Leung Ho Yin, Simon's Bio
Simon is a well respected full-time thoroughbred racing commentator specializing in overseas international racing. Bringing with him a wealth of racing knowledge, Simon is the host and race caller for the overseas simulcast programme since 2008/09 season. He is currently the presenter on several racing television programmes including, ‘Racing Horizon’ and ‘Horse Racing – Results’.

Nakayama Racecourse – Track Analysis (Sprinters Stakes):

As a highly undulating course that features tight corners and short stretch runs, the 1200m Sprinters Stakes field will, immediately after the break, roll downhill while bearing right for an extended 600m section over the clockwise Nakayama strip. Again, due to the sharpness of this first corner, outside-drawn runners will either be floated wide, or forced to tuck behind the pack. Coupled with a short stretch run, horses with high cruising speed that can wing it out and drop towards the rail, or tracking two, three deep at most, certainly get a tactical edge.

Then, with the competition descending all the way until another abrupt up-hill run some 250m from home, front-runners are apparently drawing the short straw. That being said, as the final corner is quite sharp just before turning for home, deep closers may as well have to launch their bid from far out wide, or simply get stuck in traffic with nowhere to go. Also, with just a 300m stretch run to the finish, horses from off the pace need to make their moves through the turn, or leaving themselves too much to do down the lane. In all, a perfect 1200m trip at Nakayama would be to hold a good striking position racing second through fifth early, and then poise to take command in the final stages. Of a particular note, through the past ten editions of this G1 prize, only one single winner – that being STRAIGHT GIRL, the 2015 champion – could manage to break from barrier one through three and strike home first. 

In the 2016 running of this G1 prize contested on firm turf, RED FALX, tugging back early, rallied from out wide down the lane and reeled in the free-wheeling MIKKI ISLE to reign supreme.

Despite intermittent rain, with fair weather returning to Nakayama just in time this Sunday, this year’s running of the Sprinters Stakes would hopefully still be contested on good goings – and thus closers breaking from the middle or outside post positions would constitute the majority of race selections.

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