NIIGATA 02 May 2026
GOING:
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Maiden Race 2200m Track: |
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A solid tempo is on the cards with Meiner Lihim and Play The Lead pushing for the lead ahead of Fortinbras and Dia Azul. PLAY THE LEAD (5) has put together back-to-back placings, the latest when 4 lengths away in third over 2000m at Nakayama. Very little by way of opposition here so a maiden win looks on the cards. DIA AZUL (6) returned last time with a solid third at Nakayama over 2200m. Lightly raced and looks ready to go a couple better. GOLD AVENUE (1) faced the starter for the first time and finished sixth last start at Fukushima over 1800m, beaten 2.25 lengths. Top-three chance with that run under her belt. CHANT DU RAFALE (2) drifted back second up last start and boxed on well to finish 1.5 lengths from the winner in fifth over 2200m at Hanshin. Ready to hit top form.
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| 1 | 6 |
GOLD AVENUE
TAKATOSHI MIYAJI 3YO CHESTNUT FILLY 55.0KG Kobayashi Eiichi Holdings LLC. Jumped at very long odds at debut, 6th of 16 at Fukushima on April 11 over 1800m, 2.25 len behind Saffron Rouge carrying 55.0kg at $88. Expected to do far better this time. Follow up. |
1 AKATSUKI TOMITA |
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| 2 | 0x05 |
CHANT DU RAFALE
SATOSHI INOUE 3YO DK B COLT 57.0KG Carrot Farm Co. Ltd. Third-up today. Resuming 13th of 18 at Kokura on February 28 over 1200m, 9 len behind Double Challenge carrying 57.0kg at $21.60. Second run from a spell 5th of 13 at Hanshin on April 19 over 2200m, 1.5 len behind Danon Seahawk carrying 57.0kg at $68.50. Ready to find peak form. |
2 HEART KAMEDA |
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| 3 | x0445 |
MEINER LIHIM
YASUO TAKEICHI 3YO DK B COLT 54.0KG Thoroughbred Club Ruffian Co. Ltd. At the latest run sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 5th of 16 at Fukushima on April 11 over 2000m, 4.5 len behind Meisho Hunter with 54.0kg at $11.30. Before that 4th of 18 at Nakayama on March 15 over 2000m, 5.5 len behind Danon Funstar with 57.0kg at $19.80. Has the ability to be in the finish. |
3 FUKAMICHI ISHIGAMI |
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| 4 | 35x5 |
FORTINBRAS
Y IKEE 3YO DK B COLT 57.0KG G1 Racing Co. Ltd. Second run back. First-up after two months 5th of 15 at Fukushima on April 18 over 2600m, 5 len behind Balder carrying 57.0kg at $7.80. Previously second-up 5th of 9 at Kyoto Dirt on February 7 over 1900m, 9 len behind Saimon Zest with 57.0kg at $6.10. Plenty of upside. |
4 HIROKI MATSUMOTO |
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| 5 | 32633 |
PLAY THE LEAD
SHIZUYA KATO 3YO BAY COLT 57.0KG Shadai Race Horse Co. Ltd. Form hard to fault. Returns from a 41-day let-up. Last start 3rd of 18 at Nakayama on March 22 over 2000m, 4 len behind Sigiriya Rock with 57.0kg at $4.30. The run before that raced on speed throughout when 3rd of 14 at Tokyo on February 21 over 2400m, 1.5 len behind Golden Pagoda carrying 57.0kg at $5.20. Leading chance again. |
5 YUJI TANNAI |
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| 6 | 6x3 |
DIA AZUL
KAZUTOMO MORI 3YO BROWN FILLY 55.0KG Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd. Third race start. First start 6th of 16 at Nakayama on December 20 over 1800m, 6 len behind Luxe Patrol with 55.0kg at $46.30. Went for a break before returning 3rd of 18 at Nakayama on April 12 over 2200m, neck behind Tirano carrying 55.0kg at $18.80. Leading chance with plenty of upside. |
6 GENKI MARUYAMA |
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| 7 | 86575 |
ICE ICE BABY
T IWATO 3YO GREY COLT 57.0KG Chigira Bokujo Comes off a 34 day let-up. Most recently 5th of 13 at Nakayama on March 29 over 2200m, 6 len behind King Glory with 57.0kg at $42.70. Before that 7th of 18 at Nakayama on March 7 over 2200m, 6 len behind Willow Creek carrying 57.0kg at $41.20. Better than that recent lacklustre performance suggests. |
7 KAZUKI KIKUZAWA |
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| 8 | x377x |
TAKERU FOCUS
HIROFUMI SHII 3YO BAY COLT 57.0KG Yasuhiko Mori Resuming. Finished off last campaign seventh of 10 at Kyoto Dirt February 15 over 1800m, 10 len behind Gaura Disco with 57.0kg at $27.90. First up last campaign third of 11 at Hanshin Dirt December 14 over 1800m, 5.5 len behind Sunrise Kevin with 56.0kg at $41.80. Happy to work around. |
8 RYOYA KOZAKI |
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| 9 | 005 |
AL TA'THIR
T TEZUKA 3YO BAY COLT 54.0KG DMM Dream Club Co. Ltd. At the latest run 5th of 15 at Fukushima on April 11 over 2600m, 6 len behind Ask Fire More carrying 55.0kg at $110.80. The start before that 15th of 18 at Nakayama on February 28 over 2000m, 6 len behind Sept Etoiles with 57.0kg at $280.70. Needs to find extra to beat these. |
9 NAOTA UEZATO |
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| 10 | 7 |
EISENHEIM
YASUYUKI TSUJINO 3YO DK B COLT 57.0KG Yoshimasa Ema Was at big odds at debut, 7th of 15 at Hanshin on April 5 over 2400m, 14 len behind Come On Man with 57.0kg at $31.50. Sure to kick on with that run under the belt. |
10 FUMA IZUMIYA |
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| 11 | 0x7 |
STADTPARK
TAKASHI KANARI 3YO GREY COLT 57.0KG Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. Third race start. First start 10th of 16 at Nakayama on December 21 over 1600m, 17 len behind Rodeo Drive carrying 56.0kg at $61.20. Returned from break 7th of 15 at Nakayama Dirt on March 22 over 1800m, 18 len behind Eagle Rock carrying 57.0kg at $71.80. Unlikely to threaten. |
11 HAYATO YOSHIDA |
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| 12 | x769x |
GOLD EMBER
MASAHIRO TAKEUCHI 3YO DK B COLT 57.0KG U.Sugai B. Resuming after a break of 11 weeks. Finished off last campaign ninth of 13 at Tokyo Dirt February 15 over 2100m, 15 len behind Excel Crown with 57.0kg at $105.10. When resuming last campaign seventh of 17 at Nakayama January 11 over 2200m, 4.5 len behind Gran Alto with 57.0kg at $113.50. Hard to have. |
12 HATSUYA KOWATA |
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| 13 | 0x |
MARGOT DEUS
TEIICHI KONNO 3YO BAY GELDING 55.0KG Ryohei Maeda Resumes from a spell after only one run when ran last of 16 at Fukushima on November 24 over 1800m, 21 len behind Function carrying 56.0kg at $116.90. Not good enough for these. |
13 NAHO FURUKAWA |
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| 14 | 8x |
MATENRO LUX
H FUJIWARA 3YO BAY COLT 54.0KG Chiyono Terada Resumes from a spell after only one run when settled back and ran on when 8th of 14 at Hanshin Dirt on February 21 over 1800m, 11 len behind Acorn Dream with 57.0kg at $51.80. Prepared to watch. |
14 HARUKI WADA |
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