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.

Hanshin Racecourse – Track Analysis (Osaka Hai):

Hanshin Racecourse, always racing clockwise, is comprised of three tracks, including the turf track in the outside, the dirt track in the middle and the steeplechase course from inside. One of the characteristics for the turf in Hanshin is that either inner bend or outer bend will be used according to the distance of the races when the horses turning for home. For the outer bend, the track is 2089m long, with a 473.6m homestretch, which is the third-longest in JRA’s tracks, after Niigata and Tokyo. The track using the inner bend is 1689m long, with a 356.5m homestretch. The dirt track is 1517.6m long, with a 352.7m long homestretch. There are two chutes that rejoin the main course at the top of both the backstretch and the homestretch.

G1 Osaka Hai over 2,000m is conducted at inner turf track. Starting gate is set at 311m before finishing line on homestretch. The distance from the starting gate to the entrance of near turn is 325m. Statistic shows barrier 1 and barrier 2 are not favourable, because neither of them have sent a winner of Osaka Hai in the last 20 years. As sharp rise begins 100m from the starting gate, tempo tends to be moderate at this course. The course is flat from near turn, all way through backstretch, until 600m out. There is a 400m long down slope from the far turn to the 200m marker on the homestretch, with 2m difference in height. And the runners go through the sharp rise again, which begins 200m before the finishing line.

It is recognized as a tough course, as runners go through the sharp rise on homestretch twice, and “stamina” is more important factor than “speed”. Statistic shows that runners who follow the pace run better than closers.

Last year’s Osaka Hai was conducted on rain-softed turf track at Hanshin. CONTRAIL, winner of Japanese Triple Crown in 2020, appeared at racecourse for the first time since Japan Cup in November 2020, and was supported as the favourite. Pace setter was LEI PAPALE, who broke from barrier 8. LEI PAPALE clocked 59.8 seconds at midpoint and CONTRAIL was settled at 9th position in 13 runners’ field. As Yuga Kawada on saddle of LEI PAPALE started to drive at the top of the homestretch, LEI PAPALE responded well and covered final 600m for 36.8 seconds, which is the quickest in 13 runners. As a natural result, no horse could catch LEI PAPALE and she made all by four lengths. MOZU BELLO finished second and CONTRAIL, who struggled to handle soft ground, finished third.

While current meeting at Hanshin started on 12th February and the day of Osaka Hai is 16th live racing there, turf track is still kept in good condition with proper cushion. The track is firm side of good as of noon on 25th March.

Slight rain is forecasted few days before the race day, and the weather is expected to be cloudy this Sunday. Please be advised to pay attention on weather updates at the area of Hanshin, because the track condition could be a decisive factor, as it was twelve months ago.

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