Sunday racing at Nakayama will carry a steady sense of purpose on January 11, as one of Japan’s most demanding winter venues hosts a full twelve-race program from 10:05am to 4:25pm. The card will progress with intent, beginning with developing three-year-olds in the morning and gradually rising in class and complexity as the afternoon unfolds. At its centre sits the Fairy Stakes (G3), the day’s marquee contest offering ¥72,810,000, a race that traditionally sharpens the early-season picture for Japan’s emerging elite.
The opening exchanges will belong to youth and opportunity. Race 1 at 10:05am, a 1200-metre maiden for three-year-olds, will see 16 runners contest ¥11,280,000, a fast-paced introduction where early speed and composure will be decisive. That rhythm will continue through Races 2 and 3 at 10:35am and 11:05am, both 1800-metre maidens for three-year-olds with full fields of sixteen and identical prize money, asking deeper questions of balance, stamina, and racecraft.
At 11:35am, Race 4, a 1200-metre allowance for three-year-olds, will lift the competitive standard. With 16 runners chasing ¥15,620,000, it will reward those beginning to separate themselves from the pack. The midday spotlight will then fall on Race 5 at 12:25pm, an 1800-metre newcomer event worth ¥12,330,000, where untapped potential and first impressions will take centre stage.
Endurance will be pushed further in Race 6 at 12:55pm, a 2200-metre maiden featuring 18 three-year-olds competing for ¥11,280,000. It will be a searching test, particularly at Nakayama, where positioning and patience often prove decisive. Experience will then come to the fore in Race 7 at 1:25pm, an 1800-metre allowance for four-year-olds and upward, followed by Race 8 at 1:55pm, a 1600-metre allowance over the same age group. Both races will feature 16 runners and carry ¥15,620,000, maintaining momentum through the heart of the program.
The stakes will rise in Race 9, the Hatsusaki Sho, scheduled for 2:30pm. This 1800-metre allowance will draw 13 runners competing for ¥30,510,000, before attention turns to Race 10, the Pollux Stakes at 3:05pm. Run over 1800 metres, this open-class contest with 16 runners and a purse of ¥42,300,000 will provide a strong lead-in to the feature.
The spotlight will shine brightest at 3:45pm with Race 11, the Fairy Stakes (G3). Contested over 1600 metres, the race will assemble a full field of 16 three-year-olds vying for ¥72,810,000. Long regarded as a defining early-season test, the Fairy Stakes has repeatedly signposted future success, rewarding tactical awareness, adaptability, and a strong finishing kick on Nakayama’s demanding circuit.
Contenders: Leo Agile, Pied du Lapin, Towani, Big Karen Roof, Egon Urrea, Truscon Garden, Northern Titan, Luxe Patrol, Saint Antoine, Mor Nike, Hardi Zhena, Ghillies’ Ball, Viscontessa, Valles Marineris, Black Chalice, Makalei
The afternoon will conclude with Race 12 at 4:25pm, a 1200-metre allowance for four-year-olds and upward, featuring 16 runners and prize money of ¥22,690,000, ensuring the day closes at the same brisk tempo with which it began.
From maiden races that introduce the next generation to a Grade 3 contest that shapes early-season ambitions, the card offers depth and direction in equal measure. For those tracking form and future pathways, the Nakayama Racecards 11 January promise a day where every race contributes to the broader narrative of the season ahead.
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