Daily Hai Nisai Stakes 2025 – Kyoto Mile Trial for Japan’s Next Star
- Archie Brookes
- Nov 13
- 9 min read
On Saturday, 15 November 2025, Kyoto Racecourse stages the 60th running of the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (G2), one of Japan’s key early tests for 2-year-olds with classic or mile ambitions. Run over 1600m on the right-handed outer turf course, the race offers a total purse of ¥82,260,000, with ¥38,000,000 to the winner, and often serves as a springboard to the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and later G1 mile contests.
This year’s edition has drawn a compact field of eight colts - no fillies - but what it lacks in numbers it makes up for in intrigue. From undefeated graded winners Candide and A Shin Deed to flashy maiden scorers Cavallerizzo, Admire Quads and Good Piece, the 2025 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes shapes as a tactical, form-defining contest for Japan’s juvenile milers.
Race Conditions and Kyoto Mile Profile
The Daily Hai Nisai Stakes is restricted to 2-year-olds, with colts and geldings carrying 56kg (55kg in some local conditions) and fillies receiving a 1kg allowance. Southern Hemisphere-bred runners, if any, are entitled to an additional 3kg allowance. The maximum field size is 18, but the 2025 running features just eight declared colts, sharpening the tactical focus.
Kyoto’s outer turf mile start is located on a chute on the backstretch, giving runners around 400m before they hit the sweeping turns. The course then rises gently (about 3.6m) toward the third corner, cresting at the Yodo Slope - the highest point of the track - before plunging roughly 3.2m downhill into the home straight. The final 403m is flat and wide, offering plenty of room for closers, yet the configuration overall tends to favour horses with tactical speed who can handle the rhythm of uphill, downhill and then a sustained sprint.
Recent renewals have produced quick closing sectionals. In last year’s race, Run for Vow stopped the clock in 1:34.7, coming home in a sharp 34.1 for the final 600m after a more measured first half. That pattern is typical of Kyoto’s outer 1600m: an economical early tempo, followed by a downhill-assisted dash where balance and acceleration matter as much as raw stamina. Course times in the 1:33-1:35 range are common on firm ground, with the track record of 1:33.2 set in 2013 highlighting how fast juveniles can travel here when conditions are ideal.
Field Overview: Eight Juveniles, Different Paths
All eight runners arrive with positive profiles - several unbeaten, several already proven in group company. Early markets suggest Cavallerizzo will start favourite around 2.5, with Admire Quads and Candide close behind, but the spread of form lines means there is depth beyond the obvious names.
Cavallerizzo - The Strong Favourite With Kyoto-Friendly Profile
Cavallerizzo represents powerhouse syndicate Silk Racing and the in-form Tatsuya Yoshioka stable, with Cristian Demuro booked. He created a strong visual impression on debut at Chukyo on 31 August, dominating a 1600m newcomers’ race in 1:34.2 and winning by 0.8 seconds - roughly five lengths - without being fully extended.
Physically, he looks every inch a miler, and his effortless way of travelling through that Chukyo race suggests the Kyoto outer course should suit. With pace likely to be genuine but not ferocious in a small field, Cavallerizzo’s ability to sit handy and quicken could prove decisive. On paper, he deserves to be favourite and is the most straightforward candidate to stamp himself as a G1-level miler in waiting.
Candide - Explosive Speed Stepping Up to a Mile
Candide, a Green Farm syndicate colt trained by Takeshi Matsushita and ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, brings arguably the most eye-catching single performance in the field. He is unbeaten in two starts and already a G3 winner, having taken the Chukyo Nisai Stakes (1400m) in a scorching 1:19.4 at the end of August.
That win showcased a devastating late kick and the versatility to handle different tempos; prior to that he scored on debut over 1200m at Kokura. The question now is whether that brilliance can be stretched to 1600m around Kyoto. His pedigree blends speed with enough stamina to suggest the mile is within reach, and the downhill run into the straight should help him conserve energy. Around 5-1 in early books, he appeals as a major danger to the favourite and a colt who could quickly re-elevate the race’s perceived prestige if he brings his G3 form to this mile.
