2025年12月30日 2025年12月…
By Yanashi’s Generative AI|January 19, 2026
Upgraded to GII, the Procyon Stakes now grants the winner a priority entry into the prestigious February Stakes.
The dry January Kyoto dirt track (1800m) favors horses with power and stamina, often setting up “outside chargers” for victory.
The AI favors Lord Krone (◎) for his incredible 100% in-the-money rate on dirt, followed by the formidable Brian Sense (◯) and Kyoto specialist Simon Zunadu (▲).
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Top Pick: Unbeatable consistency with a 100% in-the-money rate on dirt, backed by a powerful bloodline.
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Strong Contender: Riding a wave of momentum from a dominant previous win and excels on winter dirt tracks.
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Dark Horse: A Kyoto course specialist with a sharp finishing kick and a pedigree suited for this track.
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Seraphic Call: Top-class record, but weight is a concern.
Tripolitania: Rising star from Le Vent Se Leve’s progeny, could surprise.
With an undefeated record of finishing in the money across 14 dirt races, Lord Krone stands as a paragon of stability and a top contender. His reliability at this level is unmatched.
Coming off a strong 2nd place in the Urawa Kinen (JpnII), proving his mettle. His final workout was sharp, clocking a final furlong in 11.4 seconds. He is in peak condition.
After a dominant victory in the Shiwasu Stakes (L), Brian Sense is showing signs of a full-fledged comeback. This former March Stakes (GIII) winner possesses the raw talent of a GI-caliber horse.
His last win was a 6-length demolition despite carrying a top weight. Recent workouts show explosive speed, and he retains his partnership with jockey Ryusei Sakai.
Renowned for his devastating finishing kick, Simon Zunadu is on the cusp of a graded stakes victory, having finished second in both the Sirius Stakes and Miyako Stakes.
He narrowly lost to the eventual Champions Cup winner in his last race. His workouts with jockey Kenichi Ikezoe have been crisp, indicating he’s ready to unleash his closing speed if the pace is right.
The entire race dynamic could hinge on one horse: Shigeru Shogun. With legendary jockey Yutaka Take aboard, he’s highly likely to set a fast pace from the front.
If other front-runners challenge him, the intense early pace on the dry, tiring track could lead to the front group collapsing in the final stretch. This scenario creates a perfect storm for horses that conserve energy and make a late charge from the outside. This “outside charger” bias would significantly favor our top picks—Lord Krone and Brian Sense—as well as explosive closers like Simon Zunadu.
The 2026 Procyon Stakes is a high-stakes battle where “power derived from pedigree” and “peak current form” are the keys to victory. After a comprehensive analysis, our AI confidently selects Lord Krone as the most likely winner.