NAKAYAMA KINEN (G2) PREDICTIONS

Date of prediction: 01/03/2026

The Nakayama Kinen is a graded 1800m turf race taking place in Nakayama, Japan on March 1st, 2026. Here are my predicitons. My predictions are ordered from my favorite to least favorite.

Starting from this race, I will now be using a rating system I've come up with to determine the chances of horses placing. This system isn't perfect and I aim to improve it over time to try come up with more accurate predictions.

My Top 4 Picks:

1. Ecoro Walz - 2. Lebensstil - 3. Seiun Hades - 4. Kalamatianos.

Interesting Horses to Watch:

1. Saai Roang - 2. Magic Sands - 3. Cervinia - 4. Champagne Color.

Ecoro Walz - 12.4 Rating

Okay recent form. Last placed 2nd in the G3 Fukushima Kinen back in November last year. Black Tide, Sunday Silence, and Halo in pedigree. Looks hard to beat.

Lebensstil - 8.45 Rating

Not the best recent form. 9 top 3 placements out of 15 starts. Tokai Teio, Deep Impact, Sunday Silence, and Symboli Rudolf in pedigree. In the chances of placing or winning.

Seiun Hades - 8.4 Rating

Not the best recent form. Last placed 12th in the G1 Japan Cup back in November last year. Manhattan Cafe, Deep Impact, and Sunday Silence in pedigree. Has a good chance to place or win here.

Kalamatianos - 8.4 Rating

Not the best recent form. Last placed 1st in the G3 Nikkan Sports Sho back in early January this year. 6 top 3 placements out of 10 starts. Sunday Silence in pedigree. Has a good chance to place or win here.

Nishino Agent - 8.3 Rating

Not the best recent form. 4 top 3 placements out of 8 starts. Fuji Kiseki and Sunday Silence in pedigree. May have a chance of placing.

Saai Roang - 7.395 Rating

Okay recent form. Hasn't raced in nearly a year. 11 top 3 placements out of 18 starts. Deep Impact, Sunday Silence, and Halo in pedigree. May go alright if they can shake-off the layoff.

Shonan Magma - 7.04 Rating

Not the best recent form. Last placed 4th in the December Stakes back in December last year. Stay Gold, Sunday Silence, and Mejiro McQueen in pedigree. May have a chance to place.

Magic Sands - 6.16 Rating

Not the best recent form. Fresh off last start. Has Kizuna, Deep Impact, and Sunday Silence in pedigree. May have an outside chance to place.

Spark Richard - 5.8 Rating

Not the best recent form. Fresh off last start. Has Sunday Silence in pedigree. May have an outside chance to place.

Cervinia - 5.76 Rating

Not the best recent form. Christophe Lemaire will be riding this one. Has Sunday Silence in pedigree. Has an outside chance of placing with Lemaire on-board.

Onyankopon - 3.6 Rating

Not the best recent form. Has Eishin Flash in pedigree. Will likely find this difficult.

Champagne Color - 3.36 Rating

Not the best recent form. Last placed 4th in G3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai back in mid-Febriary this year. Fresh off last start. Has Air Groove and Sunday Silence in pedigree. Will likely find this difficult.

Sun Stockton - 1.82 Rating

Poor recent form. Fresh off last start. Deep Impact and Sunday Silence in pedigree. Unlikely to place.

Meiner Mond - 0.605 Rating

Poor recent form. Fresh off last start. Has Gold Ship, Stay Gold, Sunday Silence, and Mejiro McQueen in pedigree. Not in the chances.

---