Next Star Kanazawa 2025 Prediction: MTGique vs. K’s Komakusa – A Two-Horse Race? In-depth Analysis of All 11 Runners

October 27, 2025

Race preview for the 2-year-old graded race ‘Next Star Kanazawa’ to be held on October 28, 2025. Focusing on the two strong contenders, MTGique and K’s Komakusa, we conduct an in-depth analysis of all 11 runners’ abilities based on past data to explore their chances of winning.

Key Takeaways

• Next Star Kanazawa’s biggest focus is the “two-horse race” between Kanazawa’s undefeated MTGique and K’s Komakusa, known for its versatile racing style.
• The Kanazawa 1400m course emphasizes starting position and sustained speed in the short straight, favoring front-running horses.
• Graciles, who won impressively in its first start after transferring, and the consistently performing Noto Phoenix hold the potential to challenge the top two.
• The race pace is expected to be dictated by MTGique and Raymoana, with the intensity of the early speed battle being a key factor in determining the winner.

Course Analysis – The Keys to Success are ‘The Start’ and ‘The Short Straight’

The venue for the race, Kanazawa Racecourse’s dirt 1400m, has a distinct course layout. It’s a right-handed track with a circumference of 1200m, and the 1400m starting point is located just after exiting the fourth turn. This results in a very short distance of less than 300m to the first turn, significantly impacting the race’s development.

If a field of front-running horses with strong starting speed gathers, the battle for position into the first turn will be fierce. Securing a favorable inside gate and being able to move forward smoothly becomes a crucial factor in determining the winner. Conversely, horses that are slow out of the gate or forced to race wide will face a significant disadvantage.

Furthermore, the home straight is only 236m long, which is particularly short for a local racetrack. Although it’s a flat course with no elevation changes, making a late surge from the rear is extremely difficult in such a short straight. Therefore, tactical positioning – how well a horse can reach the final corner in a good position – is paramount. In essence, this course favors horses that possess both the ability to lead from the start and the stamina to maintain a good position and sustain their effort in the short straight.

Unshakeable Main Contenders! The Two Top Favorites Indicated by Data

Looking at the current field, two horses stand out as being a cut above the rest based on their past performances and racing styles. We will delve deeper into these two top contenders, who are expected to draw significant attention from racing fans and experts alike.

MTGique (No. 5): Aiming for the Top of the Generation with a Perfect Record

MTGique boasts a perfect consecutive finish record at Kanazawa, with 2 wins and 2 second-place finishes in 4 starts. This horse has never finished outside the top three, demonstrating exceptional consistency. Particularly noteworthy is its overwhelming performance in the previous graded race, the ‘Ishikawa TV Cup’. On September 14, 2025, under heavy track conditions, MTGique led from the start and maintained its position without relinquishing the lead, showcasing a dominant “Yokozuna” performance. The sectional times of “1-1-1-1” clearly illustrate its commanding race strategy. The winning time of 1 minute 27.7 seconds was an excellent clocking, considering the track conditions that day. This victory, achieved as the overwhelming favorite, also proved its mental fortitude. As mentioned, the Kanazawa 1400m course offers a distinct advantage to horses with strong front-running capabilities. MTGique’s exceptional speed and racing sense perfectly align with the characteristics of this track, making it the most likely candidate to dictate the pace of the race.

K’s Komakusa (No. 7): Aiming for the Crown with Stability and Tactical Flexibility

The primary challenger to MTGique is K’s Komakusa. With a record of 2 wins and 1 second-place finish in 4 starts, this horse also maintains a very high level of consistent performance. Its greatest asset is its tactical flexibility, allowing it to adapt to different race developments. In the ‘Kuroyuri Sho’ on September 29, 2025, it tracked the leader in second position and surged ahead in the final straight to win. The sectional times of “2-2-2-1” indicate its intelligent racing style, staying within striking distance of the leader and finishing strongly when it matters. Furthermore, its speed was proven in its second career start on June 23, where it won a 900m race in an impressive 55.7 seconds. While MTGique is a type that dominates races with absolute speed, K’s Komakusa is a “quietly strong contender” that can secure victory by observing its opponents’ moves. If the early pace becomes fierce, this horse’s tactical flexibility will be its biggest weapon.

Eyeing the Throne! Thorough Evaluation of All Runners

Despite the strong two-horse race narrative, the other runners are also vying for the throne. Accurately assessing each horse’s ability is essential for constructing a betting strategy. Here, we provide a thorough analysis of the remaining nine horses based on data.

Graciles (No. 8): An Assassin from Monbetsu, Awakens at Kanazawa

Graciles, which began its career at Monbetsu Racecourse and transferred to Kanazawa, can be considered the biggest “wild card” in this race. In its first start after transferring, a 2-year-old class 2 race (September 29, 1400m), it showed a sharp acceleration from third position to secure a brilliant come-from-behind victory. Its winning time of 1 minute 31.4 seconds was faster than K’s Komakusa’s winning time in the ‘Kuroyuri Sho’ on the same day, suggesting high potential. Its experience racing against tough competition at Monbetsu and its high adaptability to the Kanazawa course are significant attractions.

