Japan: Lovcen sets track record with 2000 Guineas victory

Racing over extended distances works well for Lovcen, who won his second Grade 1 in Sunday’s $2.61 million Japanese 2000 Guineas for 3-year-olds at Nakayama Racecourse.

Lovcen won the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at 1 1/4 miles in December, his final start at 2. After finishing third in a Grade 3 at 1 1/8 miles at Tokyo Racecourse on Feb. 15 in his first start this year, and first career loss, Lovcen led or disputed the pace throughout the 2000 Guineas at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

Ridden by Kohei Matsuyama, Lovcen led by about a length for the first six furlongs before facing a challenge from Realize Sirius on the turn. Realize Sirius moved alongside Lovcen entering the stretch, and took a brief lead, before Lovcen reestablished an advantage.

Lovcen won by three-quarters of a length over Realize Sirius. Lovcen was favored in American pools, returning $7.

“I wasn’t thinking of setting the pace, but the colt broke really well and we went with the flow,” Matsuyama told Japan Racing Association publicists.

Lovcen was timed in 1:56.5, setting a track record.

“He showed amazing speed and to break the record also proves how much stamina he has,” Matsuyama said. “He’s such a strong and versatile colt.”

Realize Sirius (6-1) finished three-quarters of a length in front of 43-1 Reichsadler in a field of 18. Cavallerizzo, the 2025 Japanese champion 2-year-old male, finished sixth in his first start since a title-clinching win in the Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at Hanshin last December.

The Japanese 2000 Guineas, formally known as the Setsuko Sho, was Cavellerizzo’s first start at 1 1/4 miles.

Lovcen finished second in balloting for the 2025 2-year-old male award.

By the Deep Impact stallion World Premiere, Lovcen races for Forest Racing and trainer Haruki Sugiyama. He has won 3 of 4 starts.

The Japanese 2000 Guineas is the first division of the Japanese Triple Crown that continues with the Grade 1 Japanese Derby at 1 1/2 miles at Tokyo Racecourse on May 31.

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