While there is still heavy snow in much of Japan, the Tokyo regions seems spared the worst of it which is fine as that's the venue for the February Stakes.

This is the "Spring" counterpart to the Japan Cup Dirt and they are the two G1 dirt contests. This one is over the mile and see Transcend back to defend his title in this, which led last year to his second in the Dubai World Cup and his win in the Japan Cup Dirt. Espoir City won this the previous year but hasn't done anything much since. Yamanin KIngly made a nice debut on dirt in October but then didn't do much after that but he's by Agnes Digital who won this so he might be back ready to go. Grand Prix Boss is one of several horses who are trying dirt for the first time but he's a talented horse and may make the frame.