Chosen tenth by the public, Meiner Ho O captured his G1 title by winning this year’s NHK Mile Cup. After breaking his maiden in his debut race last June, his next win came five races and six months later in an allowance race in December. Followed by a back-to-back win in the Junior cup (1,600m) in January, he marked a third in the Spring Stakes (G2, 1,800m) and was given the ticket to the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m), however chose to pursue racing at the mile distance and headed for the New Zealand Trophy (G2, 1,600m) where he finished seventh.

Jockey Daichi Shibata is known for his two J-G1 wins (Nakayama Grand Jump in 2011 and 2012) and has now become the second jockey next to Shigefumi Kumazawa to claim G1 titles in both flat and jump races. He also celebrates his 200th JRA win with this victory. This is the first G1 title and third grade-race win for trainer Yoshihiro Hatakeyama after opening his stables in 2000. Meiner Ho O has become the first horse to claim a grade-race title among the first crop sired by Suzuka Phoenix (JPN, by Sunday Silence), victor of the 2007 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m).

All besides Red Arion and Gottfried were off well as Copano Richard gunned for the lead with Geyersworth, race favorite A Shin Top and Flamme de Gloire in close pursuit. Breaking from an outer stall, Impulse Hero traveled wide in mid-field while Meiner Ho O was well reserved third from last sitting in front of Red Arion and Gottfried in that order.

Still on the lead with Geyersworth and A Shin Top on his heels ready to take over, Copano Richard hit the straight first, while Impulse Hero and Meiner Ho O shifted out wide far behind to enter the stretch. Flamme de Gloire was fourth to fifth from the front on the rails while Red Arion was last to turn for home. Geyersworth caught the persistent leader at the furlong pole, however Meiner Ho O and Impulse Hero, showing a ferocious drive up the grueling hill from the outside, and Flamme de Gloire, finding a narrow gap next to Geyersworth, overtook the brief leader 100 meters out and formed a three horse battle. Finally Meiner Ho O stretched his neck to clear the wire in front of Impulse Hero in the final strides to grab the title, followed by Flamme de Gloire another neck from that. Fastest in the last three furlongs, third pick Red Arion closed the gap well and was fourth 1-1/4 lengths behind. First choice A Shin Top maintained a prominent position and remained a factor in the stretch, however was blocked 50 meters out to finish seventh.

Other Horses:
5th: (10) Geyersworth—chased in 2nd, led 200m out but failed to hold late chargers
6th: (13) Shiny Prince—followed towards rear, accelerated well and finished strongly
8th: (9) Copano Richard—set pace, showed tenacity but fell back in last 100m
9th: (11) Kashino Pikachu—ran in mid-division, responded well before blocked in final strides
10th: (5) Dear Service—towards rear in mid-pack, improved position without reaching contention
11th: (7) Gottfried—poor start, trailed almost rear, passed tired rivals
12th: (3) Storming Star—camped in mid-group, found little room in inner stretch, lacked needed kick
13th: (16) Satono Neptune—made headway on outer route, entered lane in 5th but showed little
14th: (18) Mogumogu Pakupaku—travelled wide in mid-division, failed to accelerate at stretch
15th: (1) At Will—hugged rail in mid-pack, used up and outpaced passing 200m marker
16th: (2) Sarastro—settled towards rear, even paced at straight
17th: (4) Meiner Eternel—stalked in 5th, no factor after turning for home
18th: (14) Logan Sapphire—raced 3-wide in 6th, met traffic 400m out, unable to quicken