On Sunday, March 24, Chukyo Racecourse hosts the second big Japan Racing Association event of the year, the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, now in its 54th running.
Some 23 horses have been nominated for a full gate open to 18 runners. Ten fillies/mares and two geldings are amid the nominees, with ages ranging from 4 to 8.
The 1,200-meter turf test, along with the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes of the same distance in the autumn, are the two most important races in determining the year's top sprinter. The Takamatsunomiya Kinen, unlike the Sprinters Stakes held at Nakayama Racecourse, is run to the left.
This year, there's an added international touch, with the first foreign-based raiders to appear in the race in six years, Hong Kong's Victor the Winner and Ireland's Schwarz Kaiser, among others. In previous years, four horses from abroad (two from the United States and two from Hong Kong) have taken on the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.
Hong Kong's Aerovelocity, in 2015, was the only foreign-born horse to capture the race.
Notable Entrants for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen
Among the headliners of this year's field is Mama Cocha, who clinched the Sprinters Stakes in October 2023. Her stellar performance, only her second over six furlongs, also brought her the honor of being named the JRA's Best Sprinter for 2023. She has tough competition though, with the Sprinters Stakes runner-up Mad Cool and third-place finisher Namura Clair set to vie for the winner's prize of ¥170 million JPY ($1.1 million USD).
The Takamatsunomiya Kinen is Chukyo's No 11 race on the Sunday card of 12. Post time is 3:40 PM.
Here are some of the field's likely favorites.
Namura Clair Brings Consistency to the Track
A 5-year-old Mikki Isle mare, Namura Clair has proven highly consistent, only missing the top 3 spots three times (the board only once) in her career of 16 starts. Second by a length here in 2023, the Ritto-based mare has failed to make the winner's circle in her six Grade 1 attempts thus far (three of them over 1,200 meters).
She has four graded wins at the distance, with a second and third at the top level. Namura Clair is primed and prepped with a second by a neck in the Grade 3 Kyoto Himba Stakes over 1,400 meters. This was preceded by her third in the Sprinters Stakes and a win of the Grade 3 Keeneland Cup over 1,200 meters at Sapporo. The wild upset in 2023 was due largely to the sloppy track. Namura Clair was the only one who remained true to expectations.
With rain expected on Sunday, this is one to watch.
Toshin Macau Eyes Better Results in Return to Takamatsunomiya Kinen
Toshin Macau was completely done in by the track condition in 2023 and managed to beat only three runners over the line. This time, the 5-year-old heads to the gate looking even more promising than he did last year as fifth pick. He has triumphed in each of his last two starts, both Grade 3 events over 1,200 meters. He is just off a win of the Ocean Stakes at Nakayama, and had preceded that with a first place in the Keihan Hai at Kyoto at the end of November.
With 2016 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Big Arthur as his sire, Toshin Macau has every reason to land his first big win.
Trainer Mizuki Takayanagi commented, "The switch to Chukyo is not a plus, but I think if the ground isn't as bad as it was last year, he should be able to handle it. He has grown and added power, so I think he has a chance if things come together well for him."
Mama Cocha Vying for Second G1 Victory of Career
The 5-year Kurofune-sired Mama Cocha, who won the JRA's Best Sprinter for 2023 and winner of last year's Sprinters Stakes, aims to haul in her second big win in only her second Grade 1 bid of her career. Last year, she headed to the Sprinters Stakes off a second in the Grade 3 Kitakyushu Kinen, with less than six weeks between races.
This time, she hasn't raced in three months. but, with jockey Yuga Kawada, who rode her in the 2023 Sprinter Stakes expected up, Mama Cocha is in good hands and looking to become only the fourth horse (after Believe, Curren Chan and Lord Kanaloa) to win both the previous year's Sprinters Stakes and the Takamatsunomiya Kinen the following year.
Assistant trainer Yuki Iwasaki said: "Her movement is much improved from her last race and I think we have a good chance here."
Read the rest of this article about the Takamatsunomiya Kinen as well as the Japanese horses in contention on JRA News.
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