Irogotoshi wins this year’s Nakayama Grand Jump at Nakayama.
Second favorite Irogotoshi successfully defended his title in this year's Nakayama Grand Jump and became the fourth jumper after Gokai (2000-2001), Karasi (2005-2007) and Oju Chosan (2016-2020, 2022) to win back-to-back victories in this prestigious J-G1 event. After his first victory last year, the son of Vincennes finished sixth in the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, 3,110m), after which he was given the rest of the season off, and kicked off this season on March 17 in a flat race, the Spica Stakes (3 Wins Class, 1,800m) in which he was 13th. For both trainer Kazuya Makita and jockey Yu Kuroiwa, the victory was their second J-G1 title after last year—Makita also has three grade-titles in flat racing while Kuroiwa has a total of five graded victories, all over jumps.
Irogotoshi broke smoothly, soon settled in mid-division between rivals going right-handed and advanced to around fourth position approaching the big brush fence (no.6). Maintaining good rhythm as the field switched to the left, the seven-year-old bay moved closer to the front, overtaking June Velocity after the big hedge (no.7) into third position while still more than five lengths behind the pacesetter along the backstretch. Picking up speed approaching the third corner, he was more or less uncontested after hitting the front after fence no.9 to successfully pull away to a three-length victory.
"I am thrilled to have won today. Not just for myself but because I was able to validate his win last year," commented jockey Yu Kuroiwa.
Fifth favorite June Velocity rated in a forward position in around second or third while saving ground near the rails throughout most of the trip, gave an impressive late charge as soon as being shifted to the outside after landing fence no.10, and overtook Nishino Daisy 50 meters out for second.
Third favorite Nishino Daisy stayed close to the pace in fourth along the outside and overtook the leader after the big brush (no.7), switching to the left-handed course. Opening the gap from the rest of the field by more than sixth lengths at one point, the son of Harbinger weakened with 800 meters to go, allowing his rivals to inherit the lead with two fences to go, but continued to chase the leaders into the stretch and found another gear in the last furlong in his attempt to close in on the eventual winner. While overtaken by June Velocity in the last strides, the eight-year-old bay was well ahead of the remaining group by four lengths.
Odds on favorite Meiner Grand, who was looking into picking up his sixth consecutive win and second J-G1 title, was off slow and, although soon advancing to mid-division, was more than ten lengths behind the pacesetter for most of the way, failing to threaten throughout the race to a distant sixth.
Other Horses:
4th: (2) Ecoro Duel—sat around 5th, overtook past pacesetter before wire, never threatened top
finishers
5th: (5) Village Eagle—set pace up to 5th jump (no.6), remained in contention but weakened after
final jump (no.10)
7th: (12) Daishin Clover—settled near favorite, unable to reach contention
8th: (9) Giga Bakken—chased pace in 2nd early, faded after 7th jump (no.7)
9th: (11) Florstadt—ran around 6th, gradually dropped back
10th: (3) Wonder Clover—was off slow, raced 2nd from rear, no factor
FF: (6) Tamamo Wakamusha—traveled around 5th early, unseated rider soon after 3rd jump
(no.2)
FF: (7) Portafoglio—trailed in rear throughout trip, pulled up before final jump (no.10)
