Four graded stakes races including G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen headline this weekend's JRA action
Monday, 24 March, 2025 17:15
Mama Cocha (Photo: Yuki Shimono)
This weekend will feature racing at Nakayama, Hanshin, and Chukyo Racecourses, with four graded stakes races set to take place.
The highlight of the weekend is the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen on Sunday, March 30th, at Chukyo Racecourse. Among the top contenders are Mama Cocha (Mare, 6), the 2022 Sprinters Stakes winner who recently returned to the winner's circle in the Ocean Stakes, Namura Clair (Mare, 6yo), a five-time graded stakes winner coming off a victory in the Hanshin Cup, and Mad Cool (Horse, 6yo), last year's Takamatsunomiya Kinen champion.
Also on Sunday, Nakayama Racecourse will host the G3 March Stakes, featuring Brian Sense (Horse, 5yo), who won the Aldebaran Stakes in his previous outing; Lord Couronne (Colt, 4yo), who is on a four-race winning streak, and Matenro Sky (Gelding, 6yo), who will be making his dirt debut.
On Saturday, March 29th, the G2 Nikkei Sho will take place at Nakayama, with notable entries including Urban Chic (Colt, 4yo), last year's Kikuka Sho winner, Chevalier Rose (Horse, 7yo), who is coming off back-to-back graded stakes wins, and Libyan Glass (Horse, 5yo), who appears to be regaining top form. Meanwhile, Hanshin Racecourse will host the G3 Mainichi Hai, where Lila Emblem (Colt, 3yo), unbeaten in two starts and winner of the Shinzan Kinen, will take on Nebra Disk (Colt, 3yo), a half-brother to Lys Gracieux.
On the NAR circuit, Tuesday, March 25th, will feature the JPN3 Kurofune Sho at Kochi Racecourse, with Emperor Wakea (Horse, 5yo), who finished fifth in the G1 February Stakes, is among the notable entrants. On Wednesday, March 26th, the JPN2 Keihin Hai will be held at Oi Racecourse, with Happy Man (Colt, 3yo), runner-up in the Zen Nihon Nisai Yushun, among the contenders.
The highlight of the weekend is the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen on Sunday, March 30th, at Chukyo Racecourse. Among the top contenders are Mama Cocha (Mare, 6), the 2022 Sprinters Stakes winner who recently returned to the winner's circle in the Ocean Stakes, Namura Clair (Mare, 6yo), a five-time graded stakes winner coming off a victory in the Hanshin Cup, and Mad Cool (Horse, 6yo), last year's Takamatsunomiya Kinen champion.
Also on Sunday, Nakayama Racecourse will host the G3 March Stakes, featuring Brian Sense (Horse, 5yo), who won the Aldebaran Stakes in his previous outing; Lord Couronne (Colt, 4yo), who is on a four-race winning streak, and Matenro Sky (Gelding, 6yo), who will be making his dirt debut.
On Saturday, March 29th, the G2 Nikkei Sho will take place at Nakayama, with notable entries including Urban Chic (Colt, 4yo), last year's Kikuka Sho winner, Chevalier Rose (Horse, 7yo), who is coming off back-to-back graded stakes wins, and Libyan Glass (Horse, 5yo), who appears to be regaining top form. Meanwhile, Hanshin Racecourse will host the G3 Mainichi Hai, where Lila Emblem (Colt, 3yo), unbeaten in two starts and winner of the Shinzan Kinen, will take on Nebra Disk (Colt, 3yo), a half-brother to Lys Gracieux.
On the NAR circuit, Tuesday, March 25th, will feature the JPN3 Kurofune Sho at Kochi Racecourse, with Emperor Wakea (Horse, 5yo), who finished fifth in the G1 February Stakes, is among the notable entrants. On Wednesday, March 26th, the JPN2 Keihin Hai will be held at Oi Racecourse, with Happy Man (Colt, 3yo), runner-up in the Zen Nihon Nisai Yushun, among the contenders.