A look back at JRA G1 races from the Sprinters to Hopeful Stakes in 2024
Tuesday, 31 December, 2024 23:25
Do Deuce (Photo: Yuki Shimono)
The 2024 JRA G1 season featured numerous thrilling battles. Here, we look back at the races from the opening of the autumn G1 season with the Sprinters Stakes to the year-ending Hopeful Stakes.
September 29 - Sprinters Stakes
Winner: Lugal (4yo colt, trainer Haruki Sugiyama)
The 58th Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse saw 9th-favorite Lugal, ridden by Atsuya Nishimura, track the leaders before taking the lead in the stretch to win by a neck over 5th-favorite Toshin Macau, who closed strongly on the inside. The winning time was 1:07.0.
October 13 - Shuka Sho
Winner: Cervinia (3yo filly, trainer Tetsuya Kimura)
The 29th Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse was claimed by the favourite Cervinia, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, who broke through the pack from mid-field and surged clear in the stretch, defeating 5th-favourite Bond Girl, who closed from the back, by 1 3/4 lengths. The winning time was 1:57.1.
October 20 - Kikuka Sho
Winner: Urban Chic (3yo colt, trainer Ryo Takei)
The 85th Kikuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse saw 2nd-favourite Urban Chic, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, sit mid-pack before moving up and pulling away in the stretch to defeat 4th-favourite Redentor, who made up ground late, by 2 1/2 lengths. The winning time was 3:04.1.
October 27 - Tenno Sho (Autumn)
Winner: Do Deuce (5yo colt, trainer Yasuo Tomomichi)
The 170th Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo Racecourse was won by 2nd-favorite Do Deuce, ridden by Yutaka Take, who launched a powerful stretch run from the rear to overtake all rivals, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of 9th-favorite Tastiera, who stayed on well from a forward position. The winning time was 1:57.3.
November 10 - Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Winner: Stunning Rose (5yo filly, trainer Tomokazu Takano)
The 49th Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto Racecourse was taken by 3rd-favourite Stunning Rose, ridden by Christian Demuro, who stalked the pace in fourth before surging clear in the stretch to win by two lengths over 12th-favourite Ravel, who closed from mid-pack. The winning time was 2:11.1.
November 17 - Mile Championship
Winner: Soul Rush (6yo colt, trainer Yasutoshi Ikee)
The 41st Mile Championship at Kyoto Racecourse saw 4th-favourite Soul Rush, ridden by Taisei Danno, unleash a strong late kick from mid-rear to claim victory by 2 1/2 lengths over 7th-favourite Elton Barows, who ran on from mid-pack. The winning time was 1:32.0.
November 24 - Japan Cup
Winner: Do Deuce (5yo colt, trainer Yasuo Tomomichi)
The 44th Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse was claimed by 1st-favorite Do Deuce, ridden by Yutaka Take, who sat at the back before making a sweeping move around the turn and dominating in the stretch. The winning time was 2:25.5 (firm).
December 1 - Champions Cup
Winner: Lemon Pop (6yo colt, trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka)
The 25th Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse was won by the favourite Lemon Pop, ridden by Ryusei Sakai, who led from the start and held off a late charge by 2nd-favourite Wilson Tesoro, finishing a nose ahead. The winning time was 1:50.1.
December 8 - Hanshin Juvenile Fillies
Winner: Arma Veloce (2yo filly, trainer Hiroyuki Uemura)
The 76th Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Kyoto Racecourse was won by 5th-favourite Arma Veloce, ridden by Mirai Iwata, who came from mid-pack and surged past all rivals down the outside to defeat 8th-favourite Vip Daisy, who closed from the rear, by 1 1/4 lengths. The winning time was 1:33.4.
December 15 - Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes
Winner: Admire Zoom (2yo colt, trainer Yasuo Tomomichi)
The 76th Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Kyoto Racecourse was taken by 5th-favourite Admire Zoom, ridden by Yuga Kawada, who tracked the leaders and surged clear in the stretch to beat 2nd-favourite Museum Mile, who stayed on from a prominent position, by 2 1/2 lengths. The winning time was 1:34.1.
December 21 - Nakayama Daishogai
Winner: Nishino Daisy (8yo horse, trainer Noboru Takagi)
The 147th Nakayama Daishogai at Nakayama Racecourse was won by 4th-favourite Nishino Daisy, ridden by Yusuke Igarashi, who tracked the leaders, took the lead before the final jump, and pulled away in the stretch to defeat 3rd-favourite Ecoro Duel by five lengths. The winning time was 4:40.4.
December 22 - Arima Kinen
Winner: Regaleira (3yo filly, trainer Tetsuya Kimura)
The 69th Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse was a hard-fought battle won by 5th-favourite Regaleira, ridden by Keita Tosaki, who tracked the pace and narrowly held off 10th-favourite Shahryar, who closed strongly from mid-pack, by a nose. The winning time was 2:31.8.
