A thorough breakdown of top contenders, pedigree, and race pace for the next two-year-old champion.
The Hanshin outer course features gentle turns into a long 473.6m straight with a steep 1.8m uphill finish. This layout demands a combination of explosive acceleration and the stamina/endurance to conquer the climb, truly testing a horse’s genuine ability.
Outer draws (gates 7 & 8) have performed poorly. Inner to middle gates are favored. Pedigree-wise, robust European bloodlines, especially the Nureyev lineage, have proven successful as dark horses due to their power and sustained speed.
Sire: Epiphaneia | Dam: Shinhalight
One-Week Training: Impressive 11.0s final furlong on Ritto CW, showing tremendous acceleration. Trainer praises her peak condition despite prior reports of a bone cyst.
Evaluation: G1-level ability shown in previous win against colts. The “Epiphaneia x Deep Impact” cross is ideal for this course, combining stamina and speed. Considered a top contender.
Sire: Real Steel | Dam: Can’t Buy Me Love
One-Week Training: Pool training to focus on recovery due to a tight race schedule. Trainer indicates she has improved and is in good condition.
Evaluation: Exceptional speed demonstrated in her commanding 3-length victory in the Shiragiku Sho. Well-bred niece of G1 winner Loves Only You. A top-tier talent.
Sire: Drefong | Dam: Epicea Room
One-Week Training: Sharp finish with a 12.0s final furlong on Ritto Woodchip Hill while hand-galloping. Trainer confirms she is in “extremely good” condition.
Evaluation: Unlucky in her last start but showed G1-level potential. Pedigree emphasizes speed and power, making the mile distance suitable. A strong challenger if the race is smooth.
Sire: Admire Mars | Dam: Via Medici
One-Week Training: Blistering 78.9s for six furlongs on Miho Woodchip, near her personal best. Excellent movement and potential for more.
Evaluation: Impressive winner of the Safran Sho, highly praised by C. Lemaire. Her European pedigree provides stamina, a key advantage for Hanshin’s steep climb. A formidable contender.
Sire: Indy Champ | Dam: Viadana
One-Week Training: Recorded a blistering time over a long distance on Ritto CW, significantly surpassing her personal best. Trainer notes steady improvement.
Evaluation: Showcased explosive finishing power for third in the Artemis Stakes despite a slow start. Her sire, a two-time mile champion, confirms her suitability for this distance.
| Horse Name | Training Evaluation | Pedigree & Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Inubou no Utagoe | Strong movement, slightly labored at end. | Stamina and mile suitability. Possesses fighting spirit. |
| Wing Blue | Light adjustment in Miho Woodchip. | Strong sprint influence; distance extension is key. |
| Gallop Borg | Strong movement in Ritto CW. Good condition. | Well-bred with “Nureyev” bloodline for strong performance. |
| Cosmo Red | Near personal best time. Sufficient load. | Showing remarkable improvement with each race. |
| Sun Bright | Significantly ahead of stablemate. Possesses propulsion. | Combines speed and power. |
| Shonan Calis | Extremely excellent time in Miho Woodchip. Strong competitive spirit. | Training movements are top-class. |
| Stunning Lady | Matched older horse. Steady stride. | Good race sense, suitable for competitive races. |
| Noir Venus | Shows improvement. | Highly tractable, could be interesting from an inner draw. |
| Marga | Good movement. | Ultra-well-bred half-sister to Sodashi. |
| Sweet Happiness | Improved condition. | Tenacity is its strength, finishing 2nd in the Shiragiku Sho. |
A key trend for dark horses. This lineage provides the stamina and power to excel in high-paced, grueling races. Relevant Horses: Gallop Borg, Arancarl, Anghelitas.
A successful modern breeding pattern combining stamina, power, and acceleration. Relevant Horse: Arancarl.
Cannot be overlooked due to their high maturity and absolute speed advantage in two-year-old races. Relevant Horses: Margot Love Me, Star Anise.
Top performers often build stamina via “long-distance training on Ritto CW.”
With multiple potential front-runners, the race is predicted to be “average to slightly high-paced.” This favors horses with a balance of speed and stamina.
| Horse | Course | Times | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arancarl | Ritto CW | …-36.8-11.0 | S | Outstanding acceleration. |
| Albane | Miho W | …-36.4-11.3 | A+ | Near personal best. |
| Star Anise | Ritto Hill | …-25.2-12.0 | A | Sharp movement. |
| Taisei Borg | Ritto CW | …-36.7-11.3 | A | Peak condition. |
| Shonan Calis | Miho W | …-35.5-11.5 | A | Excellent overall time. |
| Margot Love Me | Ritto Pool | (Pool) | B+ | Recovery prioritized. |
| Cosmo Red | Ritto Hill | …-24.2-12.3 | B+ | Astonishing hill time. |
S
Top pick with no apparent weaknesses. Her potential in pedigree, performance, and training stands out significantly.
A
Both are strong contenders. Albane’s stamina and Margot’s speed make them serious threats for the win.
B
Taisei Borg, Star Anise, Shonan Calis, and Gallop Borg possess G1-level explosive power and could challenge the leaders.
While the race appears open, analysis reveals a closely matched group of high-level contenders led by Arancarl. Final decisions should be made after observing the horses’ condition in the paddock on race day.
Summary of Key …