Naran Huleg Seeks Sweep of G1 Japanese Sprints

Top-level racing returns to Japan Oct. 2 with the Sprinters Stakes (G1) at Nakayama Racecourse, one of only two grade 1 sprints on the nation's racing calendar.

With the Sprinters Stakes and the springtime Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) comprising the entirety of the sample, both races are crucial for naming a year-end sprint champion. That's even more true this year as the Takamatsunomiya was won, rather dramatically, by a long shot—Naran Huleg, a Gold Allure  6-year-old who found a seam near the rail to just get up to secure his first graded win of any kind.

Naran Huleg is back, seeking a repeat sprint win but in the interim has only a ninth-place finish in the 1,600-meters (about 1 mile) Yasuda Kinen (G1) June 5.

"He has improved these last couple of weeks, bearing in mind his last run was in the Yasuda Kinen, where the distance was too long for him," said trainer Yoshitada Munakata.

Another win would be another upset, however, as some more accomplished rivals await in the 16-horse field.

Meikei Yell, has been a bit of an all-or-nothing filly. The 4-year-old has seven wins from 12 starts but was unplaced in all of the other five, including a fourth place in the 2021 Sprinters Stakes.

She did sparkle in her most recent start, lowering the stakes record to 1:06.2 while winning the Sankei Sho Centaur Stakes (G2) at Chukyo Racecourse. Assistant Kaname Ogino said the filly "returned to training again and seems relaxed, which is a good thing. There doesn't seem to be any change in her condition."

Schnell Meister , a 4-year-old Kingman  colt, has not missed a top-three finish in any of his eight starts in Japan, though he reported a disappointing eighth in the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) at Meydan in March. He notched his sole grade 1 win in the NHK Mile Cup (G1) in May of 2021 and was most recently seen finishing second in the Yasuda Kinen. The 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) of the Sprinters Stakes will be his first try at the distance.

The race offers weight breaks both for 3-year-olds and fillies and Namura Clair (JPN) benefits from both after winning the Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3) at the distance two starts back before finishing third in her most recent start.

"She seems bigger and more muscular, and at the same time is well-balanced," trainer Kodai Hasegawa said of Namura Clair. "She knows when to switch on and off. She ran a strong race in the Hakodate Sprint, and even though she didn't win last time, with her experience, I think she can take on a grade 1 race like this. She is certainly developing the right way, and I hope she can show what ability she has."

The Sprinters Stakes starts on the outer turf loop at the sweeping Nakayama complex and curves gently right-handed before a sharper turn into the straight. The runners are confronted with a sudden, steep climb in the final run to the finish.