The 58th running of the Sprinters Stakes (G1), the first group 1 in Japan's second half of 2024, is conducted at Nakayama Racecourse Sept. 29.
A field of 16 runners for the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) event, which carries a total purse of ¥368.2 million (approximately US$2.55 million) includes two raiders from Hong Kong: Victor the Winner trained by Danny Sham and Mugen trained by Pierre Ng. They arrived Sept. 17 at Naria Airport and are spending a quarantine period at Shiroi Horse Racing School. They will move to Nakayama Sept. 24.
While this is first trip to Japan for Mugen, who collected his first graded victory June 23 when he won the Premier Cup (G3) at Sha Tin, Victor the Winner previously visited Japan in March when he finished third in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) at Chukyo. Victor the Winner claimed Centenary Sprint Cup (G1) Jan. 28 at Sha Tin.
Although both Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Mad Cool and last year's Sprinters Stakes winner Mama Cocha are included in the local team, Japan's top hope may be Satono Reve for trainer Noriyuki Hori. The lightly raced 5-year-old son of Lord Kanaloa has won his past three starts in a row, including the June 9 Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3) at Hakodate and Aug. 25 Keeneland Cup (G3) at Sapporo. Nakayama might be his favorite track, as he is unbeaten through three starts there.
