NAKAYAMA HIMBA STAKES (G3) PREDICTIONS

Date of prediction: 07/03/2026

*This page has been updated with results after the race. P = prediction, R = result.*

The Nakayama Himba Stakes is a graded 1800m turf race taking place in Nakayama, Japan on March 7th, 2026. Here are my predicitons. My predictions are ordered from my favorite to least favorite.

My Top 4 Picks:

1. Angola Black - 2. Nishino Ti Amo - 3. Flaming Hoop - 4. Paradis Reine.

Interesting Horses to Watch:

1. Lady Value - 2. Bond Girl - 3. Erika Express - 4. Stellenbosch.

Results After Race:

1. Ethelfleda - 2. Beyond the Valley - 3. Paradis Reine - 4. Erika Express.

Angola Black - 29.98 Rating (P:1, R:13)

Great recent form. Last placed 2nd in the G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Nakayama Kimpai back in early January this year. 4 wins out of 8 starts - 7 top 3 placements overall. Has not placed below 2nd in their last 5 starts. Kizuna, Deep Impact, Sunday Silence, Air Groove, and Agnes Digital in pedigree. Looks hard to beat.

Nishino Ti Amo - 26.85 Rating (P:2, R:5)

Great recent form. Last placed 1st in the G3 Fukushima Kinen back in November last year. 4 wins in a row so far. 8 top 3 placements out of 12 starts. Air Groove, Sunday Silence, Agnes Tachyon, and Nishino Flower in pedigree. Looks hard to beat.

Flaming Hoop - 21.96 Rating (P:3, R:12)

Very good recent form. 7 top 3 placements out of 13 starts. Sunday Silence and Halo in pedigree. Has a very good chance of placing or winning.

Paradis Reine - 21.60 Rating (P:4, R:3) - CLOSE PREDICTION

Decent recent form. Last placed 2nd in the G1 Queen Elizabeth 2 Cup back in November last year. Recent G1 placements could prove a threat in a G3. 6 top 3 placements out of 8 starts. Kizuna, Deep Impact, and Sunday Silence in pedigree. Very good chance of placing or winning.

Lady Value - 18.00 Rating (P:5, R:16)

Good recent form. 5 top 3 placements out of 9 starts. Last placed 15th in the G3 Kokura Himba Stakes back in late January this year, but they could bounce back from it. Fresh off last start. Sunday Silence in pedigree. Good chance of placing or winning if they can hold up against the strong competition.

Ethelfleda - 17.34 Rating (P:6, R:1)

Okay recent form. Last placed 1st in the Hatsufuji Stakes back in late January this year. Fresh off last start. 8 top 3 placements out of 13 starts. Kitsan Black, Black Tide, Sunday Silence, and Sakura Bakushin O in pedigree. Decent chance of placing or winning if they can hold up against the strong competition.

Lesedrama - 12.74 Rating (P:7, R:6) - CLOSE PREDICTION

Not the best recent form. Last placed 1st in the Kokura Nikkei Sho back in early February this year. Fresh off last start. Kizuna, Deep Impact, and Sunday Silence in pedigree. Has an outside chance of placing or winning.

Bond Girl - 11.75 Rating (P:8, R:10)

Not the best recent form. Last placed 2nd in the G3 Kokura Himba Stakes back in late January this year. Fresh off last start. 9 top 3 placements out of 15 starts. Daiwa Major, Sunday Silence, and Halo in pedigree. Has an outside chance of placing.

Polka Rhythm - 10.49 Rating (P:9, R:9) - CORRECT PREDICTION

Not the best recent form. Last placed 1st in the Wakashio Stakes back in mid-January this year. Fresh off last start. Fuji Kiseki and Sunday Silence in pedigree. Has an outside chance of placing.

Kelly Fled Ask - 9.8 Rating (P:10, R:8)

Not the best recent form. 6 top 3 placements out of 11 starts. Sunday Silence, Air Groove, and Deep Impact in pedigree. Has an outside chance of placing.

Beyond the Valley - 8.95 Rating (P:11, R:2)

Not the best recent form. Last 2 starts have been on dirt. Fuji Kiseki and Sunday Silence in pedigree. Has an outside chance of placing.

Erika Express - 8.5 Rating (P:12, R:4)

Not the best recent form. Yutaka Take will be riding this one. Has Epiphaneia, Cesario and Special Week in pedigree. Has an outide chance of placing.

Anri Road - 5.5 Rating (P:13, R:11)

Not the best recent form. Has Real Steel, Deep Impact, Sunday Silence, and Jungle Pocket in pedigree. May find this one hard.

Stellenbosch - 4.2 Rating (P:14, R:7)

Poor recent form. Christophe Lemaire will be riding this one. 8 top 3 placements out of 12 starts. Epiphaneia, Cesario, Special Week, and Air Groove in pedigree. May find this one hard, but may also have an easier time dropping to G3 class.

Kurino Mei - 2.24 Rating (P:15, R:15) - CORRECT PREDICTION

Poor recent form. Orfevre, Stay Gold, Sunday Silence, and Mejiro McQueen in pedigree. Not in the chances.

Feel Sympathy - 1.53 Rating (P:16, R:14)

Poor recent form. Sunday Silence in pedigree. Not in the chances.