The Fast Lane: Energico’s Return
- Archie Brookes
- Aug 30
- 7 min read
Niigata / Chukyo / Sapporo - 30th & 31st August
Niigata’s summer highlight brings a fascinating mix of proven Group 1 performers, progressive types, and specialist track lovers over the testing 2000m outer course. The switch to conditions weights this year tilts the race toward classier runners, and with Niigata’s famously long 659m straight, expect a slow-early, fast-home shape where turn of foot matters most.
Defending champ Shinryokuka returns, joined by QEII heroine Brede Weg, Dubai Turf placegetter Danon Beluga, and emerging star Energico, who faces older horses for the first time. With Cosmo Fliegen likely to control the tempo up front, this year’s renewal promises a tactical battle where positioning and late acceleration will decide the finish.
Group 3 Niigata Kinen - 3yo+, Niigata 2000m, Turf. Post Time: 15:45 JST (07:45 BST)
Pace Map
Sunday’s Group 3 Niigata Kinen is shaping up as a slow-paced affair, with Cosmo Fliegen likely to control the tempo from the front. He’s a seasoned front-runner - he led throughout in the Tanabata Sho - and will try to stack the field before launching a sprint. The first wave behind him includes Shinryokuka, Namura Ahab, Queen’s Walk, Energico, and several others who should settle just off the lead. Midfield runners like Grand Cullinan, Reframing, and Ballet Master will rely on pace pressure up front to stay in touch.
With Niigata’s long outer straight (~659m), this race typically favours a steady-to-slow early tempo followed by a sharp late burst. If Cosmo Fliegen gets a soft lead, tactical types like Queen’s Walk and Shinryokuka have the tools to pounce. But if pressure builds early - especially from wide-drawn Energico or Namura Ahab - the race could tilt back toward powerful closers like Danon Beluga and Reframing, who thrive off a stronger mid-race tempo. Expect the late split to tell the story.
Runner-by-runner
1 - Brede Weg | Ridden by Akihide Tsumura | Trained by Keisuke Miyata | 5M by Lord Kanaloa x Inner Urge (Deep Impact)
QEII (G1) heroine who’s kept elite company: 4th in the G1 Yasuda Kinen and a deep resume at a mile to 2000m.
Draw, track and long stretch suit her stalk-and-pounce pattern. Pace map has her on/near the speed without needing the lead - ideal if they don’t overdo it.
2 - Shake Your Heart | Ridden by Yoshihiro Furukawa | Trained by Toru Miya | 5H by Heart’s Cry x Rumba Loca (Sri Pekan)
Rock-solid 2nd in the G3 Kokura Kinen after winning the 3-win Tarumi Stakes two starts back; current and versatile from 2000-2400m.
Best with a target - profiles to track a fair clip and grind late for a slice if the leaders soften.
3 - Grand Cullinan | Ridden by Takuya Ono | Trained by Toshiaki Tajima | 5H by Real Impact x Summer Tiara (Manhattan Cafe)
Creditable 4th in the G3 Niigata Daishoten back in May and on-speed in several recent runs; tough, honest operator.
Niigata’s outer 2000m lets him use handy gate speed then lean on stamina; in the frame if he controls his sectionals.
4 - Namura Ahab | Ridden by Hayato Yoshida | Trained by Kodai Hasegawa | 4H by Real Steel x Namura Anne (Empire Maker)
Progressive 4yo; 3-win Yahiko Stakes winner here at Niigata (1800m) and repeatedly competitive on the step up.
Early pace presence from a good draw - live chance if he gets a soft midrace and kicks.
5 - Ballet Master | Ridden by Kazuki Kikuzawa | Trained by Tomoyuki Umeda | 6H by Spielberg x Pas de Papillon (Swept Overboard)
Miler by trade; best figure at 1600m. First try at this trip since early last year, but he’s won at Niigata and can quicken on good ground.
Needs to settle midfield and thread inside lanes late to grab a minor.
6 - Queen’s Walk | Ridden by Yuga Kawada | Trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida | 4M by Kizuna x Wavell Avenue (Harlington)
Kinko Sho (G2, 2000m) winner and Victoria Mile (G1) runner-up - pure class dropping back into a Group 3.
Projects handy/positive - if she parks behind the leader and relaxes, she’s the benchmark.
7 - Danon Beluga | Ridden by Daisuke Sasaki | Trained by Noriyuki Hori | 6H by Heart’s Cry x Coasted (Tizway)
High-level global form (Dubai Turf 3rd ’24) but winless since his second career start in 2022; coming off a quiet late-’24 campaign.
If race shape collapses up front, his class could resurface, but a long layoff to overcome.
8 - Sastrugi | Ridden by Yutaro Nonaka | Trained by Naoto Chiba | 5G by Heart’s Cry x Snow Pine (Dalakhani)
Staying preps didn’t flatter him this spring; reset to 2000m can help. Pedigree screams long run-on.
Maps midfield/back; wants an evenly-run race and outer lanes to chime in late.
9 - Deep Monster | Ridden by Akira Sugawara | Trained by Yasutoshi Ikee | 7H by Deep Impact x Sisterly Love (Bellamy Road)
Still firing: 3rd in the G3 Kokura Kinen and 4th in the G2 Meguro Kinen this term. Reliable turn of foot at 2000-2500m.
