Sprinters Stakes: Win Carnelian Edges June Blair in Thrilling Finish

Win Carnelian marked an upset victory in the 59th Sprinters Stakes to capture his third graded and first G1 title on Sunday, September 28.

At Nakayama Racecourse, Win Carnelian became the second 8-year-old horse to win the race after Hong Kong-based Ultra Fantasy in 2010. Sired by Screen Hero, who was also trained by Yuichi Shikato, the chestnut began his career in 2019 and finished fourth in the 2020 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000 meters). He registered his first grade-race victory in the 2022 Sekiya Kinen (G3, 1,600 meters) and added another in the 2023 Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3, 1,600 meters). 

On Sunday, Shikato marked his fifth Japan Racing Association G1 win following the 2021 Arima Kinen with Efforia. 

Jockey Kosei Miura, who debuted in 2008, scored his 23rd graded victory and much-awaited first G1 title in his 127th attempt at the level.  

Win Carnelian burst out from the outermost stall to press the pace in second behind June Blair (Yutaka Take's ride). As the field rounded the final corner, the 8-year-old chestnut engaged in a fierce duel with the 4-year-old filly down the stretch, ultimately winning his first G1 title by a head. (Watch the race on the JRA's YouTube channel.)  

Miura Reacts to Sprinters Stakes Victory

"I've been riding this horse for a long time, so regardless of the [widest] draw, I was confident in knowing how he could find his best and most comfortable rhythm, which was the top priority for us today," Miura commented after winning the race.

"During the dead heat to the wire, the history between us and the strong desire to give one more big victory to my 8-year-old partner ran through my mind. It's also a big joy for me to mark my first G1 win with the horse of my mentor [and trainer], Yuichi Shikato."

The 59th Running of the Sprinters Stakes

Quick out of the gate, seventh choice June Blair immediately took the lead to set a steady pace. The American Pharoah filly continued to demonstrate incredible speed in the stretch and dueled strongly with the winner but crossed the wire a head short in second. 

Second pick Namura Clair (Christophe Lemaire) broke sharply and eased back to travel wide in mid-division. Although meeting traffic entering the lane, the 6-year-old mare found a narrow opening 200 meters out and unleashed a powerful late charge that timed the fastest over the last three furlongs (32.7 seconds). But Namura Clair was unable to catch the leaders and finished third for the third consecutive year in the Sprinters Stakes. 

Race favorite Satono Reve (Joao Moreira) broke smoothly and settled in midfield, around eighth, and turned the last two corners wide to launch his bid. The Takamatsunomiya Kinen champion, although unable to nail the top two finishers, engaged in a fierce rally with four other horses before the wire and finished a nose behind Namura Clair in fourth.

Yoshino Easter (Hiroyuki Uchida) placed fifth in the 16-horse event.

Lucky Sweynesse's Quest for Victory

Sent off as the 10th pick, Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (Ka Chun Leung) broke well from the 10th stall and was eased back a bit to settle in mid-field behind the race favorite while cruising down the backstretch. As the field launched their bids rounding the last corner, the 7-year-old gelding responded mildly, slipping back near to the rear at the top of the straight and found his best stride too late, finishing 11th. 

"The race was good but the winning time and the pace was just too fast for our horse," trainer Ka Leung Man said in a post-race interview. "Losing close to 50 pounds may have also affected his performance." 

A Look Ahead

The Shuka Sho, which will be held at Kyoto Racecourse on October 19, is the JRA's next G1 race.

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

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Author: JRA News