The feature race in Japan Dec. 27 is the Hopeful Stakes (G1) for 2-year-olds at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) on Nakayama Racecourse's clockwise turf track. Among the last 10 winners of the Hopeful Stakes are Rey De Oro in 2016, Contrail (JPN) in 2019, and Croix du Nord in 2024, who would win the Japanese Derby (G1) the following spring. The goal of the Hopeful Stakes is to showcase a horse with the brightest future
The 2025 Hopeful Stakes features the clash between two undefeated graded stakes winners.
Shonan Gulf has started twice and won both times, including the Sapporo Nisai Stakes (G3) at Sapporo Sept. 6, for Naosuke Sugai. The colt by Harbinger is the third foal out of Mi Carino, who won twice at the Japan Racing Association. Mi Sueno, second dam of Shonan Gulf, won the 2009 Del Mar Debutante (G1) and was bought by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November Sale for $1.9 million. Shonan Gulf was bought at the Japan Racing Horse Association Select Sale in 2023 by Tetsuhide Kunimoto for ¥210 million (approx. US$1,468,532).
Tatsuya Yoshioka's Justin Vista has started twice and won both races, including the Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3) at Kyoto Nov. 29. The colt by Saturnalia is bred by Taihei Farm and Washington City, the second dam of Justin Vista, won the 1999 Las Oaks (G1) and Polla de Potrancas (G1) in Chile. Justin Vista was bought by Masahiro Miki at Hidaka Horse Breeders Association Selection Sale for ¥52 million (approx. US$327,993).
