2025 Edition of Satsuki Sho Japanese 2000 Guineas

On April 20, SUNDAY, the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho Japanese 2000 Guineas, the first-class colt classic of the year, will be held at Nakayama Racecourse, Chiba Prefecture. As the first leg of the much-sought-after Triple Crown series for 3-year-old colts, the Satsuki Sho promises its victor a great deal of opportunity to move on to the next race and forever etch a name in the books of Japanese 2000 Guineas racing lore.

The Satsuki Sho has a longer tradition, being first held in 1939 at the former Yokohama Racecourse. Four years later, the race was moved to the Tokyo Racecourse and renamed accordingly. In 1949, the current venue Nakayama Racecourse was adopted and has remained there to this day. Originally run over a distance of 1,850 meters, the distance was extended to 2,000 meters in 1950.

There are 21 nominations for the race this year, and 18 colts would start at most. The prize money is JPY 200 million (approximately USD 1.3 million) for the winner. The first three horses from the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho, Grade 2 Spring Stakes, and Listed Wakaba Stakes are granted automatic entries. The remainder of the spots are filled on a money-won basis, and should there be no withdrawals, Tjuta and G T Adamant will fight it out for the last spot.

Justin Milano set the record for last year’s Satsuki Sho at 1:57.1. This race has proved a good race for producing Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun Japanese 2000 Guineas-bound horses, and 24 winners in the past have made the jump. More recent winners include Deep Impact (2005), Victoire Pisa (2010), Duramente (2015), and Contrail (2020), the colt who last won the Triple Crown.

The Satsuki Sho is the 11th race of Sunday’s Nakayama card, scheduled to start at 15:40 local time. Final declarations and the barrier draw will be revealed later in the week, adding excitement as the event approaches.

Many colts stand out as deserving contenders for the 2025 Satsuki Sho. Each contender proved itself in previous performances and will look to take the next step toward Triple Crown glory.

Among the leading contenders is Croix du Nord, trained by Takashi Saito. The Kitasan Black son scored a victory in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes last December, a race over the same course and distance as the Satsuki Sho. He has had a break at Northern Farm Shigaraki since that victory and is expected to be fairly fit for his 3-year-old debut. Jockey Yuichi Kitamura, aiming for his seventh JRA Grade 1 win, will be aboard as Croix du Nord attempts to maintain his strong record.

Giovanni’s consistency on the track has made him one of the names to follow ahead of the Japanese 2000 Guineas. Under Kohei Matsuyama, the Epiphaneia colt has managed two wins and three runner-up finishes from five outings, showing flexibility and timing, particularly in the Wakaba Stakes, where he adjusted well to a slow early pace before accelerating in the final stages. That effort, under the care of trainer Haruki Sugiyama, highlights why Giovanni stands among the stronger contenders for the Japanese 2000 Guineas, held at the iconic Nakayama Racecourse.

Faust Rasen, by Mozu Ascot, has drawn attention after his commanding run in the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse. His front-running style, built on early control and long-lasting stamina, has worked well in his favor. Assistant trainer Shunei Kikumoto noted that Faust Rasen excels when he sets the pace himself. Given his style and recent success, he’s entering the Japanese 2000 Guineas as a serious contender, especially for those following top names in Japan horse racing.

Another name gaining traction is Masquerade Ball, a Duramente-sired colt with three wins in four races. His standout performance in the Grade 3 Kyodo News Hai in February helped repair his reputation after a subpar showing in last year’s Hopeful Stakes. According to trainer Takahisa Tezuka, the horse has shown solid progress after a break and appears ready to put in a competitive run at Nakayama Racecourse, with the Japanese 2000 Guineas in sight.

Then there’s Eri King, undefeated from three starts, including two wins at the 2,000-meter distance—the same as the upcoming Japanese 2000 Guineas. Sired by King Kamehameha, Eri King has been sidelined through early 2023 due to a minor fetlock injury. However, trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida shared that the team has focused solely on recovery and preparation. If his previous form holds, Eri King could break through in one of the most anticipated events in Japanese horse racing.

Hour after hour, “at one of the illustrious horse-racing venues” in Kenya, talent, endurance, and conditioning line up for what promises to be a competitive Japanese 2000 Guineas.

The excitement surrounding the 2025 Satsuki Sho is as great as the race itself, and there will be a lot of potential candidates for becoming the champion. Most likely, Croix du Nord will be flying higher, but challengers like Giovanni, Faust Rasen, Masquerade Ball, and Eri King all have chances to close in. Being the first showcase of the Triple Crown, these colts are heading into the Satsuki Sho. It will become clearer which ones are going to leave a big mark on the Japanese 2000 Guineas racing scene.