After a great year for Japanese horseracing on the world stage in 2023, the first JRA Grade 1 race of 2024 will be run this coming Sunday (February 18) at Tokyo Racecourse. The February Stakes is one of just two top-level JRA dirt races on the yearly calendar, with the Champions Cup at Chukyo in December being the other.

This Sunday's race is run over a mile, and is for 4-year-olds and up. It was originally known as the February Handicap when it was first run in 1984 as a Grade 3 race, but has gradually been elevated in class, and it became a Grade 1 in 1997, when it was also opened to runners from overseas. The American-trained Shirl's Speight took on the race last year, but this year sees no challengers from other countries.

Despite a number of Japan's top dirt horses (Lemon Pop and Ushba Tesoro to name just a couple) heading to Saudi Arabia to take on the Grade 1 Saudi Cup later this month, there have been 27 early nominations for this year's Grade 1 February Stakes. To a large extent, prize money earned will decide which horses get a start. A maximum of 16 runners will line up on the day of the race, and the set weight to be carried is 58kg, with a 2kg allowance for fillies and mares. There looks to be a strong challenge from NAR (local government racing) runners this year, together with horses that usually run in turf races switching to dirt, so an interesting race looks assured. It should be remembered that a mile dirt race at Tokyo starts on the turf track.

First favorites have enjoyed a 50% win-strike rate in the past 10 years, and 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds have had the best record in the race during that time with four wins apiece. Record time for the race was set by Cafe Pharoah, when he won in a time of 1 minute 33.8 seconds in 2022. The winner's check this year is JPY120 million (around USD850,000) out of a total purse of close to JPY260 million.

A couple of races this year leading up to Sunday's race have been the Grade 2 Tokai TV Hai Tokai Stakes over 1,800 meters at Kyoto, and the Grade 3 Negishi Stakes over 1,400 meters at Tokyo, with both races being run in January.

The 41st running of the Grade 1 February Stakes, which has been a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race since 2016, will be Race 11 on the Sunday card at Tokyo, with a post time locally of 15:40. Final declarations and the barrier draw will come out later in the week.

Here's a look at some of the runners expected to be in the line-up:

Wilson Tesoro: The 5-year-old by Kitasan Black must have a good chance on the form of his last two races, where he finished second to Lemon Pop in last year's Grade 1 Champions Cup, and also placed second to Ushba Tesoro in the last big dirt race of 2023, the Grade 1 Tokyo Daishoten last December. Assistant trainer Masahiro Yokota commented: "He drew widest in his last race and was the last to load, but he got off to a good start, and with no other horse wanting to lead, he went to the front. He ran at his own pace, but was eventually beaten by one of the world's top horses, so it was a good race for him when you consider this, and that he also beat home some other good horses. Everything's gone smoothly with him since he returned to the stable after a break at the farm." Kohei Matsuyama gets the ride on Wilson Tesoro, and it will be the first time for him to ride the horse.

Dura Erede: It has been an interesting career so far for Dura Erede, and in recent races, he's been showing that he's possibly better on dirt than he is on turf. It will be his first race of the year on Sunday, but hopes are high that he can run a good race. Trainer Manabu Ikezoe said: "He stumbled slightly at the start last time, and he didn't pick up so well between the third and fourth corners. He was perhaps still a little tired after his run in the Champions Cup. Since being back at the stable, we've just confirmed that his condition is good. It will be his first time over a mile, so we'll have to see what he can do."

Champagne Color: Last year's Grade 1 NHK Mile Cup winner embarks on a new journey this year, when he takes on his first ever dirt race this Sunday. The 4-year-old by Duramente hasn't been seen in action since last year's Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen, but trainer Tsuyoshi Tanaka is hoping the horse can start things off well in 2024. "It'll be his first race on dirt, and with a view to him running overseas later this year, we thought we'd start with this race. He's had some gate practice, and is getting used to what it's like racing on dirt, so he should be fine going into the race," the trainer said. Jockey Hiroyuki Uchida enjoyed Grade 1 success with Champagne Color last year, and is set to ride the horse again on Sunday.

Mick Fire: One of the stars from the NAR circuit, Mick Fire put together a seven-race winning streak from September 2022 through to October last year, before being beaten into eighth in the Grade 1 Tokyo Daishoten last December. Trainer Kazuo Watanabe said: "It was his first time to run against older horses last time. He was quite restless in the gate and he didn't run so well overall, but he came out of the race with no problems, particularly regarding his hooves. He's been at the stable since, and his condition is improving before this next race." Mick Fire is a 4-year-old colt by Sinister Minister.

King's Sword: It is seven wins from fourteen starts in dirt races for the 5-year-old, also by Sinister Minister, and although he's never raced at Tokyo, his form alone is solid enough to give him every chance here. Recent comments from trainer Ryo Terashima were: "I would have liked him to have done a bit better last time, but he didn't run on when it counted at the end of the race. This time he'll be racing on a left-handed track, which he hasn't done in a while, but the one turn in the race and the shorter distance should be in his favor." Mirai Iwata rides King's Sword in a bid to win his first ever JRA Grade 1.

Red Le Zele: It will be the fourth consecutive Grade 1 February Stakes this year for the now 8-year-old Red le Zele. His best finish in the race was his second-place last year, and he's still capable of running a big race if things are in his favor, in particular the ground. Assistant trainer Keiichiro Yasuda said: "His run in the Musashino Stakes last November came at a difficult time, after the unusually hot summer last year. He ran quite well, however, considering his condition. He's better in the winter, and he'll be in better shape going into this next race."

Igniter: Another representative from the NAR, Igniter has been racing at local tracks all over Japan, and getting some good results as well, away from his Hyogo Prefecture base. His latest win was in last year's JBC Sprint at Oi, and the 6-year-old by Espoir City (winner of the February Stakes in 2010) has enough prize money to his name to all but guarantee a run in this Sunday's race. The world also beckons if he does well enough here. Trainer Masashi Atarashi commented on his stable star: "Since returning from the farm, things have gone well with him. He seems to be in better condition than previously when he was returning from a break, and he should be tuned up nicely heading into this race."

Another interesting entry is Omega Guiness, a 4-year-old colt by Logotype, who will be having just his sixth career start if he gets into the line-up. With three wins from his five starts so far, including a very easy win in a listed race over a mile at Tokyo last year, he would look to have a good chance, with Christophe Lemaire poised to take the ride.