Win Carnelian wins this year’s Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama.

Win Carnelian marked an upset victory in this year's Sprinters Stakes to capture his third graded and first G1 title and became the second eight-year-old horse to win the race after Hong Kong-based Ultra Fantasy in 2010. Sired by Screen Hero who was also trained by Yuichi Shikato, the chestnut began his career in 2019 and finished fourth in the 2020 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m). He registered his first grade-race victory in the 2022 Sekiya Kinen (G3, 1,600m) and added another in the 2023 Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3, 1,600m). Win Carnelian was tested over 1,200 meters for the first time in last year's Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m; 4th) and marked a runner-up effort in this year's Al Quoz Sprint (G1, 1,200m). Trainer Yuichi Shikato marked his fifth JRA-G1 win following the 2021 Arima Kinen with Efforia while jockey Kosei Miura, who debuted in 2008, scored his 23rd graded victory and much-awaited first G1 title in his 127th attempt at the level.

Eight-year-old Win Carnelian burst out from the outermost stall to press the pace in second behind June Blair. As the field rounded the final corner, the eight-year-old chestnut engaged in a fierce duel with the four-year-old filly down the stretch, ultimately winning his first G1 title by a head.

"I've been riding this horse for a long time, so regardless of the (widest) draw, I was confident in knowing how he could find his best and most comfortable rhythm, which was the top priority for us today. During the dead-heat to the wire, the history between us and the strong desire to give one more big victory to my eight-year-old partner ran through my mind. It's also a big joy for me to mark my first G1 win with the horse of my mentor (and trainer), Yuichi Shikato," commented jockey Kosei Miura after winning the race.

Quick out of the gate, seventh choice June Blair immediately took the lead to set a steady pace. The American Pharoah filly continued to demonstrate incredible speed in the stretch and dueled strongly with the winner but crossed the wire a head short in second.

Second pick Namura Clair broke sharply and eased back to travel wide in mid-division. Although meeting traffic entering the lane, the six-year-old mare found a narrow opening 200 meters out and unleashed a powerful late charge that timed the fastest over the last three furlongs, but was unable to catch the leaders and finished third—marking her third consecutive third-place finish in the Sprinters Stakes. 

Race favorite Satono Reve broke smoothly and settled in midfield, around eighth, and turned the last two corners wide to launch his bid. The Takamatsunomiya Kinen champion, although unable to nail the top two finishers, engaged in a fierce rally with four other horses before the wire and finished a nose behind Namura Clair in fourth.

Sent off tenth pick, Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Sweynesse broke well from stall no. 10 and was eased back a bit to settle in mid-field behind the race favorite while cruising down the backstretch. As the field launched their bids rounding the last corner, the seven-year-old gelding responded mildly, slipping back near to the rear at the top of the straight and found his best stride too late, finishing 11th.

"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," trainer Ka Leung Man said in a post-race interview.

"He was squeezed between horses in the beginning and was never comfortable. And when they speeded up, my horse couldn't follow it. After he struggled in a gap, he fired in the last 100 (meters) but was too late," commented jockey Ka Chun Leung.

Other Horses:

5th: (2) Yoshino Easter—broke alertly, 6th-7th along rails, rallied strongly for 3rd place but was
              nose+neck short of Namura Clair
6th: (3) Danon McKinley—saved ground around 11th, showed 2nd fastest late kick but was too
              late
6th: (4) Mama Cocha—raced around 5th near rail, failed to find another gear at stretch
8th: (1) Puro Magic—chased leaders around 3rd, sustained bid until 100m out
9th: (5) Kangchenjunga—reserved near rear, showed effort in last 100m, picked off tired rivals
10th: (11) Toshin Macau—rushed up to 4th-5th from front, was used up and dropped away in last
                   200m
12th: (15) Lugal—steadily inched forward in backstretch to mid-field losing ground, lacked
                  closing kick
13th: (8) Pair Pollux—off slow, improved from far rear, angled out wide for stretch run, mild
                response
14th: (9) Drop of Light—wide trip 4th from rear, showed late effort in last 200m, too late
15th: (12) Yamanin al Rihla—missed break, hugged rails in rear, never a factor
16th: (14) Ka Pilina—good break, wide trip in mid-pack, edged up before last turn, failed to
                   respond