Japan: Naran Huleg triumphs in Takamatsunomiya Kinen

Naran Huleg closed from well off the pace to win his Grade 1 debut in his 29th start in Sunday’s $2.69 million Takamatsunomiya Kinen at six furlongs on turf at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan.

Naran Huleg, a 6-year-old horse by Gold Allure, won two minor stakes in turf sprints earlier in his career in 2019 and in December.

Ridden by Kyosuke Maruta, Naran Huleg ($71.90) finished a neck in front of 12-1 Lotus Land. Kir Lord, who was more than 100-1, finished third in the field of 18. Resistencia, the 7-5 favorite, finished sixth.

Naran Huleg was the first Grade 1 win for Maruta and trainer Yoshitada Munakata. The horse has won six races.

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen, run on heavy turf, is the first Grade 1 race of the year in Japan on grass.

“Racing from the rear is his usual style, so I just concentrated on keeping the horse’s rhythm,” Maruta said. “He has never experienced heavy ground before, but he handled it well.”

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen was Naran Huleg’s third consecutive start in a graded stakes, all in six-furlong races. He was third in the Grade 3 Silk Road Stakes at Chukyo on Jan. 30 and second in the Grade 3 Ocean Stakes at Nakayama on March 5.

Lotus Land, a 5-year-old mare by Point of Entry, was bred in Kentucky. Lotus Land has won three stakes, including two Grade 3 races, since June.