Race-favorite Gran Alegria captured the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse on Sunday as Grade 1 action resumed in Japan following the summer break.
Steered by the country’s leading jockey Christophe Lemaire, Gran Alegria cut through the pack from the rear and dashed by in the final stretch to cross the line in front in 1 minute and 8.3 seconds.
The 4-year-old filly by Deep Impact claimed her third G1 victory and improved to six wins in nine starts.
Lemaire and trainer Kazuo Fujisawa both won the race for the second year in a row following Tower of London’s victory in 2019. Lemaire claimed his second Sprinters Stakes crown and Fujisawa collected his third.
Deep Impact: Son Contrail won a St Leger Trial last Sunday, his daughter does this today-
4f 10. GRAN ALEGRIA (Deep Impact x Tapitsfly ????????) with a final 400m for the ages under Christophe Lemaire ???????? wins the rich 2020 G1 1200m Sprinters Stakes at Nakayamapic.twitter.com/im809Kix9t
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) October 4, 2020
Third-favorite Danon Smash finished second, two lengths behind Gran Alegria, with 10th-pick A Will a Way taking third in 1:08.7. American-bred contenders Mr Melody and Mozu Superflare, the second favorite, finished fourth and 10th, respectively.
