 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 (Takarazuka Kinen):
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.
The G1 Takarazuka Kinen is over 2,200m on turf, which inner bend will be used. The starting gate sets at the top of the homestretch, and there is a 525m long straight from the starting gate to the entrance of near turn. As first 300m is slight down slope, tempo could be strong at this course. Statistics show there is few draw bias, except barrier one on the rail. In the last twenty running of Takarazuka Kinen, barrier one has never sent a winner. Sharp rise begins at 300m from the starting gate, with the difference of height is 1.8m. Tempo tends to be moderate at this point. The course is flat from near turn, all way through backstretch, until 600m out. 400m long down slope, with the difference of height is 2m, begins at 600m pole. And the runners go through the sharp rise again, which begins at 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 follows the pace run better than closers.
Last year’s Takarazuka Kinen was conducted at firm going turf track. EFFORIA, Japanese Horse of the Year in 2021, was supported as hot favourite, and TITLEHOLDER was supported as second favorite. PANTHALASSA played a role of pacesetter, as expected, and pace was strong, as he clocked 57.6 seconds at 1000m pole. TITLEHOLDER tracked PANTHALASSA from second position and EFFORIA, who dwelt coming out of stalls, was settled at ninth position in seventeen runners’ field. TITLEHOLDER hit the front at top of homestretch and draw clear to win by two lengths. HISHI IGUAZAU delivered the strong challenge on homestretch, covering final three furlongs for 35.9 seconds, which is the quickest in seventeen runners, finished second.
June meeting at Hanshin started on 3rd June and the day of Takarazuka Kinen is the eighth day. Turf track is kept in good condition, although rail side on far turn has become slightly rough. Though it is a rainy season in Japan, weather at the area of Hanshin Racecourse has been dry in general this year. However, rain is forecasted on the day before, please pay attention on weather updates.
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