters at Nakayama in March. In both his latest races, he was able to circle the field mid-race and managed to control things from the front, making it difficult for the other runners to catch him.
Explaining this running style, assistant trainer Shunei Kikumoto said: "He found himself at the back in his last race, but when ridden with speed, he could quickly change things around. It was a good result with the ground as it was. And as a horse that doesn't need to find a closing turn of foot, he seems better when he brings his stamina into play, like he did in that race."
Read the rest of this article about the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese horses in contention on JRA News.
RELATED:
- Oka Sho: Embroidery Wins the 1st Leg of the Fillies' Triple Crown
- Unbeaten Justin Milano Earns a Narrow Victory in the 84th Satsuki Sho
Author: JRA News
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