The Sept. 28 renewal of the Sprinters Stakes (G1) at Nakayama Racecourse featured the winners from each of the last two years, the winner of Japan's only other top-level sprint race, and a former Hong Kong champion sprinter—but they all bowed to 8-year-old, first-time grade 1 winner Win Carnelian.
The outcome was a shocker as the veteran son of Screen Hero was sent off at odds of 50-1, and the runner-up, 4-year-old American Pharoah filly June Blair, was 20-1. Attention was focused on Hong Kong raider Lucky Sweynesse; Satono Reve, winner of the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) early in the year; and Lugal and Mama Cocha, Sprinters Stakes victors in 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Overlooked in the buildup, Win Carnelian and jockey Kosei Miura were impossible to miss in the running of the 1,200-meter (about 6-furlong) heat.
Starting from the outside gate in a field of 16, Win Carnelian settled in a pace-pressing spot behind June Blair. Turning into the stretch, it was between them and the issue was decided by a head in 1:06.9, just 0.2 seconds off the course record set by Lord Kanaloa in 2012.
Namura Clair, a 6-year-old mare making her fourth start in the race, finished third, another 1 1/2 lengths in arrears. Satono Reve was fourth, Mama Coacha dead-heated for sixth, Lucky Sweynesse finished 11th and Lugal was 12th.
"I've been riding this horse for a long time, so regardless of the draw, I was confident in knowing how he could find his best and most comfortable rhythm, which was the top priority for us today," Miura said.
"The history between us and the strong desire to give one more big victory to my 8-year-old partner ran through my mind. It's also a big joy for me to mark my first grade 1 win with the horse of my mentor, (trainer) Yuichi Shikato."
Despite the lack of a top-level win on his resume, Win Carnelian entered the race with some credentials of note. He finished second in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) in Dubai in April and fourth in the 2024 running of the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. He also contested the 2023 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, finishing 11th.
And Shikato said before the race Win Carnelian was giving indications he was ready.
"On September 18, he worked on the woodchip flat with another horse, starting out behind, then catching and passing him," the trainer said. "He has always looked good in morning work, but this time he looked like he had a lot more left over, and he moved nicely."
Lucky Sweynesse's trainer, Manfred Man, lamented the stress travel had put on his runner and said the race did not play out to his strengths.
"The race was good, but the winning time and the pace was just too fast for our horse. Losing close to 50 pounds may have also affected his performance," Man said.
Jockey Derek Leung said Lucky Sweynesse was "squeezed between horses in the beginning and was never comfortable. And when they sped up, my horse couldn't follow it. After he struggled in a gap, he fired in the last 100 (meters) but was too late."
Win Carnelian was bred by Cosmo View Farm and carries the silks of Win Co. Ltd. His dam, Cosmo Crystal, is by Meiner Love.
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