Satsuki Sho Preview: The 1st Leg of the Japanese Triple Crown

The Japanese Triple Crown kicks off with the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) on Sunday, April 19. At Nakayama Racecourse, the spotlight will shift to the colts seven days after the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), the opening leg of the Fillies' Triple Crown, was contested.

The Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and the Grade 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) are the second and third legs of the Triple Crown. In 2026, they will be held in May and October, respectively.

Origins of the Satsuki Sho

The race's history goes back to 1939, when it was first run at the former Yokohama Racecourse. It was transferred to Tokyo four years later, when it also took on its current name.

In 1949, the race moved to Nakayama. And just a year later, the distance was set at what it is now, 2,000 meters, having previously been run over 1,850 meters.

Key Prep Races for the Satsuki Sho

It's the same course and distance as the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, a race run in December for promising 2-year-olds. The Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes is another race for top 2-year-olds, although run over the shorter distance of a mile at Hanshin, and also towards the end of the year.

Winners of those races, Lovcen and Cavallerizzo ― the latter was voted Best Two-Year-Old Colt of 2025 ― head the 21 nominations for Sunday's Satsuki Sho. No geldings are allowed to run, and all the runners carry a set weight of 57 kg.

Big-name winners over the years that jump off the page include Deep Impact (2005), Victoire Pisa (2010), Duramente (2015) and Contrail (2020).

Contrail was the last Japanese Triple Crown winner, and the last first favorite to win the Satsuki Sho. There have been 24 Satsuki Sho winners that also triumphed in the Derby, and just eight Triple Crown winners in Japanese horse racing history.

About the Satsuki Sho

Qualifying races have included the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen, run over 2,000 meters at Nakayama in March, out of which the first three place-getters qualified, and the Wakaba Stakes (listed), also run in March, but at Hanshin, where the first two home receive an automatic entry. All five of these runners are among the nominations for Sunday's big race.

The last 10 years have seen just two first favorites win the race, and the 2025 winner, Museum Mile, set a race record, winning in a time of 1 minute, 57.0 seconds. Sunday's winner's check is ¥200 million JPY ($1.26 million USD).

The 86th Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) will be Race 11 on the Sunday card at Nakayama, with a post time of 3:40 PM.

Here's a look at some of the runners expected to play a part in the race:

Cavallerizzo Chasing 2nd Straight Win

The colt by Saturnalia will make his first start of 2026 in the Satsuki Sho. In his most recent race, Cavallerizzo triumphed in the Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes over a mile at Hanshin in December 2025.

"Two starts ago, he pulled quite a bit in the race, and ended up running on the outside of the eventual winner," assistant trainer Sho Tajima said, referring to the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes. "In the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, his last race, he ran smoothly and showed what a good turn of foot he has. It was a strong win."

Visiting Australian jockey Damian Lane gets the ride on Cavallerizzo.

*Lovcen, guided by Kohei Matsuyama, wins the 2,000-meter Hopeful Stakes on December 27, 2025, in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. (©SANKEI)*

Lovcen Set for 2nd Race of 2026

Winner of 2025's Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, Lovcen has had one run as a 3-year-old. In that race, the World Premiere offspring finished third in the Grade 3 Kyodo News Hai (Tokinominoru Kinen) over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in February.

"In the Kyodo News Hai, he got off to a good start, but he was too lively and it was a struggle to keep him settled," trainer Haruki Sugiyama said. "It wasn't a smooth race for him. However, his final three-furlong time was 33.4 seconds. So despite the way he ran, it was a pretty good race for him."

Jockey Kohei Matsuyama continues his association with Lovcen.

Youthful Basse Terre Has Made Solid Preparations

Kitasan Black progeny Basse Terre is looking for a hat trick of wins here, after winning his last race, the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen, another 2,000-meter event, on March 8.

"His hindquarters are still weak, and he doesn't run so straight," trainer Takashi Saito said. "There are also a lot of traits that he shows as a young horse. Despite all of this, I was pleased with his win in the Yayoi Sho, and I think he has a future."

The trainer added, "Since returning from the farm, he's been running smoothly, and we're making sure he's not too switched on."

Read the rest of this article about the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese horses in contention on JRA News.

Author: JRA News