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 G1 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. Track record is 1 minute and 6.7 seconds, established by LORD KANALOA in 2012.

The 1600m Saffron Sho travels the same route as 1200m. The only difference is that the starting gate sets 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 going track. MOZU SUPERFLARE, jumped from the widest draw, set the pace and coveted first 600m for 33.3 seconds. While it looked quick, it is standard tempo for Sprinters Stakes. PIXIE KNIGHT, 3YO colt by MAURICE, and RESISTENCIA, 4YO filly by DAIWA MAJOR, tracked the leader from third and fourth position, PIXIE KNIGHT hit the front at 150m out and drew right away to score by two lengths. And RESISTENCIA finished second, while MOZU SUPERFLARE faded and finished fifth.

Autumn meeting at Nakayama started on 10th September and the Sprinters Stakes Day is the ninth meeting. The weather forecast on the first weekend of October at the area of Nakayama Racecourse is sunny and dry at the moment. However, the weather at this time of year is really changeable and please pay attention on weather updates.

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