[Updated: 2026-01-23 19:24:13] Revised by AI Assistant
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The main race at Kyoto on November 9, 2025, the “Kifune Stakes,” is shaping up as a thrilling showdown between two formidable contenders: Ludique and Yamanin Shura. With both horses sharing predicted win odds of 2.3x, this article provides an in-depth comparison based solely on official information, including training data and stable comments, to uncover their true strengths. We will meticulously analyze key prediction points for the Kifune Stakes, dissecting the real difference in class between these two favorites using data, and identifying dark horse candidates that offer value beyond their odds.
- Article Highlights
- Kifune Stakes 2025: Race Overview and Course Key Points
- Clash of Titans: Ludique vs. Yamanin Shura – A Head-to-Head Data Battle
- Two Contenders Comparison Table: Data Reveals the “Evaluation” Disparity
- Kifune Stakes 2025 Prediction Points: Full Field (Dark Horse) Analysis
- (2) Shonan Abias: Last Race’s “Misfortune” Signals a Potential Upset
- (11) Enya Love Faith: A Closer That Thrives “If the Pace Suits”
- (9) Agassi: Course Specialist Aiming for a Breakthrough at “Favorite Kyoto”
- (10) Padma: Will Blinkers Provide That “Extra Push”?
- (8) Mozu Nanastar: Successful Recovery, “First Time on Dirt” is the Key
- Other Contenders Data Analysis (Short Comments)
- ヤナシ社長(旧：生成系競馬予想)
Article Highlights
- The Kifune Stakes is highlighted by a “two-strong contender” battle between Ludique and Yamanin Shura, both with predicted win odds of 2.3x.
- Data analysis reveals that Ludique, with “excellent condition” in both stable comments and training, edges out Yamanin Shura, whose evaluation is “not bad.”
- Ludique‘s “first-time blinkers” are the crucial factor. This move could lead to a dominant victory if it corrects his temperament issues, but also carries the risk of self-destruction if it backfires.
- The top dark horse candidate is Shonan Abias, who was hindered by race development and weight in his previous outing. He possesses the potential to challenge the two favorites.
- Course specialist Agassi, known for his prowess at Kyoto, and closer Enya Love Faith, who thrives in a high-paced race, both have strong chances depending on the race flow.
Kifune Stakes 2025: Race Overview and Course Key Points
Let’s begin by examining the basic event information and the unique characteristics of the course for this highly anticipated race.
- Race Date: Sunday, November 9, 2025
- Racecourse: Kyoto Racecourse, 4th Meeting, Day 2
- Race Number: 10R
- Start Time: 15:05 JST
- Class: 3-year-olds & Up, 3-Win Class
- Course: Dirt 1200m (Right-handed)
The Kyoto Dirt 1200m course is notorious for its long run to the third corner from the start, often leading to a high-paced, demanding race from the outset. With no significant elevation changes in the straight, sustained speed and a sharp “finishing kick” to overhaul tiring front-runners are paramount. This year’s field boasts a diverse mix of closers and front-runners. The strategic positioning of the two strong favorites will profoundly influence the race’s development. Deciphering this race flow is the initial “prediction key” to successful betting.
Clash of Titans: Ludique vs. Yamanin Shura – A Head-to-Head Data Battle
Ludique and Yamanin Shura stand side-by-side with identical predicted win odds of 2.3x. While the market sees them as equals, a meticulous examination of the “quality of data” – including training, stable comments, and previous race outcomes – reveals a distinct “difference in evaluation” between the two.
(1) Ludique: Stable’s “S-Grade” Assessment, But with a Major X-Factor
First up is the 4-year-old colt, Ludique, with jockey C. Demuro aboard, carrying 58kg. At first glance, his data appears almost flawless.
Stable Comment Analysis (Trainer Takano)
Trainer Takano states, “He’s been incredibly smooth this period. I think he’s in excellent condition,” giving a strong endorsement of his readiness. He further adds, “He’s the type who runs well regardless of course or race development,” suggesting confidence in his adaptability to Kyoto’s likely high pace. “Incredibly smooth” is the highest praise from the stable, indicating an absence of any concerning factors.
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Training Data Analysis
His final workout was conducted on Wednesday, November 5, at Ritto Training Center’s uphill track (Sakura-michi).
11/5 (Wed) Ritto Uphill Good 56.5 – 40.9 – 26.3 – 12.3 (Hand-ridden, with plenty left)
While the raw times might seem ordinary, the remark “Hand-ridden, with plenty left” and “Excellent finishing speed” are significant. The workout analysis states, “His spirit is strong, teetering on the edge of bolting, but his raw power is exceptional. In good condition.” While his strong temperament is an unknown factor in the race, his undeniable power and the “good condition” assessment, which corroborates the stable’s comments, suggest he is perfectly prepared.