Noto Phoenix (No. 4): Astonishing Consistency, Ideal for Betting Core

Despite not having won in five starts, Noto Phoenix has finished in the top three in four of them (three seconds, one third), never finishing outside the prize money positions. While lacking the killer instinct to win, its reliability and ability to consistently perform well against any opponent make it a highly dependable choice for place bets (quinella, place quinella) and trifecta bets. Notably, its last two starts have been second-place finishes over the 1400m distance, proving its course suitability. It has the capability to finish in the top ranks depending on the race development.

Gliese (No. 1): Improving After Transfer from Monbetsu

Like Graciles, Gliese is a transfer from Monbetsu. While it didn’t achieve any wins there, it performed admirably to finish second in its first start at Kanazawa, the ‘Kanazawa Cinderella Cup’ (October 12, 1500m). The change in environment seems to have had a positive effect, making it a horse on an upward trend. Its racing style, leading and holding on, aligns with Kanazawa’s winning pattern, and with the distance shortening to 1400m, further improvement is expected.

Raymoana (No. 6): Talented Filly with a Debut Win, Unknown Potential

With one start and one win, Raymoana impressively led from start to finish in its debut race on September 29 (1400m). Its performance, living up to its status as the favorite, suggests high talent. Although facing significantly tougher competition this time, its unknown potential makes it a formidable opponent. Its running style, similar to MTGique’s preference for leading, could be a key factor in controlling the race pace.

MT Blade (No. 9): Winning Record at Monbetsu, Suitability at Kanazawa?

MT Blade has a win over 1000m at Monbetsu, confirming its speed ability. Since transferring to Kanazawa, it has finished sixth and second in two starts. In its last 1400m race, it finished second to Graciles, demonstrating its suitability for the course. With the benefit of a previous run, it is expected to perform even better this time.

Ryuno Titan (No. 3): Speed Over Short Distances Proven

Ryuno Titan convincingly won its debut race over 900m in a fast time of 55.8 seconds, proving its genuine speed. However, after extending the distance to 1400m, it has finished fifth in two consecutive races, suggesting it struggles with the longer trip. Overcoming this distance with the current field will be challenging, but it retains the potential for a surprise if the race unfolds in its favor.

Momo Chrome (No. 2): Won Over 900m, but Distance Extension is a Challenge

This horse is similar to Ryuno Titan. Its only career win was over 900m, and it has struggled over 1400m, with finishes of seventh and fourth. Its fourth-place finish last time shows some improvement, suggesting it might be gradually adapting to the distance, but its ability to cope with the demands of a graded race remains uncertain.

Lucienne (No. 10): Bloodline Appeal but Recent Form is Poor

Lucienne is a well-bred horse, sired by Cheval Grand, winner of the G1 Japan Cup. It won its debut race over 900m on a heavy track, demonstrating both power and speed. However, its subsequent three starts have seen a decline in performance (third, seventh, ninth). While its pedigree is top-notch among the field, regaining its form is the key.

Yamami Daio (No. 11): Facing Challenges Since Debut Win

Yamami Daio had a promising start, winning its debut 900m race. However, its subsequent three starts have resulted in finishes of fifth, ninth, and eighth. Particularly over the extended 1400m distance in its last two races, it has struggled to keep pace with the field. A tough race is anticipated.

Pace Prediction: The Key to the Race Development

Based on the analysis of all runners’ abilities, we will now summarize the overall race flow and the crucial points that will likely decide the outcome.

Pace Prediction: The Key to the Race Development

Among the current field, the clear front-runners are the top-rated MTGique (No. 5) and Raymoana (No. 6), who won its debut race by leading. These two are expected to vie for the lead from the start, making a fast pace likely. Considering the Kanazawa 1400m course layout, the early battle for position is expected to be intense. This scenario could favor horses like K’s Komakusa (No. 7) and Graciles (No. 8), who can race in the leading group. If the front-runners expend too much energy competing, these closers will have a chance to emerge in the final stretch. Conversely, if MTGique manages to lead comfortably on its own, it could potentially run away with the race. The action immediately after the start will significantly influence the race’s conclusion.

Next Star Kanazawa 2025 Runner Data Comparison Table

Overall Evaluation Based on Data

Based on a comprehensive data analysis, MTGique and K’s Komakusa are indeed the two horses that stand out in terms of record and ability. MTGique excels in course suitability and absolute speed, while K’s Komakusa shines with its racing sense and consistency. However, Graciles’ performance in its first start after transferring was very strong, holding the potential to upset the top two. Noto Phoenix, consistently finishing in the top ranks, is also a horse that cannot be overlooked in betting. The race pace will be influenced by Raymoana, and horses like Gliese, showing signs of recovery, and MT Blade, are interesting contenders to see how high they can finish. It promises to be a very intriguing race.

Conclusion: Final Ratings and Betting Picks

In this article, we have thoroughly analyzed each horse’s ability and key race development points based on publicly available past performance data. For our final conclusion, including ratings and specific betting picks, please refer to the detailed analysis by professional handicappers via the link below.

Professional Handicapper’s Final Conclusion and Betting Picks Here