Features: A long 473.6-meter straightaway follows gradual 3rd and 4th turns. A steep 1.8-meter uphill gradient is present at the 200-meter mark before the finish line.
Pace: Due to the gentle curves, the pace rarely slackens significantly, often resulting in a relentless, unforgiving rhythm.
Required Abilities:
Explosive Acceleration on the long straight.
The ‘Stamina‘ and ‘Resilience‘ to surge up the steep hill and maintain pace to the finish.
A course that truly tests genuine ability, leaving no room for deception.
Trends from the Past 10 Years of Data
Gate Draw Bias:
Outer gates tend to have unfavorable results.
7th Gate: Win Rate 3.4% ([1-1-2-25])
8th Gate: Win Rate 0.0% ([0-1-0-28])
In densely packed 2-year-old races, extra distance covered on the outside can be fatal, making inner to middle gates advantageous.
Pedigree Trends:
In recent years, in addition to mainstream bloodlines, horses with European-style depth, particularly the blood of Nureyev, have shown a tendency to cause upsets.
The Nureyev bloodline provides the power to handle Hanshin’s steep incline and the sustained speed for a high-paced race.
Many horses who performed well from 6th favorite or lower in the past five years possessed this bloodline.
2. In-Depth Analysis of Key Contenders & Noteworthy Horses
Arancarl (Arancarl)
Sire: Epiphaneia
Dam: Sinhala
Trainer: Takashi Saito (Ritto)
Jockey (Scheduled): Yuichi Kitamura
スポンサーリンク
Final Week Workout Analysis:
Date: December 3 (Wed) / Course: Ritto CW (Good)
Time: 85.1 – 68.9 – 53.0 – 36.8 – 11.0
Content: Chasing stablemate, she accelerated sharply from the inside of the straight, finishing 0.1 seconds ahead with ample power to spare. Her astonishing final furlong of 11.0 seconds showcased incredible sharpness.
Evaluation: Her acceleration was highly praised by the trainer, and her light movements showed no signs of rust despite being back after a layoff. While there were reports of a bone spavin on her left foreleg, her motion suggests no issues, and she appears physically and mentally in peak condition.
Past Performance & Pedigree:
In her previous start, the Wild Kikyo S., she dominated a field of colts with a blistering final three furlongs in 33.3 seconds. Her excellent winning time strongly suggests G1-level ability.
Her dam is the Oaks winner Sinhala. The Epiphaneia x Deep Impact cross provides both the sustained power and burst of speed required for Hanshin’s outer course, making her extremely well-suited for this stage.
Margot Love Me (Margot Love Me)
Sire: Real Steel
Dam: Can’t Buy My Love
Trainer: Shinya Kobayashi (Ritto)
Jockey (Scheduled): Yutaka Take
Final Week Workout Analysis:
Date: December 4 (Thu) / Course: Ritto Pool
Content: With only a week between races, she focused on pool training for fatigue recovery.
Evaluation: The trainer commented, “She’s improved since her last run.” This rational adjustment accounts for consecutive race fatigue.
Past Performance & Pedigree:
In her previous start, the White Chrysanthemum S., she led gate-to-wire, recorded the fastest final three furlongs, and won by an impressive three lengths. Considering the rough track conditions, her winning time of 1:33.6 was exceptional.
She is a well-bred niece to the four-time G1 winner Loves Only You. Her maturity and raw speed are arguably the best among the field.
Star Anise (Star Anise)
Sire: Drefong
スポンサーリンク
Dam: Epicea Arome
Trainer: Tomokazu Takano (Ritto)
Jockey (Scheduled): Hiroshi Matsuyama
Final Week Workout Analysis:
Date: December 3 (Wed) / Course: Ritto Woodchip Training Track (Good)
Time: 54.4 – 39.6 – 25.2 – 12.0 (Hand Ride)
Evaluation: Without pushing, she finished the final furlong sharply in 12.0 seconds under a hand ride, indicating excellent condition. The trainer described her as “exceptionally good,” with no concerns regarding her form.
Past Performance & Pedigree:
In her previous start, the Chukyo 2-Year-Old S., she finished second by a neck despite a poor start and interference colliding with the rail in the straight. Her potential is certainly graded stakes class.
Her sire is Drefong, and her dam’s sire is Daiwa Major, a pedigree specialized for speed and power. The mile distance is well within her range.
Albanne (Albanne)
Sire: Admire Mars
Dam: Via Medici
スポンサーリンク
Trainer: Hirokuni Tanaka (Miho)
Jockey (Scheduled): Ryusei Sakai
Final Week Workout Analysis:
Date: December 4 (Thu) / Course: Miho Woodchip Training Track (Good)
Time:78.9 – 64.1 – 50.6 – 36.4 – 11.3 (Hand Ride)
Evaluation: She recorded a blistering 6-furlong time of 78.9 seconds, a personal best, under a hand ride. She moved exceptionally well with plenty of leg left. Maintaining this excellent form after shipping to Ritto will be key.
Past Performance & Pedigree:
In her previous start, the Saffron S., she made a sustained rally from mid-pack to win. Jockey Christophe Lemaire, who rode her then, also highly praised her ability.
Her sire is a celebrated miler, and her dam’s lineage is a prestigious European family. She is highly adaptable to tough mile races, and the strength from her dam’s line could prove effective on Hanshin’s steep incline.
Evaluation: She was pushed over a long distance, clocking a sensational time that significantly surpassed her personal best. The trainer stated, “She has steadily improved with each run,” indicating ultimate conditioning that reflects remarkable growth.
Past Performance & Pedigree:
In her previous start, the Artemis S., she finished third with a resilient late surge despite a slow break from the gate. If she starts on equal terms, she could be a contender, and her explosive late kick is arguably the best in the field.
Her sire is Indy Champ, the Spring and Autumn Mile King, so her mile suitability is proven.
3. Workout Diagnostics for All Probable Runners and Pedigree Analysis