 Expert - Naohiro Goda | |
|---|---|
| Naohiro is a leading journalist and commentator in Japan with regular television shows on networks such as NHK Network and Green Channel. He is a regular contributor for newspapers, magazines and websites including Sports Nippon, Weekly Gallop, and netkeiba.com. He also operates a bloodstock business marketing firm. Naohiro is a frequent international racing traveler and a regular visitor to the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin. | |
Nakayama Racecourse – Track Analysis (Sprinters Stakes Day):
Nakayama is a clockwise oval track with two routes for turf course - the inner track and the outer track, and a dirt course. The outer track branches off from the inner track at the exit of near turn and rejoins the inner track at the entrance of far turn. The homestretches for the turf course and dirt course are 310m and 308m respectively. Meanwhile, it is the tendency at Nakayama that the tempo is picked up at the middle of far turn, and the runners who hold endurance and stamina enjoy better result than runners who hold sharp turn of foot.
This year, four turf races and three dirt races from the Sprinter Stakes Day will be simulcast to Hong Kong.
The outer turf track is used for the 1200m Sprinters Stakes, 1600m Saffron Sho and 2200m 3yo and up 1 win. Starting gate for the feature race, 1200m Sprinters Stakes is set at the beginning of backstretch and there is 275m long straight from the starting gate to the beginning of far turn. Statistics show there is nearly no draw bias at this course. Given the short homestretch, tactical speed is always the key to success and it is a tendency that front runners and runners who track leaders closely enjoy better result. But with the upslope in the final 200m, closers are not denied.
The 1600m Saffron Sho travels the same route as 1200m. The only difference is that the starting gate is set in the chute of the near turn. The field will only run for 240m straight before the first turn. As the result, outside drawn runners are easily put in disadvantage and need extra effort to find an ideal position. The tempo is picked up around at 800m out over this distance. In other words, runners are often required to put on a long spurt.
For the 2200m 3yo and up 1 win, since the starting gate is positioned at the top of the homestretch, there is a 432m long straight before the first turn and there is no draw bias. The tempo of the races over this distance tends to be steady and it could be picked up at the beginning of far turn. Runners are required sustainable long spurt, rather than quick turn of foot.
The only race using the inner track, where the turns are tight, is the 1800m Ibaraki Shimbun Hai. There is only 205m straight from the starting gate to the first turn. Wide draw could be a disadvantage and the pace tends to be slow, front runners and runners who track leaders closely tend to enjoy better result.
For the dirt races, the starting gate of the 1200m 3yo and up 1 win and Sotobo Stakes is set on the turf track, middle and low draw are favourable, because runners which start from wide draw runs a longer distance on turf than runners which start from inside draw. The pace tends to be strong over this distance. Runners of the 1800m 3yo and up 2 wins will break from the top of the homestretch. There is no specific draw bias, front runners and runners which track leaders closely enjoy better result over this distance. And “power” and “stamina” work well here, rather than “speed” and “turn of foot”.
Last year’s Sprinters Stakes contested on firm turf. MOZU SUPREFLARE, winner of the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in the same year, was the pacemaker and furiously fast. GRAN ALEGRIA, favourite in the race, broke slowly and was settled at rear of the 16 runners’ field. While she was still at the second last position at top of the homestretch, her late kick was amazing and hit the front at 50m before finishing line, covering final 600m, to win by two lengths. DANON SMASH, who tracked leaders form fourth position, finished second, and A WILL A WAY, tracking GRAN ALEGRIA throughout at the back, was late for third. MOZU SUPERFLARE only finished tenth.
It seems the weather forecast is getting worse through this week as a typhoon is approaching at Tokyo area. It is likely that rain arrives on the race day. This year's edition of the Sprinters Stakes Day may be staged on tricky goings.
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