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, ‘Banker’, ‘Racing Horizon’ and ‘Horse Racing – Results’.

Nakayama Racecourse – Track Analysis (Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas)):

As a drastically undulating course with wicked corners and abbreviated stretch runs, the Nakayama Racecourse – though with the majority of G1 marquees staged at nearby Tokyo – is still home to several G1 events including the Sprinters Stakes, the Arima Kinen and the Hopeful Stakes, and has seen the best equine athletes in the Land of the Rising Sun gracing its turf since 1920.

The Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), likewise a G1 event, traditionally runs here in mid-April. As such, 3YOs sent on their way for the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, a 2000m contest that calls for both speed and stamina, will file by the grandstand along the 400m-plus homestretch for the first time before hitting the first turn. As a deep route with a presumably sedate pace through the early markers, a full-field of eighteen runners is, nevertheless, no exception for this Classic. Therefore, horses drawing outside posts need to hustle up for the rail quick, or risk getting parked wide throughout the trip. Meanwhile, this first turn – somewhat similar to the first turn at Happy Valley – grades slightly uphill until reaching the top of the backside, then rolls gently downhill towards the 900m marker for more levelled goings.

Then, turning for home – another sharp corner, where sluggers attempting to “loop” the main pack will lose plenty of ground, yet those saving ground on the rail would also equally risk getting encroached by tiring speed horses up front – the field will battle it out through the 300m homestretch for classic glory, in particular a terse up-hill run from the 200m marker to the finish that has seen so many front-runners fading quick through the years. Still, regarded as a short stretch run, deep closers need to reel in the first flight by the 200m marker as well, or get running out of ground. In all, this course generally favours deep-closing types with sustained late acceleration.

In the 2019 edition of this G1 prize, when the strip was listed as firm, the eventual tierce – SATURNALIA, VELOX and DANON KINGLY – really put on a show, and hit the line together in a blanket finish. While SATURNALIA and VELOX were racing mid-field and wide for most of the trip, they still managed to unleash, almost in tandem, a powerful late drive from off the pace to join DANON KINGLY, who was stalking the early leader throughout before a ground-saving move towards the rail down the lane, and SATURNALIA, in particular, put his head in front timely for the score.

Despite intermittent rain that is still teasing through Nakayama as of late, sunshine will return in time this weekend, and the ground crew should manage to keep up with a good strip for this Sunday’s big race.

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