Japan: Satono Reve meets some familiar faces in Sprinters Stakes

The well-traveled 6-year-old horse Satono Reve can solidify his status as Japan’s leading sprinter against a familiar cast of rivals in Sunday’s Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse.

Satono Reve won the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at six furlongs at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan in February, beating Namura Clair and Mama Cocha, who are part of the field for the $2.19 million Sprinters Stakes.

Satono Reve has been second in his last two starts. He was beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Ka Ying Rising in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong in April and by a half-length to Lazzat as the 9-5 favorite in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Ascot in Britain in June.

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Ka Ying Rising is rated as the world’s leading sprinter and is the odds-on future-book favorite to win the Group 1, $13.09 million Everest Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 18.

In the Sprinters Stakes, Satono Reve has drawn post 7 in a field of 16 and will be ridden by Joao Moreira. Trained by Noriyuki Hori, Satono Reve was seventh in the 2024 Sprinters Stakes, but has been first or second in his last four starts.

Mama Cocha and Namura Clair, both 6-year-old mares, remained in Japan after the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, and were beaten in their last starts.

Mama Cocha was second in the Grade 2 Centaur Stakes at six furlongs at Hanshin Racecourse on Sept. 7, losing by three-quarters of a length to Kangchenjunga, an outsider in Sunday’s race. Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee told Japan Racing Association publicity that Mama Cocha needed that race, her first since early May, to improve her fitness.

Namura Clair was eighth of 16 as the 3-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes at six furlongs on June 14, closing some ground from the back of the field after a slow start.

The Sprinters Stakes has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.

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