The JRA Fall Season 2026 will bring five major G1 and J-G1 targets into focus across Japan, with leading horses from the sprint, middle-distance, mile, dirt and steeplechase divisions preparing for important autumn assignments. The campaign will begin with the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse on September 27 before continuing through the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Mile Championship, Champions Cup and Nakayama Daishogai.
The Sprinters Stakes, a 1,200-meter G1 contest, will provide the first major autumn target. Flicker Jab will enter the race after securing the Centaur Stakes over the same distance on September 6, with his earlier Kitakyushu Kinen success also adding to his recent record. Puro Magic will arrive with three consecutive graded-race victories behind him, including the Hakodate Sprint Stakes and Ibis Summer Dash, while 2023 Sprinters Stakes winner Mama Cocha will bring previous success at the track and distance.
Defending champion Win Carnelian will return to the Sprinters Stakes after registering third-place finishes in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and Keeneland Cup. Sound Moryana will also attract attention after earning her first graded-race victory in the Keeneland Cup, while Panja Tower will bring G1 credentials as the 2025 NHK Mile Cup winner.
Former champion Lugal will provide another major name in the sprint field. The 2024 Sprinters Stakes winner will enter after a runner-up finish in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai earlier this year. June Blair will also return after finishing second in last year’s renewal, while Star Anise will make a significant change in distance after competing over 2,400 meters in the Yushun Himba.
The Queen Elizabeth II Cup will provide the next major target at Kyoto Racecourse on November 15, with three-year-old and older fillies and mares expected to form another competitive field.
Regaleira will arrive as the defending champion and will continue her autumn campaign after a fourth-place finish in the All Comers on September 20. Ethelfleda will also enter the picture after contesting the same race, having already secured the Nakayama Himba Stakes earlier in the season.
Kamunyak will begin her autumn campaign in the Ireland Trophy at Kyoto Racecourse on October 11. The 2025 Yushun Himba winner will carry additional G1 credentials after finishing second in the Victoria Mile in May. Nishino Ti Amo and Sekitoba East will also be among the possible autumn contenders, with both mares bringing graded-race victories into the campaign.
Jocelyn and Koganeno Sora will add further strength after their respective successes in the Kokura Himba Stakes and Fukushima Himba Stakes. Cervinia will bring major G1 credentials as the 2024 Yushun Himba and Shuka Sho winner, while Stellenbosch will enter the wider picture as the 2024 Oka Sho winner.
The Shuka Sho on October 18 will also provide an important route into the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, with leading three-year-old fillies from that race expected to join the older runners in Kyoto.
The Mile Championship will follow at Kyoto Racecourse on November 22. Defending champion Jantar Mantar will not be part of the field after his retirement from racing, leaving the 1,600-meter G1 contest open to a new group of leading milers.
Sixpence will arrive as one of the principal names after securing the Yasuda Kinen in June. His subsequent European campaign will add further interest to his autumn programme, and the five-year-old will remain a leading possibility for the Mile Championship.
Embroidery will also command attention after establishing herself among the leading female milers. The 2025 Best Three-Year-Old Filly will enter the autumn programme with victories in the Hanshin Himba Stakes and Victoria Mile already on her record.
Gaia Force will head directly towards the Mile Championship after another runner-up finish in the Yasuda Kinen. World’s End will also remain in contention after securing the Keio Hai Spring Cup and sharing second place with Gaia Force in the Yasuda Kinen. Before the Mile Championship, he will make his first attempt over 1,200 meters in the Sprinters Stakes.
Admire Zoom will begin his autumn campaign in the Fuji Stakes on October 17, where Cavallerizzo and Trovatore will also feature. Elton Barows, Lavanda and Suzu Khalom will begin their autumn campaigns in October and could subsequently target the Mile Championship.
Ampadu and Coconuts Brown will provide further depth after their respective graded-race successes in the Sekiya Kinen and Queen Stakes.
The Champions Cup will provide the principal autumn dirt G1 at Chukyo Racecourse on December 6. W Heart Bond will return to the division as the defending champion after becoming only the second female winner of the race since 2015.
The five-year-old mare will make her return in the Ladies Prelude at Oi Racecourse on October 6 before potentially progressing to the JBC Ladies Classic at Kanazawa Racecourse on November 3.
Wilson Tesoro will also remain a major name in the Champions Cup picture. After consecutive runner-up finishes in the previous three editions, he will begin his autumn campaign in the Mile Championship Nambu Hai at Morioka Racecourse on October 12.
Ramjet will use the Sirius Stakes on September 26 as his next target as he looks to build towards the major autumn dirt races. Costa Nova, meanwhile, will likely remain away from competition for the remainder of the season following a left foreleg fracture.
Mikki Fight will begin his autumn campaign in the Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi Racecourse on September 30 before targeting the JBC Classic at Kanazawa Racecourse on November 3. Luxor Cafe will also enter the Champions Cup picture after his Elm Stakes victory in August, while Outrange will bring previous Champions Cup experience and recent form into consideration.
Three-year-olds emerging from the Japan Dirt Classic at Oi Racecourse on October 7 will also have an opportunity to enter the major autumn dirt picture.
The final major target will come at Nakayama Racecourse on December 26, when the Nakayama Daishogai will determine the leading steeplechase honours over 4,100 meters.
Ecoro Duel will headline the jumping division as the reigning Best Steeplechase Horse and defending Nakayama Grand Jump champion. The seven-year-old will begin his autumn campaign in the Tokyo High-Jump on October 18 before targeting another Nakayama Daishogai victory.
Sun Davis, Shihono Speranza, Suzuka Harbin, Rohdiamant and Okini will also enter the wider picture after collecting major jump-race victories during the season. Dinasta will remain another important contender following his success in the Hanshin Spring Jump and runner-up finish in the Nakayama Grand Jump.
Last year’s runner-up Neviim and 2023 Best Steeplechase Horse Meiner Grand will add further experience to the field as the autumn jumping campaign approaches its main target.
With major races covering sprinting, turf, dirt and steeplechasing, the JRA Fall Season 2026 will provide a busy sequence of high-level contests across Japan. Established champions, returning winners and emerging three-year-olds will all have opportunities to strengthen their records during the final months of the season.
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