Japan racing - JRA preview on 24th December 2022

A bumper weekend of Grade One racing on the JRA circuit. The curtain opens on Saturday with the Nakayama Daishogai steeplechase over 4100m, race 10 on the card. Can the champion Oju Chosan register an incredible 10th Grade One win? The other feature is the Grade Two Hanshin Cup which sees a capacity field of 18 go around over 1400m. The best across the two venues on Christmas Eve look this way.

OJU CHOSAN winning the Nakayama Daishogai Nakayama in Japan.
OJU CHOSAN winning the Nakayama Daishogai Nakayama in Japan. Picture: Japan Racing Association

Hanshin Dirt Race 2 - #6 Sunrise Pride 

This two-year-old was sent out at $1.80 on debut over 1400m at Chukyo Dirt a fortnight ago but after racing up on the speed found Asteroid Mare a shade too strong. The relatively quick back-up by the Yasuda stable is a good sign that the colt pulled up well following that run.

Coming back to 1200m looks a nice move. Yuichi Kitamura can take up a position just behind the leading division and we expect he will be too good for these in the closing stages.

The obvious danger is Silence Time who has been in the money in two career starts, both over today's track and distance. His figures in those appearances put him a little behind the top selection, but as a juvenile there is always plenty of scope for improvement.  

Hanshin Race 9 - #5 Pace Setting 

It is hard to fault the credentials of this colt, and he looks a nice bet despite tackling some in-form opposition.

After a very easy all-the-way maiden win over 1200m at Kokura two runs ago, trainer Takayuki Yasuda decided to test him in Grade Two company at Tokyo last start. Starting at $4.00, he settled midfield then unleashed in the run home but left it too late, finishing just 1.2 lengths away in fourth at the end of the 1400m feature.

Cristian Demuro has a good association with this stable, so it is reassuring to see him engaged. Expect class to prevail.

Tenno Message and Dancing Needle are promising fillies who are yet to miss the top-three in their brief careers. The colt might have their measure, but these progressive types will keep him honest. 

Hanshin Race 12 - #4 Riad 

This useful stayer is back from a ten-week break and looks perfectly placed to register a second career win.

Started at $1.70 when fresh from a spell last preparation but found the Niigata 2000m a bit short, charging home late but unable to pick up Spider Gold. This first-up assignment is in an inferior allowance race to the Niigata contest, and 2400m looks his optimum trip as he matures.

Irish jockey David Egan is riding plenty of winners and will give this son of Deep Impact every possible chance.

Blue Gate was strong late when runner-up over 2200m at Chukyo recently. She is being tried over this distance for the first time today, which looks a good option. Watch for her late in proceedings.

Nakayama Race 12 - # 10 Teegarden 

The Hagiwara yard has lowered the bar of late for this genuine colt and he has responded by running on well to grab second at his last two appearances, most recently over the mile at Tokyo eight weeks ago.

The stable thought enough of the colt to test him in a Grade Two over this course and distance in April, so his recent performances in allowance races are hardly surprising. If he maintains the rating achieved at Tokyo last time, it should be enough to get him over the line against this opposition. Tom Marquand is riding well, and it adds to the confidence to see him stay aboard after partnering the colt for the first time last start.

The main threat Nishino Souvenir ran a better race last time out when ridden a lot closer to the speed. It is worth noting that Marquand rode this colt last start, and has today opted to ride Teegarden.


Racing and Sports

Nakayama

Saturday, 24th December 2022

10
14:45
(local)

THE NAKAYAMA DAISHOGAI(J . G1)

Age: 3yo and up Type: STPLE
JPY ¥126,050,000
4100m TURF GOOD
10
14:45
(local)
JPY ¥126,050,000
4100m GOOD

THE NAKAYAMA DAISHOGAI(J . G1)

Age: 3yo and up Type: STPLE
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 9. NISHINO DAISY (JPN) 6yo H
HARBINGER (GB) - NISHINO HINAGIKU (JPN)
Y IGARASHI
N TAKAGI
$15.4
63kg
Shigeyuki Nishiyama
2nd 11. XENOVERSE (JPN) 5yo H
DEEP IMPACT (JPN) - RHYTHM OF LIGHT (GB)
KAZUMA MORI
SHINYA KOBAYASHI
$3.6
63kg
Fukukitaru Co. Ltd.
3rd 7. MEINER LEONE (JPN) 10yo H
STAY GOLD (JPN) - WEMBLEY (JPN)
TAKAYA UENO
HIROO SHIMIZU
$25
63kg
Thoroughbred Club Ruffian Co. Ltd.
4th 6. MUSCLE BEACH (JPN) 6yo H
MEISHO SAMSON (JPN) - COURONNE D'OR (JPN)
S KITAZAWA
TAKASHI SUZUKI
$77.9
63kg
5th 2. VILLAGE EAGLE (JPN) 5yo H
BEHKABAD (FR) - TOKINO NASTIA (JPN)
KEI OEHARA
MASAHIRO TAKEUCHI
$29.1
63kg
6th 1. OJU CHOSAN (JPN) 11yo H
STAY GOLD (JPN) - SHADOW SILHOUETTE (JPN)
S ISHIGAMI
SHOICHIRO WADA
$2.4
63kg
7th 5. BLASON D'AMOUR (JPN) 7yo H
DEEP IMPACT (JPN) - MEDAGLIA D'AMOUR (USA)
M NISHITANI
MIKIO MATSUNAGA
$3.6
63kg
8th 8. KEN HOVAWART (JPN) 9yo H
MARVELOUS SUNDAY (JPN) - EISHIN PANSY (JPN)
KAYATA KOMAKI
HIDEYUKI MORI
$10.5
63kg
9th 10. T M CHUHAI (JPN) 8yo H
BLACK TIDE (JPN) - T M HISUI (JPN)
YUTA ONODERA
T IGARASHI
$240.6
63kg
10th 3. T M TATSUMAKI (JPN) 4yo H
KIZUNA (JPN) - WILLOW PADDOCK (JPN)
Y KUROIWA
HIDENORI TAKE
$74.9
63kg
FF 4. ASAKUSA GENKI (USA) 7yo G
STORMY ATLANTIC (USA) - AMELIA (USA)
KENJI HIRASAWA
H OTONASHI
$39.7
63kg

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