Admire Quads - Polished Tokyo Winner With Classic Connections
Admire Quads is trained by Yasuo Tomomichi and will be ridden by Ryusei Sakai - the same trainer who developed Admire Mars, a past winner of this race, into a triple G1-winning miler. Admire Quads won his only start so far, a Tokyo 1600m newcomers’ race on 18 October, clocking a sharp 1:34.1 with an impressive 33.3 final 600m.
That Tokyo performance marked him as “graded stakes calibre” in several previews, and his breeding screams mile aptitude. The switch from Tokyo’s long uphill straight to Kyoto’s more flowing, undulating test is a change of rhythm, but his smooth action and turn of foot suggest he can adapt. Around 3.5-1 in early markets, he profiles as the main alternative to Cavallerizzo for punters who prefer proven Tokyo mile form.
Galilea - The Improving Graded Placer
Galilea has had the busiest campaign of the leading contenders, and his upward trajectory is hard to ignore. After a quiet fifth on debut over 1600m at Niigata in July, he returned to the same track and trip in August to break his maiden. He then took a significant class rise in his stride by finishing second in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo in October, closing strongly to get within 2 lengths of the winner over 1600m.
Trained by Hidekatsu Shimizu and ridden by Makoto Sugihara, Galilea doesn’t have the flashiest profile, but he has already proven he belongs in graded company. His closing style will benefit if the pace here is stronger than usual for a small Kyoto field. Around 18.5-1, he looks an obvious value play for those expecting his steady improvement to continue.
A Shin Deed - Proven G3 Sprinter Trying to Stretch His Speed
A Shin Deed is the sole runner to have already captured a graded stakes win over the summer, having landed the G3 Hakodate Nisai Stakes (1200m) in July. Trained by Ryuji Okubo for the A. Shin operation and partnered by Riki Takasugi, he demonstrated sharp gate speed and a strong finishing burst when winning that race despite being only the ninth favourite.
His earlier dirt runs (a win and a second over 1000m) underline how speed-oriented his profile is. The key question is whether he can stretch that speed to 1600m on a demanding track like Kyoto. If he settles and gets an easy lead, he could be hard to peg back, but the market has been cautious, assessing him around 30-1. He shapes as a classic “catch me if you can” type who could either fade late or spring a tactical surprise.
Good Piece - Kingman Colt From a Proven Juvenile Yard
Good Piece carries the colours of North Hills and is trained by Tomokazu Takano, who conditioned 2023 winner Jantar Mantar to G1 glory in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and NHK Mile Cup. Ridden here by Atsuya Nishimura, Good Piece made a professional debut at Hanshin on 20 September, winning a 1600m newcomers’ race in 1:35.1 and drawing clear by over two lengths.
His European-flavoured pedigree screams miler, and he shaped like a colt who would improve with racing and distance. Still untested in stakes company, he sits in the mid-market around 8.5-1, but the combination of top-class bloodlines and a trainer with a recent blueprint for progressing Daily Hai Nisai winners makes him one of the more intriguing runners.
Michael Barows - Honest Chaser of Candide
Michael Barows is trained by Hiroyuki Uemura and will be ridden by Mirai Iwata. He won his debut at Chukyo over 1400m in July, then stepped into the G3 Chukyo Nisai Stakes where he showed prominent speed before weakening late to finish third behind Candide.
That run suggests he has the pace to be involved early but must improve his finishing effort if he is to turn the tables over an extra 200m here. Around 15-1, he profiles as a solid place chance who might be better suited if he can be ridden with a touch more restraint, using his tactical speed rather than burning it too soon.
I Got It - Lightly Raced Closer Taking a Class Leap
I Got It, trained by Shinichiro Akiyama, is the least exposed runner in the field. He made a winning debut at Hanshin on 15 September over 1600m, stopping the clock in 1:36.5 and rattling home in 33.7 for the last 600m.