Previous Race Interview Analysis (2nd Place)
Jockey Jun Nishimura, who rode him in his last race (Oyamazaki Stakes, 2nd), commented, “He felt good turning the 4th corner, and I had excellent momentum. The horse in front just didn’t stop.” This clearly indicates a “pace disadvantage” rather than any questioning of the horse’s ability. In fact, Nishimura confidently added, “He’s a very good horse, and I believe he’ll win very soon,” suggesting he felt Ludique was a guaranteed winner in his next start (this race).
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The Most Important Data: Two Conflicting Evaluations and the “B” Symbol
A deeper dive into Ludique‘s data reveals two “X-factors”:
- Challenge: The race card’s short comment mentions “needs one more push,” and the previous jockey’s comment, “the horse in front didn’t stop,” both point to a consistent “lack of a final extra gear.”
- Cause: Conversely, the training analysis describes his temperament as “strong, teetering on the edge of bolting.” This overly aggressive spirit might be contributing to his inability to find that “one more push” in the race’s final stages.
- Solution: This brings us to the crucial “B” symbol next to his name on the race card. According to the annotations, this signifies “first-time blinkers.” The stable has made a decisive move, introducing blinkers for the first time, to address this “lack of a final push” and to manage his “teetering on the edge of bolting” temperament. If this proves effective, his “exceptional power” could lead to a dominant victory. However, if it backfires and exacerbates his temperament, he could self-destruct. This is the biggest “prediction point” when evaluating Ludique.
(6) Yamanin Shura: 3-Year-Old Momentum and Kawada’s Ride, But Data Hints at “Slight Unease”
Challenging Ludique is the 3-year-old colt, Yamanin Shura, ridden by the highly reliable Yuga Kawada, carrying 57kg. He is coming off a victory in his previous race (Shinryo Tokubetsu) and enters this race with considerable momentum as he steps up in class.
Stable Comment Analysis (Trainer Saito Takashi)
Trainer Saito expressed confidence in his ability to compete at this level, stating about his previous race, “Even though it was a different racing style than before, he showed his strength by winning.” He also commented, “Due to his temperament, a break might actually be beneficial. We’re optimistic for the 3-win class,” suggesting that the short layoff before this race will work in his favor.
Training Data Analysis
His final workout was conducted on Wednesday, November 5, at Ritto Training Center’s woodchip course (CW).
11/5 (Wed) Ritto CW Good 86.7 – 70.9 – 55.8 – 39.8 – 11.2 (Hand-ridden, with plenty left)
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The final furlong of 11.2 seconds is excellent. The short comment “Freshened up but well-prepared” indicates that despite the layoff, his condition is not an issue. However, the tone of the “workout analysis” is noteworthy: “Although his stride seemed slightly inferior, he demonstrated his usual performance. Not bad.”
Previous Race Interview Analysis (1st Place)
Despite winning his last race, jockey Yuga Kawada’s comments were notably reserved: “There are various challenges, but he’s starting to show his ability, and I hope he continues to improve further.” This suggests that even after a victory, he views the horse as still developing and not yet at his peak.
The Most Important Data: The Gap Between Odds and “Quality”
Yamanin Shura has the exact same predicted odds of 2.3x as Ludique. However, there is a clear difference in the “quality” of their supporting data. Ludique‘s data receives an “S-grade” from both the stable (“incredibly smooth”) and the track reporter (“excellent condition”). In contrast, Yamanin Shura‘s workout analysis is “stride seemed slightly inferior… not bad.” “Not bad” is simply incomparable to “excellent condition” or “incredibly smooth.” Furthermore, regarding previous jockey comments, Ludique’s jockey, despite a 2nd place finish, declared he would “win very soon,” while Yamanin Shura’s jockey, despite a 1st place, merely mentioned “various challenges” and focused on future improvement. From this comparison, it’s evident that Yamanin Shura’s popularity is strongly influenced by trust in jockey Kawada and the momentum of a 3-year-old (coming off a 1st place). However, when considering pure “preparation” and “readiness,” the advantage clearly goes to Ludique. This “evaluation gap” is the biggest key to deciphering this two-strong contender race.