December 28 - Hopeful Stakes
Winner: Croix du Nord (2yo colt, trainer Takashi Saito)
The 41st Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse was claimed by the favourite Croix du Nord, ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, who moved up from mid-pack to take the lead in the stretch and defeated 6th-favourite Giovanni, who finished strongly from a prominent position, by two lengths. The winning time was 2:00.5.
September 29 - Sprinters Stakes
Winner: Lugal (4yo colt, trainer Haruki Sugiyama)
The 58th Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse saw 9th-favorite Lugal, ridden by Atsuya Nishimura, track the leaders before taking the lead in the stretch to win by a neck over 5th-favorite Toshin Macau, who closed strongly on the inside. The winning time was 1:07.0.
October 13 - Shuka Sho
Winner: Cervinia (3yo filly, trainer Tetsuya Kimura)
The 29th Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse was claimed by the favourite Cervinia, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, who broke through the pack from mid-field and surged clear in the stretch, defeating 5th-favourite Bond Girl, who closed from the back, by 1 3/4 lengths. The winning time was 1:57.1.
October 20 - Kikuka Sho
Winner: Urban Chic (3yo colt, trainer Ryo Takei)
The 85th Kikuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse saw 2nd-favourite Urban Chic, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, sit mid-pack before moving up and pulling away in the stretch to defeat 4th-favourite Redentor, who made up ground late, by 2 1/2 lengths. The winning time was 3:04.1.
October 27 - Tenno Sho (Autumn)
Winner: Do Deuce (5yo colt, trainer Yasuo Tomomichi)
The 170th Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo Racecourse was won by 2nd-favorite Do Deuce, ridden by Yutaka Take, who launched a powerful stretch run from the rear to overtake all rivals, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of 9th-favorite Tastiera, who stayed on well from a forward position. The winning time was 1:57.3.
November 10 - Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Winner: Stunning Rose (5yo filly, trainer Tomokazu Takano)
The 49th Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto Racecourse was taken by 3rd-favourite Stunning Rose, ridden by Christian Demuro, who stalked the pace in fourth before surging clear in the stretch to win by two lengths over 12th-favourite Ravel, who closed from mid-pack. The winning time was 2:11.1.
November 17 - Mile Championship
Winner: Soul Rush (6yo colt, trainer Yasutoshi Ikee)
The 41st Mile Championship at Kyoto Racecourse saw 4th-favourite Soul Rush, ridden by Taisei Danno, unleash a strong late kick from mid-rear to claim victory by 2 1/2 lengths over 7th-favourite Elton Barows, who ran on from mid-pack. The winning time was 1:32.0.
November 24 - Japan Cup
Winner: Do Deuce (5yo colt, trainer Yasuo Tomomichi)
The 44th Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse was claimed by 1st-favorite Do Deuce, ridden by Yutaka Take, who sat at the back before making a sweeping move around the turn and dominating in the stretch. The winning time was 2:25.5 (firm).
December 1 - Champions Cup
Winner: Lemon Pop (6yo colt, trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka)
The 25th Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse was won by the favourite Lemon Pop, ridden by Ryusei Sakai, who led from the start and held off a late charge by 2nd-favourite Wilson Tesoro, finishing a nose ahead. The winning time was 1:50.1.
December 8 - Hanshin Juvenile Fillies
Winner: Arma Veloce (2yo filly, trainer Hiroyuki Uemura)
The 76th Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Kyoto Racecourse was won by 5th-favourite Arma Veloce, ridden by Mirai Iwata, who came from mid-pack and surged past all rivals down the outside to defeat 8th-favourite Vip Daisy, who closed from the rear, by 1 1/4 lengths. The winning time was 1:33.4.
December 15 - Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes
Winner: Admire Zoom (2yo colt, trainer Yasuo Tomomichi)
The 76th Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Kyoto Racecourse was taken by 5th-favourite Admire Zoom, ridden by Yuga Kawada, who tracked the leaders and surged clear in the stretch to beat 2nd-favourite Museum Mile, who stayed on from a prominent position, by 2 1/2 lengths. The winning time was 1:34.1.
December 21 - Nakayama Daishogai
Winner: Nishino Daisy (8yo horse, trainer Noboru Takagi)
The 147th Nakayama Daishogai at Nakayama Racecourse was won by 4th-favourite Nishino Daisy, ridden by Yusuke Igarashi, who tracked the leaders, took the lead before the final jump, and pulled away in the stretch to defeat 3rd-favourite Ecoro Duel by five lengths. The winning time was 4:40.4.
December 22 - Arima Kinen
Winner: Regaleira (3yo filly, trainer Tetsuya Kimura)
The 69th Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse was a hard-fought battle won by 5th-favourite Regaleira, ridden by Keita Tosaki, who tracked the pace and narrowly held off 10th-favourite Shahryar, who closed strongly from mid-pack, by a nose. The winning time was 2:31.8.
December 28 - Hopeful Stakes
Winner: Croix du Nord (2yo colt, trainer Takashi Saito)
The 41st Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse was claimed by the favourite Croix du Nord, ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, who moved up from mid-pack to take the lead in the stretch and defeated 6th-favourite Giovanni, who finished strongly from a prominent position, by two lengths. The winning time was 2:00.5.