Sprint, Older Fillies & Mares.
The Sprinters Stakes (G1, 1,200m), the first G1 event of the fall, will take place at Nakayama on September 30. The race, which has attracted many foreign contenders over the years, will welcome Hong Kong’s Lucky Bubbles (AUS, G7, by Sebring) this year. The 2017 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (G1, 1,200m) champion will face defending champion Red Falx (JPN, H7, by Swept Overboard), who will be aiming at an unprecedented third consecutive title. However, the son of Swept Overboard (USA, by End Sweep) has been struggling after finishing third in his seven-year-old kick-off start, the Hankyu Hai (G3, 1,400m) and then eighth and ninth his next two starts – the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) and the Yasuda Kinen, respectively.
Fine Needle (JPN, H5, by Admire Moon), winner of the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March, was fourth in his first overseas challenge, the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, and then took a break upon his return to Japan. He bounced back to form to win his comeback in the last leg of the Summer Sprint Series, the Centaur Stakes (G2, 1,200m) on September 9, looking well poised for a sprint G1 double.
Seiun Kosei (JPN, H5, by Admire Moon), winless in seven starts after a victory in the 2017 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, captured his second grade-race title in the first leg of the Summer Sprint Series, the Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3, 1,200m), on June 17. The Summer Sprint Series champion Ares Barows (JPN, H6, by Deep Impact) won the CBC Sho (G3, 1,200m) on July 1 and the Kitakyushu Kinen (G3, 1,200m) on August 19. Daimei Princess (JPN, M5, by King Halo) won the Ibis Summer Dash (G3, 1,000m) on July 29, while Nac Venus (JPN, M5, by Daiwa Major) won the Keeneland Cup (G3, 1,200m) on August 26 to go along with a third-place finish in this year's Takamatsunomiya Kinen.
The Sprinters Stakes lineup will also include Let'S Go Donki (JPN, M6, by King Kamehameha), who is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Keeneland Cup and three strong runner-up efforts in her past JRA sprint G1 events.
Among those aiming for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on November 11, several four-year-olds or older will be running in the Fuchu Himba Stakes (G2, 1,800m) on October 13, including 2017 Queen Elizabeth II Cup champion Mozu Katchan (JPN, F4, by Harbinger). The Harbinger (GB, by Dansili) filly was sixth in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March and is coming off a third-place finish in the Sapporo Kinen. Crocosmia (JPN, M5, by Stay Gold), who came in second as an outsider in the 2017 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, was eighth in the Sapporo Kinen. Two others will also head for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup after the Fuchu Himba Stakes. Lys Gracieux (JPN, F4, by Heart's Cry) was a runner-up in four G1 starts including the Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m) in May and Soul Stirring (JPN, F4, by Frankel) has been 10th, seventh and third in races against fillies and mares this year after finishing seventh in the 2017 Japan Cup.
2017 Shuka Sho winner Deirdre (JPN, F4, by Harbinger) was third in the Dubai Turf and then won her first start back in Japan, the Queen Stakes (G3, 1,800m) on July 29. After starting in the Fuchu Himba Stakes, she is expected to run in the Hong Kong Cup (G1, 2,000m) in December. Following the Fuchu Himba Stakes, Admire Lead (JPN, M5, by Stay Gold) and Jour Polaire (JPN, M5, by Deep Impact), Victoria Mile winners in 2017 and 2018, respectively, will step down to a mile for the Mile Championship on November 18. Red Avancer (JPN, M5, by Deep Impact), third-place finisher in the Victoria Mile, is expected to aim for the Mile Championship after the Fuji Stakes (G3, 1,600m) on October 20.
Persian Knight (JPN, C4, by Harbinger) will attempt to defend his Mile Championship title after returning this fall in the Fuji Stakes. The Harbinger colt, who also proved effective at middle distances with runner-up efforts in two G1 starts at 2,000 meters – the 2017 Satsuki Sho and the 2018 Osaka Hai – was sixth in the Yasuda Kinen but is expected to stick to the mile this fall.
Yasuda Kinen victor Mozu Ascot (USA, C4, by Frankel) will head for the Mile Championship via the Swan Stakes (G2, 1,400m) on October 27, and then face international competition in the Hong Kong Mile. Keiai Nautique (JPN, C3, by Deep Impact), who bested the three-year-olds in the NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m), will face his seniors for the first time this fall in the Mainichi Okan, after which his connections will decide whether to step up in distance or stay at a mile. 2017 NHK Mile Cup victor Aerolithe (JPN, F4, by Kurofune), who finished second in the Yasuda Kinen this spring, has options including the Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Mile Championship, depending on the outcome of her next start, the Mainichi Okan.