Two Contenders Comparison Table: Data Reveals the “Evaluation” Disparity
| Comparison Item | (1) Ludique | (6) Yamanin Shura |
|---|---|---|
| Predicted Win Odds | 2.3x | 2.3x |
| Stable Comments | ◎ “Incredibly Smooth” | ◯ “Optimistic” |
| Workout Analysis | ◎ “Exceptional Power. Good Condition” | △ “Stride Slightly Inferior… Not Bad” |
| Previous Jockey Comment | ◎ “Will win very soon” (2nd Place) | ◯ “Various Challenges” (1st Place) |
| X-Factor | First-time Blinkers | First Race in Class |
Kifune Stakes 2025 Prediction Points: Full Field (Dark Horse) Analysis
While the race appears to be dominated by the two favorites, it’s not as straightforward as the odds suggest. Even among the other 10 horses, a careful data analysis can uncover compelling reasons to consider them for your bet slips.
(2) Shonan Abias: Last Race’s “Misfortune” Signals a Potential Upset
This 5-year-old colt is the third favorite with predicted odds of 7.2x. His strongest selling point lies in the “reasons for his defeat” in his last race. Jockey Joao Moreira, who rode him to a 2nd place finish in the Sotobo Stakes, commented, “He broke well and maintained a good rhythm during the race. However, I was held up in the straight, and the winner got away.” This clearly points to a specific cause for his loss. The “memo for next race” further states, “He showed tenacious late speed to finish 0.1 seconds behind the winner. Considering the 2kg weight difference with the winner, his performance was very strong.” This strongly suggests he would have been a top contender, or even a winner, without the unfortunate race development and weight disadvantage. Stable comments also praise his consistency, stating, “He hasn’t faltered in recent starts,” and his training data, “a plain type in workouts,” “races better than he trains,” hints at his gritty, hard-knocking nature. If Ludique and Yamanin Shura focus too much on each other, Shonan Abias is the dangerous third horse most likely to capitalize on the opportunity.
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(11) Enya Love Faith: A Closer That Thrives “If the Pace Suits”
The evaluation of this horse is quite simple. As trainer Morita comments, “He’s purely a closer, so the race needs to set up for horses to come from behind.” However, his “ability to consistently show a strong late kick” is genuine. In his last race (Sotobo Stakes, 3rd), he “made a furious rally with the fastest closing speed in the field to finish 3rd.” If Ludique, for instance, bolts due to the blinkers, leading to a confirmed high-paced race, there’s a strong possibility that Enya Love Faith‘s late burst of speed could be devastating.
(9) Agassi: Course Specialist Aiming for a Breakthrough at “Favorite Kyoto”
With predicted odds of 23.4x, he’s not a popular pick, but data suggests he has been “intentionally aimed” at this race through his preparation.
- Suitability: The race card’s short comment highlights “excels at Kyoto.” Trainer Shono’s comment, “He has good results on the Kyoto course, so we expect a turnaround,” strongly emphasizes his course aptitude.
- Preparation: Comments like “rested to avoid the hot season” and “doesn’t mind coming off a break” indicate that he was intentionally given a summer休養 (rest) and then targeted for this specific race at his favored Kyoto course, suggesting a “peak condition” effort.
His workout on Wednesday, November 5, with jockey Taguchi aboard, was rated “fairly well-prepared,” earning a passing grade. He should not be underestimated.
(10) Padma: Will Blinkers Provide That “Extra Push”?
Like Ludique, Padma carries the “B” symbol, indicating first-time blinkers. Trainer Haru Sugiyama explicitly states his intention: “In this class, we need a little more ingenuity. We’re putting on blinkers this time. I hope it leads to better finishing speed.” His defeat in the previous race (Oyamazaki Stakes, 5th) had a clear reason: “the track was too fast.” If the blinkers provide that “one more push,” significant improvement can be expected.
(8) Mozu Nanastar: Successful Recovery, “First Time on Dirt” is the Key
This 3-year-old filly underwent a significant recovery after her last race in August (Hidaka Stakes, 13th), and the break seems to have worked wonders. The training short comment is “recovery and improvement,” and the analysis states, “This week she responded quickly and finished ahead. Her movement quality has improved after the rest.” The biggest point of interest is assistant trainer Araki’s comment: “We’re trying her on dirt for the first time in a while, so we’ll see how she changes.” This “surface change” from turf to dirt is the strategy. In this reset race, her dirt aptitude could potentially blossom.
Other Contenders Data Analysis (Short Comments)
- (3) Kitano Soiree: Trainer Honma comments, “If the race develops well for her,” indicating a reliance on pace. Her workout also shows “lacks a bit of sharpness,” suggesting a deficiency in closing speed.
- (4) Rose Balsam: Trainer Yoshimura remarks, “If things click, she should be able to perform well.” However, her workout also shows “lacks a bit of sharpness,” leaving an impression of being one punch short.
- (5) Naccer Face: Assistant trainer Nakai notes, “This is her first 1200m race since her win,” and “this distance might suit her better,” suggesting a targeted return to a preferred distance.
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