Along with the Sprinters Stakes, the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) is one of the two major sprints on the Japanese calendar, and this year will see the possibility of a two-time winner.

Satono Reve is aiming to become the first horse since Kinshasa no Kiseki in 2010/2011 to win the race twice, having proved too strong for a good field with Joao Moreira in the saddle.

Since then, Satono Reve has done little to harm his reputation, running second to the world's best sprinter Ka Ying Rising at Sha Tin and also runner up to Lazzat in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He could only manage fourth in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama and was well beaten in Hong Kong in December but comes here fresh with the best peaks in the race and will be well fancied to return to the winner's circle.

Satono Reve beat the likes of Namura Clair (2nd) and Mama Cocha (3rd) in this race last year, both of whom return for another shot.

Seven-year-old mare Namura Clair is yet to win at Group 1 level but has been remarkably consistent, placing in seven of nine attempts at the top level and winning at Group 2/3 level on five occasions.

Mama Cocha won the Sprinters Stakes in 2023 but has mixed her form a bit since then, just fair in Group 3 company at Nakayama last time out.

The horse that creates most interest to beat Satono Reve is lightly raced four-year-old Panja Tower, winner of the Group 3 NHK Mile Cup as a three-year-old, as good as that if not better over 1200m next time out.

A trip to Australia for the Golden Eagle behind superstar mare Autumn Glow was sound before an even run in the Group 2 1351 Sprint in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

He was below his best there but has the profile to measure up in the top races and the switch to full-time sprinter could be a smart one.

No doubting Satono Reve is the best 1200m horse in the race and the one to beat, but Panja Tower may be the one to spoil the party.

Photo: JRA