That sectional profile hints at a colt who will appreciate a stronger tempo and a long straight, both of which he can find at Kyoto if the leaders overdo things. With only one start behind him and stepping straight into G2 company, he is understandably a longshot (around 26-1), but his closing speed makes him an interesting inclusion in exotics if the race collapses late.
Get my full race analysis, selections, and real-time updates inside the AB Racing Discord. Everything goes there first.
Tactics and Likely Race Shape
In a small field, tactics will be crucial. A Shin Deed and Michael Barows look the most likely pace influences, with Candide also capable of racing close to the speed if connections choose to use his tactical versatility. Cavallerizzo, Admire Quads and Good Piece should all be able to settle in stalking positions just behind the leaders, ideally saving ground around Kyoto’s sweeping turns before unleashing their finishing bursts.
Galilea and I Got It are the more obvious closers, both having posted strong late sectionals in recent runs. Their prospects will hinge on whether the leaders apply enough pressure early, particularly up the gentle backstretch incline, to soften the front-runners before the downhill sprint begins. On typical Kyoto ground, expect the first 600m to be measured and the final 600m to be significantly faster, favouring well-balanced colts who can quicken off an already solid gallop.
Historical Context: A Proven Launchpad for Champions
First run in 1966 and elevated to G2 status in 1984, the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes has long been a key marker for future stars in Japan. The distance was extended from 1400m to 1600m in 1996, aligning the race more closely with classic and mile targets. While recent editions from 2020-2022 were temporarily transferred to Hanshin due to Kyoto’s redevelopment, the race’s status on the calendar has remained intact.
The roll of honour is stacked with high-class performers. Admire Mars (2018) used this race as a springboard to three G1 mile victories - the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, NHK Mile Cup and Hong Kong Mile - and was crowned champion 2-year-old. Serifos (2021) later captured the G1 Mile Championship against older horses. Gendarme (2017) reinvented himself as a sprinter and won the G1 Sprinters Stakes at seven, while Air Spinel (2015) became a consistent G2 winner and G1-placed miler. More recently, Jantar Mantar (2023) completed the Daily Hai Nisai-Asahi Hai-NHK Mile Cup treble, underlining just how predictive this race can be.
Go further back and names like Nishino Flower (1991) and Biwa Hayahide (1992) leap off the page as future champions. Time and again, the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes has identified colts (and occasionally fillies) who go on to shape Japan’s mile and middle-distance scene. It is no exaggeration to say that the winner - and sometimes the placed horses - from this race often play roles in the following season’s classics and major mile events.
Verdict: Wide-Open Renewal With Scope for a New Star
Pre-race commentary has suggested that the 2025 edition lacks a single, standout superstar compared with some vintage years. That may be true on bare ratings, but it also means the race is ripe for a colt to announce himself.
Cavallerizzo sets the standard on visual impression and profile; a repeat of his dominant Chukyo debut, translated to Kyoto, makes him the one they have to beat. Candide brings the fastest proven figure courtesy of his blistering G3 1400m win and, if he relaxes over the mile, he could easily blow this field apart late. Admire Quads has the Tokyo form and classic connections to suggest rapid progression, while Good Piece looks like the type to improve dramatically with experience for a yard that knows exactly how to campaign a top juvenile miler.
For those seeking value, Galilea’s graded experience and consistent finishing efforts make him a live contender at double-figure odds, especially if the pace is stronger than expected. I Got It, A Shin Deed and Michael Barows round out a field where every runner has at least some plausible path to success, whether through tactical advantage, unexposed improvement or a stamina surprise.
As the gates open on Saturday at Kyoto, the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes will once again do what it has done for nearly six decades: sort hype from substance and point the way toward Japan’s next generation of stars. Whoever emerges on top this year will immediately find themselves on the radar for the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and beyond - and racing fans will be watching closely to see whether another Admire Mars or Jantar Mantar is about to step into the spotlight.
If you found this preview useful, share it with someone who follows Japanese racing and drop a rating on the site. It helps push the content further and lets me keep expanding the coverage.
Comments