G3 Chukyo Kinen preview by our original AI
Wednesday, 17 July, 2024 18:42
Nihonpiro Kyiv (C)netkeiba
This weekend's racing will feature the G3 Chukyo Kinen at Kokura Racecourse. Here are three contenders picked by our original AI.
Though Catedral's recent performances have been less than stellar, switching to Kokura's 1800m turf this time could bring a surprising turnaround. His aptitude for Kokura's 1800m turf has been well demonstrated with second-place finishes in the 2021 and 2022 Chukyo Kinen and the 2023 G3 Kokura Daishoten. Despite finishing seventh in his last Kokura Daishoten three starts back, he recorded the fastest final 3 furlongs, indicating a performance better than his placement suggests.
At three, he finished third in the G1 NHK Mile Cup, showcasing his high calibre. Now eight years old, Catedral continues to display strong finishing speed, recording the second-fastest final furlongs in three of his last four races, suggesting that age hasn't diminished his abilities. While his come-from-behind running style makes him reliant on race dynamics, he remains a strong contender if the race unfolds to suit his powerful finish.
Elton Barows has not posted notable results in his last four races, but considering they were all G1 and G2 events against top-tier runners, this is understandable. Despite not finishing in the money, he managed a respectable fourth place in the G1 Mile Championship four starts back, showing he can hold his own against elite rivals.
Last year, Elton Barows secured his first graded stakes victory in the G3 Radio Nikkei Sho, followed by a win in the G2 Mainichi Okan. Both of these wins came at the 1800m distance. This week's Chukyo Kinen is also run over 1800m, and the competition is less fierce than in his recent races, which bodes well for his chances. Given his proven ability at this distance and the relatively easier field, he is expected to be a strong contender for a top finish.
Two starts ago, Nihonpiro Kyiv made a strong showing in his first graded stakes attempt, finishing third in the G2 Milers Cup against horses with proven G1 form. This performance demonstrated his capability at the graded stakes level. However, his last race in the G3 Naruo Kinen resulted in a disappointing 12th-place finish. In that race, he struggled to find a good position from a wide draw and was unable to settle into a comfortable rhythm over the extended 2000m distance, which may have contributed to his poor performance.
Kokura, the venue for his upcoming race, has been a favourable track for Nihonpiro Kyiv, where he boasts a perfect record of three wins from three starts. The switch from Kyoto to Kokura is a positive change, as is the distance reduction from 2000m to 1800m, which should help him settle better and avoid the issues he faced in his previous race. With these improved conditions, Nihonpiro Kyiv has a good chance to bounce back and deliver a strong performance.
Though Catedral's recent performances have been less than stellar, switching to Kokura's 1800m turf this time could bring a surprising turnaround. His aptitude for Kokura's 1800m turf has been well demonstrated with second-place finishes in the 2021 and 2022 Chukyo Kinen and the 2023 G3 Kokura Daishoten. Despite finishing seventh in his last Kokura Daishoten three starts back, he recorded the fastest final 3 furlongs, indicating a performance better than his placement suggests.
At three, he finished third in the G1 NHK Mile Cup, showcasing his high calibre. Now eight years old, Catedral continues to display strong finishing speed, recording the second-fastest final furlongs in three of his last four races, suggesting that age hasn't diminished his abilities. While his come-from-behind running style makes him reliant on race dynamics, he remains a strong contender if the race unfolds to suit his powerful finish.
Elton Barows has not posted notable results in his last four races, but considering they were all G1 and G2 events against top-tier runners, this is understandable. Despite not finishing in the money, he managed a respectable fourth place in the G1 Mile Championship four starts back, showing he can hold his own against elite rivals.
Last year, Elton Barows secured his first graded stakes victory in the G3 Radio Nikkei Sho, followed by a win in the G2 Mainichi Okan. Both of these wins came at the 1800m distance. This week's Chukyo Kinen is also run over 1800m, and the competition is less fierce than in his recent races, which bodes well for his chances. Given his proven ability at this distance and the relatively easier field, he is expected to be a strong contender for a top finish.
Two starts ago, Nihonpiro Kyiv made a strong showing in his first graded stakes attempt, finishing third in the G2 Milers Cup against horses with proven G1 form. This performance demonstrated his capability at the graded stakes level. However, his last race in the G3 Naruo Kinen resulted in a disappointing 12th-place finish. In that race, he struggled to find a good position from a wide draw and was unable to settle into a comfortable rhythm over the extended 2000m distance, which may have contributed to his poor performance.
Kokura, the venue for his upcoming race, has been a favourable track for Nihonpiro Kyiv, where he boasts a perfect record of three wins from three starts. The switch from Kyoto to Kokura is a positive change, as is the distance reduction from 2000m to 1800m, which should help him settle better and avoid the issues he faced in his previous race. With these improved conditions, Nihonpiro Kyiv has a good chance to bounce back and deliver a strong performance.