The Naruo Kinen () is a Grade 3 middle-distance race for three-year-olds and older horses in the JRA. It is run over 1,800 meters at Hanshin Racecourse in December.
History
The first race was held in 1951 and was run twice a year until 1953. After that, the race has been held once a year. The race was run over a variety of longer distances before being contested over 2,000 meters for the first time in 1997. The distance was 1,800 meters from 2006 to 2011 and raised again to 2,000 meters from 2012 to 2024.
The race was run at Chukyo Racecourse in 1959, and at Kyoto Racecourse in 1966, 1969 and 1990.
From 1955 to 1985, the race was for horses over 5 years old, however the requirement was changed to 4 years old in 1987.
Notable winners of the Naruo Kinen have included Ten Point, Bubble Gum Fellow, Tamamo Cross and Lovely Day.
Weight 56 kg for three-year-olds, 57 kg for four-year-olds and above.
Allowances:
2 kg for fillies / mares 2 kg for southern hemisphere bred three-year-olds
Penalties (excluding two-year-old race performance):
If a graded stakes race has been won within a year: 3 kg for a grade 1 win (2 kg for fillies / mares) 2 kg for a grade 2 win (1 kg for fillies / mares) 1 kg for a grade 3 win If a graded stakes race has been won for more than a year: 2 kg for a grade 1 win (1 kg for fillies / mares) 1 kg for a grade 2 win
Winners since 2000 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2000 Daitaku Riva3 Mikio MatsunagaKojiro Hashiguchi Midori Jutaku Co Ltd1:59.32001 Meisho Odo6 Yuji Iida Akihiro Iida Yoshio Matsumoto1:59.82002 Ibuki Government6 Hiroshi Kawachi Kojiro Hashiguchi Ibuki1:59.52003 Win Blaze5 Hatsuhiro Kowata Yoshitada Munataka Win Co Ltd2:00.02004 Sakura Century4 Tetsuzo Sato Shozo Sasaki Sakura Commerce2:00.72005 Mejiro Mantle8 Yutaka Yoshida Yokichi Okubo Mejiro Stud2:01.62006 Sakura Mega Wonder3 Olivier Peslier Yasuo Tomomichi Sakura Commerce1:46.92007 Higher Game6Yusuke Fujioka Yokichi Okubo Hiroyoshi Usuda1:47.5 2008 Sakura Mega Wonder5 Yuichi Fukunaga Yasuo Tomomichi Sakura Commerce1:46.02009 Axion6 Shinji Fujita Yoshitaka Ninomiya Tetsu Nakata1:46.52010 Rulership3 Yasunari Iwata Katsuhiko Sumii Sunday Racing1:44.92011 Red Davis3 Mirco Demuro Hidetaka Otonashi Tokyo Horse Racing1:45.62012 To The Glory5 Yuichi Fukunaga Yasutoshi Ikee U Carrot Farm2:00.12013 Tokei Halo4 Yutaka Take Hisashi Shimizu Nobuhiko Kimura1:58.92014 Air Saumur5 Keita TosakiKatushiko Sumii Lucky Field1:59.12015 Lovely Day5 Yasunari Iwata Yasuotoshi Ikee Kaneko Makoto Holdings1:58.82016 Satono Noblesse 6 Yuga KawadaYasuotoshi IkeeHajime Satomi1:57.62017 Stay in Seattle 6 Yutaka TakeYasuotoshi IkeeAoshiba Trading Corporation1:59.42018 Strong Titan 5 Mirco DemuroYasuotoshi IkeeSilk Racing1:57.22019 Mer de Glace4 Damian LaneHisashi Shimizu U Carrot Farm 1:59.62020 Perform A Promise8 Yuichi Fukunaga Hideaki Fujiwara Sunday Racing 2:00.12021 Unicorn Lion5 Ryusei SakaiYoshito YahagiLion Race Horse 2:00.72022 Weltreisende5 Damian Lane Yasutoshi Ikee Sunday Racing 1:57.72023 Boccherini7 Suguru Hamanaka Yasutoshi Ikee Kaneko Makoto Holdings1:59.12024Yoho Lake6Mirai IwataYasuo TomomichiKaneko Makoto Holdings1:57.22025David Barows6Mirai IwataHiroyuki UemuraHirotsugu Inokuma1:43.7
Previous winners
1951: Takakurayama 1951 (autumn): Track O 1952: Hiro Homare 1952 (autumn): Queen Narubi 1953: Queen Narubi 1953 (autumn): Bostonian 1954: Royal Wood 1955: Royal Wood 1956: Sekai O 1957: Sekai O 1958: Sekai O 1959: Katsura Shuho 1960: Tokitsu Hiro 1961: Caesar 1962: Great Stan 1963: Ryu Forel 1964: Goukai 1965: Ballymoss Nisei 1966: Eight Crown 1967: Apo Onward 1968: Yama Pit 1969: Fine Rose 1970: New Kiminonawa 1971: Tama Hope 1972: Fi Dor 1973: Shinzan Misaki 1974: Strong Eight 1975: Naoki 1976: Taiho Hero 1977: Ten Point 1978: Erimo George 1979: Captain Namura 1980: Lindo Pleben 1981: Hashi Kranz 1982: Marubutsu Winner 1983: Kyoei Ascent 1984: Hashi Rodi 1985: Nishino Raiden 1986: Ron Spark 1987: Tamamo Cross 1988: Yaeno Muteki 1989: Mr. Cyclennon 1990: Kachiuma Hawk 1991: Nice Nature 1992: Takeno Velvet 1993: Ruble Act 1994: Star Man 1995: Kanetsu Cross 1996: Maruka Diesis 1997: Bubble Gum Fellow 1998: Sunrise Flag 1999: Suehiro Commander
See also Horse racing in Japan List of Japanese flat horse races
References Netkeiba: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,