A long and competitive Monday unfolded at Nakayama Racecourse on January 5, where a 12-race programme ran from 10:05 am to 4:25 pm, offering depth across age groups, distances, and disciplines. While the card carried steady interest from start to finish, the focus sharpened around Race No. 11 – SUNRISE STAKES, a ¥36,010,000 feature that brought seasoned sprinters to the fore and provided the meeting with its defining moment.
The afternoon began with promise in Race 1, where Vio Space, a three-year-old brown colt, set the tone. Ridden by Yuji Tannai and trained by Yoichi Kuroiwa, the colt showed sharp early balance before asserting late to stop the clock at 1:12.4. Owned by Akiyoshi Kojima and bred by Nibutani Farm, he finished ahead of Satono Escape, with Ecoro Baron securing third.
Filly Langue de Chat delivered a composed display in Race 2, confirming her progress over the distance. The dark brown three-year-old, partnered by Shu Ishibashi for trainer Yuki Uehara, stayed on strongly to post a winning time of 1:56.6. Kazutaka Hosaka owns the filly, who was bred by Asrun. She finished in front of Isa Chil Queen, while Lumi Tytto closed out the placings.
Consistency paid off in Race 3, where Cafe la Gemme justified support with a controlled performance. The chestnut colt, guided by Kazuo Yokoyama and prepared by Masatoshi Tsukazaki, edged clear late to record a time of 1:55.9. Owned and bred by Koichi Nishikawa, he held off Snow Squall, with Xerographica finishing third.
Yuji Tannai returned to the winner’s enclosure in Race 4, steering Kastrom Pupu to victory in a stamina-testing contest. The four-year-old chestnut horse, trained by Kazuyuki Ogata and both owned and bred by Yasuo Tejima, stayed resolute to complete the journey in 2:37.0. Smart Cuore finished second, while Stay Ambitious stayed on for third.
Speed came to the fore in Race 5, where Daytona Champ showed a sharp turn of foot. The dark brown three-year-old colt, ridden by Takeshi Yokoyama for trainer Yukihiro Kato, stopped the clock at 1:35.3. Owned by Carrot Farm Co. Ltd. and bred by Northern Racing, he defeated Coconut Coast, with Toruk Makto in third.
Immortalis delivered a measured effort in Race 6, settling well before asserting in the closing stages. The bay colt was partnered by Yukito Ishikawa and trained by Takahisa Tezuka, completing the race in 2:01.1. Owned by Yukihiro Ochiai and bred by Northern Farm, he finished ahead of Willow Creek, with Satono Wagner completing the trio.
Trainer Yoshinori Muto enjoyed success in Race 7, as Stella Spes produced a timely run to land the prize. The bay three-year-old colt, ridden by Miyabi Muto and owned by Yukihiro Ochiai, clocked 2:01.1. Bred by Niikappu Hashimoto Bokujo, he prevailed over Florecer, with Charing Cross taking third.
Jump racing took centre stage in Race No. 8 – NAKAYAMA SHINSHUN JUMP STAKES, a ¥33,520,000 contest that demanded precision. Container World, a five-year-old chestnut horse, delivered fluent jumping under Toshiki Inoue. Trained by Kazuya Nakatake and owned by Koichi Sumitani, the Shadai Farm-bred runner completed the course in 3:35.7, finishing clear of Dinasta and Forged Brick.
The fillies and mares returned in Race No. 9 – HATSUAKANE SHO, where O K Birdie controlled the race effectively. The five-year-old bay mare, guided by Ryuto Yokoyama and trained by Ikuo Aizawa, stopped the clock at 1:52.7. Owned by Ken Ono and bred by Miyoshi Bokujo, she defeated Sanono Wonder, with I Will finishing third.
Strength and staying power defined Race No. 10 – HATSUHINODE SHO, as Dantsu Fighter dug deep to prevail. The four-year-old chestnut horse, ridden by Daisuke Sasaki and trained by Masayoshi Ebina, recorded a time of 2:01.6. Owned by Tetsuji Yamamoto and bred by Tsuji Bokujo, he finished ahead of Taisei Ricordo, while Daishin Apollon completed the frame.
The meeting reached its peak in Race No. 11 – SUNRISE STAKES, where experience proved decisive. Win Iolite, a six-year-old black mare, delivered a polished sprinting performance under Yuji Tannai. Trained by Daiki Yajima and owned by Win Co. Ltd., the Cosmo View Farm-bred mare crossed the line in 1:08.2. She held off Isa Chil Seaside, with Ambivalent staying on for third in the ¥36,010,000 feature.
The curtain came down in Race No. 12, as Bee Kong closed the card with authority. The five-year-old dark brown horse, partnered by Takeshi Yokoyama and trained by Hitoshi Kotegawa, completed the race in 1:11.7. Owned and bred by Yoshiaki Baba, he finished ahead of Fourth Miracle, with Rickey Style rounding out the final podium.
Across twelve races, Nakayama Race Results 5 January may not have relied on spectacle alone, but its strength lay in rhythm and resolve, delivering a race day that felt measured, meaningful, and unmistakably purposeful, with the Sunrise Stakes providing a fitting focal point to a full and competitive programme.
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