Mama Cocha Aiming To Defend Sprinters Stakes Title

Japanese Group 1 racing resumes on Sunday with the 1200-metre Sprinters Stakes, and last year's winner, Mama Cocha (Jpn) (Kurofune), is ready to defend her title.

Receiving four pounds versus the majority of the field, the mare finished her season with a fifth to Win Marvel (Jpn) () in the G2 Hanshin Cup upped to 1400 metres in December. Unable to land a telling blow when eighth to Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the 1200-metre G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in soft going at Chukyo in her 5-year-old bow, Mama Cocha was an encouraging second in the G2 Centaur Stakes there behind Toshin Macau (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}) on Sept. 8.

Assistant trainer Yuki Iwasaki said of the stall six-drawn mare, “She fought out the finish well in her last race, and she hasn't shown any tiredness since that run. With little change in her condition, we've been able to work her sufficiently, and with just a short time between races, some fast work shortly before this next race should be enough. It's been very hot recently, but she seems to be fine with the heat. Having won the race last year, she's suited to the Nakayama course.”

Attempting to become the sixth horse to complete the Takamatsunomiya Kinen/Sprinters Stakes double in the same year, Mad Cool was second here to Mama Cocha last term, and was unplaced when tried over a firm Sha Tin strip in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint in December. After defeating several of these, including Takamatsunominya Kinen runner-up Namura Clair (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) in March, the 5-year-old entire was 11th in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize back in Hong Kong when last seen at the end of April. He has drawn one to Mama Cocha's outside in seven.

Trainer Manabu Ikezoe said, “The jockey [Ryusei Sakai] says the horse is moving well as usual and can still improve more. I also think the horse is in good condition and that things are going well with him. His reactions are good. He's a big horse, so his footwork isn't always so smooth. We've tried to vary things with his training a bit, so he's been in the pool to strengthen his heart and lungs.”

Despite a career littered with strong performances–14 of 18 in the money–Namura Clair has yet to find the winner's circle at the highest level. The four-time group winner is versatile enough to run third in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) over a mile at three, and she has hit the Group 1 crossbars thrice more throughout her career–second in the 2023 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, third behind Mama Cocha and Mad Cool in last year's Sprinters Stakes, and second to the latter in the 2024 Takamatsunomiya Kinen. She enters this contest as a very live chance with a fifth in the G3 Keeneland Cup at Sapporo in the wake of Sunday's antepost favourite Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) on Aug. 25.  Like Mama Cocha, she bears only 123 pounds, the same weight as Mozu Meimei (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}), with only 3-year-old filly Puro Magic (Jpn) (Asia Express {Jpn}) less burdened at 119 pounds.

“She's been working well on the uphill since her last race, and her condition's good,” said trainer Kodai Hasegawa. “She's been running with a lot of power despite the hot weather, and jockey Takeshi Yokoyama has made sure the horse has trained well. His record with rides at Nakayama is also good.”