Second-half summary of the 2023 domestic G1 season
Monday, 01 January, 2024 21:00
Equinox (Photo: Yuki Shimono)
This article will take you through the 2023 fall/winter G1 results in Japan, from the Sprinters Stakes to the Hopeful Stakes.
October 1st: Mama Cocha with Yuga Kawada on board won the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse over 1200m on turf. Mad Cool finished second, a nose behind the winner. The winning time was 1:08.0.
October 15th: It was Yuga Kawada again, this time guiding Liberty Island to victory in the Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse, over 2000m on turf. Masked Diva finished, second a length behind the winner. The winning time was 2:01.1.
October 22nd: Durezza and Christophe Lemaire won the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) at Kyoto Racecourse over 3000m on turf. Tastiera finished second, three-and-a-half lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 3:03.1.
October 29th: Christophe Lemaire reunited with the great Equinox to win the Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo Racecourse over 2000m on turf. Justin Palace finished second, two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:55.2 which broke the Japanese record.
November 12th: Brede Weg provided Christophe Lemaire with yet another G1 in the Queen Elizabeth Cup at Kyoto Racecourse over 2200m on turf. Rouge Eveil finished second, 3/4 lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 2:12.6.
November 19th: Namur with Kota Fujioka on board won the Mile Championship at Kyoto Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Soul Rush finished second, a neck behind the winner. The winning time was 1:32.5.
November 26th: Equinox returned under Christophe Lemaire to win the Japan Cup in scintillating fashion at Tokyo Racecourse over 2400m on turf. Liberty Island finished second, four lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 2:21.8.
December 3rd: Lemon Pop and Ryusei Sakai won the Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse over 1800m on dirt. Wilson Tesoro finished second, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:50.6.
December 10th: Hiroshi Kitamura steered Ascoli Piceno to victory in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Hanshin Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Stellenbosch finished second, a neck behind the winner. The winning time was 1:32.6.
December 17th: Yuga Kawada was back amongst the elite winners with Jantar Mantar as the pair took the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Ecoro Walz finished second, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:33.8.
December 23rd: Meiner Grand with Shinichi Ishigami on board won the Nakayama Daishogai at Nakayama Racecourse over 4100m on the jump track. Nishino Daisy finished second, ten lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 4:37.9.
December 24th: Do Deuce and the legendary Yutaka Take were victorious in the Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse over 2500m on turf. Stars on Earth finished second, a half-length behind the winner. The winning time was 2:30.9.
December 28th: Christophe Lemaire and Regaleira claimed the final G1 of the season, the Hopeful Stakes, at Nakayama Racecourse over 2000m on turf. Shin Emperor finished second, 3/4 lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 2:00.2.
October 1st: Mama Cocha with Yuga Kawada on board won the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse over 1200m on turf. Mad Cool finished second, a nose behind the winner. The winning time was 1:08.0.
October 15th: It was Yuga Kawada again, this time guiding Liberty Island to victory in the Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse, over 2000m on turf. Masked Diva finished, second a length behind the winner. The winning time was 2:01.1.
October 22nd: Durezza and Christophe Lemaire won the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) at Kyoto Racecourse over 3000m on turf. Tastiera finished second, three-and-a-half lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 3:03.1.
October 29th: Christophe Lemaire reunited with the great Equinox to win the Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo Racecourse over 2000m on turf. Justin Palace finished second, two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:55.2 which broke the Japanese record.
November 12th: Brede Weg provided Christophe Lemaire with yet another G1 in the Queen Elizabeth Cup at Kyoto Racecourse over 2200m on turf. Rouge Eveil finished second, 3/4 lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 2:12.6.
November 19th: Namur with Kota Fujioka on board won the Mile Championship at Kyoto Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Soul Rush finished second, a neck behind the winner. The winning time was 1:32.5.
November 26th: Equinox returned under Christophe Lemaire to win the Japan Cup in scintillating fashion at Tokyo Racecourse over 2400m on turf. Liberty Island finished second, four lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 2:21.8.
December 3rd: Lemon Pop and Ryusei Sakai won the Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse over 1800m on dirt. Wilson Tesoro finished second, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:50.6.
December 10th: Hiroshi Kitamura steered Ascoli Piceno to victory in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Hanshin Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Stellenbosch finished second, a neck behind the winner. The winning time was 1:32.6.
December 17th: Yuga Kawada was back amongst the elite winners with Jantar Mantar as the pair took the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse over 1600m on turf. Ecoro Walz finished second, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 1:33.8.
December 23rd: Meiner Grand with Shinichi Ishigami on board won the Nakayama Daishogai at Nakayama Racecourse over 4100m on the jump track. Nishino Daisy finished second, ten lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 4:37.9.
December 24th: Do Deuce and the legendary Yutaka Take were victorious in the Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse over 2500m on turf. Stars on Earth finished second, a half-length behind the winner. The winning time was 2:30.9.
December 28th: Christophe Lemaire and Regaleira claimed the final G1 of the season, the Hopeful Stakes, at Nakayama Racecourse over 2000m on turf. Shin Emperor finished second, 3/4 lengths behind the winner. The winning time was 2:00.2.