Chukyo Racecourse: Copana Richard wins Takamatsunomiya Kinen

Copana Richard, a 4-year-old colt by Daiwa Major, won his first Grade 1 race and his fourth career graded stakes in Sunday’s $1,935,357 Takamatsunomiya Kinen for sprinters at Chukyo Racecourse in Nagoya, Japan.

Ridden by Mirco Demuro, Copana Richard closed from fourth in a field of 18 to win the six-furlong turf race by three lengths over 18-1 Snow Dragon. Straight Girl, a 5-year-old mare and the 8-5 favorite, finished third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Snow Dragon.

Copana Richard, the 6-1 third choice, was timed in 1:12.20 on soft turf. Demuro said the race’s distance was at the shorter range of Copana Richard’s ideal trip.

“The ground was very heavy when I worked him on Wednesday morning, and his reaction was very good,” Demuro said. “I thought there is a good chance for him.”

Trained by Toru Miya, Copana Richard has won 6 of 12 starts. He won the Group 3 Hankyu Hai over seven furlongs at Hanshin Racecourse on March 2.

Copana Richard races for Sachiaki Kobayashi, who also owns Copana Rickey, the winner of the Grade 1 February Stakes at the astonishing odds of 274-1 earlier this year.