An in-depth prediction for the Sunrise Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse on Jan 5, 2026. Leveraging AI indices and bloodline analysis, we break down top contenders like Mac Alruin & Ambivalent to give you a winning edge.
The Nakayama 1200m outer turf course starts near the crest of a hill on the backstretch, leading into a continuous descent towards the 4th corner. This layout presents unique challenges:
Sustained Speed: The downhill slope encourages a fast early pace, requiring horses to maintain high speeds for an extended period.
The Final Incline: The short 310m homestretch features a steep 2.2m hill right before the finish line, demanding a final burst of power from already tiring horses.
With a ‘Good’ track condition and the B-course in use, a relatively fast race is anticipated.
Top Contenders: The AI’s Top 2 Picks
◎ AI Top Pick
Mac Alruin
Jockey: Keita Tosaki
AI Index
79
Proj. Odds: 2.2
Bloodline Prowess: Sired by European sprint champion Blue Point. His lineage traces back to Giant’s Causeway and Storm Cat, a bloodline renowned for speed and power.
Peak Condition: Clocked a sharp 68.2s for 5 furlongs in recent workouts, with a final furlong of 11.6s, indicating excellent form.
Key Concern: The camp has noted a slight issue at the starting gate. A clean break will be crucial.
◯ Main Contender
Ambivalent
Jockey: Yukito Ishikawa
AI Index
55
Proj. Odds: 6.0
Winning Momentum: Enters this race after a dominant victory in the Best Wish Cup on Dec 27, running on a short one-week rest.
Course Suitability: Sired by Discreet Cat, also from the Storm Cat line, giving him a strong genetic predisposition for this course type.
Condition: Despite the quick turnaround, the stable reports the horse is “full of energy” with no signs of fatigue.
Dark Horses & Special Data
Spotlight on the “Storm Cat” Lineage
A notable trend among the top contenders is the presence of Storm Cat blood, a potent American Northern Dancer line. This lineage is well-represented:
Mac Alruin (Great-grandsire Storm Cat)
Ambivalent (Grandsire Storm Cat)
And I Love Her (Grandsire Storm Cat)
Speed of Light (Damsire Storm Cat)
This bloodline’s high success rate on power-sprint courses like Nakayama 1200m makes these horses particularly noteworthy.
Underdogs to Watch
Like a Flower: An AI-recommended longshot. The 52kg handicap is a significant advantage.
Ashakataka: A front-runner who could cling on for a place if allowed to dictate the pace.
AI’s Final Verdict
Based on our proprietary AI logic, here is the final ranking and recommendation:
Rank
Num
Horse Name
AI Index
◎
3
Mac Alruin
79
◯
12
Ambivalent
55
△
5
Like a Flower
52
△
9
Ashakataka
48
△
8
Speed of Light
44
△
4
Dover Hawk
44
△
2
Dark Eclipse
44
△
11
Isachil Seaside
41
The index gap shows Mac Alruin as a standout, with Ambivalent as the main challenger. For exotic bets like Trifectas, casting a wide net for the third spot could be a profitable strategy.Get Final Betting Slips & Full Analysis Here