Best when held up one off the rail - live late if the tempo is true.
10 - Shinryokuka | Ridden by Hatsuya Kowata | Trained by Masahiro Takeuchi | 5M by Satono Diamond x Lei Carla (King Kamehameha)Last year’s Niigata Kinen winner; mixed results since but this course/trip brings her right back.
On-pace/mapping sweetly - if she controls the rhythm into the long straight, repeat podium is very plausible.
11 - Cosmo Fliegen | Ridden by Daichi Shibata | Trained by Yoshihiro Hatakeyama | 5H by Screen Hero x Flying Melissa (Dance in the Dark)
Comes in off a strong G3 Tanabata Sho win and earlier front-running 2200-2400m efforts.
Projected leader - key to the race shape. If he breathes midrace, he’s the one they must reel in.
12 - Shirankedo | Ridden by Ryusei Sakai | Trained by Mitsunori Makiura | 5M by Declaration of War x Fair Bloom (Deep Impact)
So sharp this year: G3 Nakayama Himba winner and G1 Victoria Mile 3rd; already a Niigata 2000m winner (Uonuma Stakes).
Can sit handy; with her acceleration, she’s a top-three threat if the rail plays fair. Upwardly-mobile.
13 - Ask Doux Porte | Ridden by Yukito Ishikawa | Trained by Tomoyuki Umeda | 5H by Harbinger x Jajauma Girl (Heart's Cry)
Form is better than it looks: recent 4th at Niigata 1800m in fast time and a soft-ground 2000m win in the spring. Profiles to improve 2nd-up at 2000m.
Needs cover and one shot late - exotics friend if the field fans.
14 - Ask Come On More | Ridden by Keita Tosaki | Trained by Hideaki Fujiwara | 4H by Bricks And Mortar x Maximum De Paris (King Kamehameha)
On a strong 2000m trajectory at Tokyo (2 wins and a place), then took the 3-win Fuchu Stakes in slick time.
Maps just behind the speed - progressive 4yo who fits the race’s recent profile.
15 - Energico | Ridden by Christophe Lemaire | Trained by Mizuki Takayanagi | 3C by Duramente x Enora (Noverre)
G2 Aoba Sho winner with three-from-three to start his career - now tests older horses under 56kg. Missed the Classics and back after a long break.
Pace map puts him near the lead - if he relaxes, raw talent could carry him a long way.
16 - Veloce Era | Ridden by Genki Maruyama | Trained by Naosuke Sugai | 4H by Real Steel x Ipswich (Danehill Dancer)
Sparked to a G3 Hakodate Kinen win and then ran a brave 5th in the G2 Sapporo Kinen; clearly thriving at 2000m.
Tactical speed to land top-4 early - genuine each-way set-up.
17 - Reframing | Ridden by Osamu Ishibashi | Trained by Kenta Fujino | 7H by King Halo x Healing (Battle Plan)
At his best over 2000m G3 (Kokura Kinen winner last summer); forgive the G3 Sekiya Kinen mile run - wrong trip/tempo.
Drawn wide and likely ridden cold - needs a pace collapse to charge into the minors late.
Verdict
Shirankedo
Why She Can Win: Hugely-progressive in the past year and has won five of her eleven starts. Got up in the G3 Nakayama Himba (1800m) before a mighty run in the G1 Victoria Mile. If we look at some of the figures she put in that day at Tokyo, she was dead-last turning for home and when asked to accelerate by Mirco Demuro 400m out, she put in a 10.8s furlong before running into a wall of traffic. The gap didn't open till the final 100m and she absolutely flew home for third, beaten a neck and nose into third whilst recording a final 3f time of 33.2s. The Declaration Of War mare is also highly-versatile, having won the Inwashiro Tokubetsu from a handy position and I think coming back to 2000m will suit her down to the ground.
Energico
Why He Can Win: Three from three so far in his short career, he won on debut over Tokyo's 1800m and was given a three and a half month break before making his 3yo reappearance back at Tokyo in the 1-win Saintpaulia Sho. Lemaire tried a rail run in the straight but was blocked off, so switched to the outside for a clear run and really powered home for a 1 1/4 length victory. His Derby trial came in the Group 2 Aoba Sho against a field of thirteen rivals. He sat second last turning for home but with a clear run this time, motored home in the final 200m for a narrow win but with an impressive final 200m time of 10.9s and last 3f time of 33.4s.
A whole host of winners have come out of that race and he retains significant potential, but my worry would be the trip and the long layoff he has to overcome.
Ask Come On More Why He Can Win: An improving colt trained by Hideaki Fujiwara, he seems to have found his niche at 2000m. Obviously though very highly of, he was tried in the G1 Kikuka Sho (St Leger) over 3000m but was disappointing. This year, The Bricks And Mortar colt has run three times over this trip, yielding a win and two placings. He was good in his 3-win Fuchu Stakes victory in May, picking up nicely under Mick Dee for a 1/2 length score. The form doesn't look amazing bar the second-placed finisher, Meliorem, who won next time out and was sent off favourite for the Group 3 Kokura Kinen. There is a good chance he may need this run after a break but he's still progressing and can outrun his odds.
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