Date: 19th September 2022
Race Type: Grade 2
Track: Nakayama Racecourse
Distance: 2200m (Turf)
Prize Money: ¥117,540,000 (US$1,023,000)
Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen preview
The St. Lite Kinen is a Grade 2 flat horse race reserved for thoroughbred fillies and colts aged three and above. The race takes place at the right-handed Nakayama Racecourse and runs over a distance of 2200m on the turf track. In 2021, Asamano Itazura won the race.
This year the race is scheduled to take place on Monday 19th September and has prize money of around $1,023,000, while the winner walks away with $470,000 from the purse.
The St. Lite Kinen serves as a trial race for Kikuka Sho, a Grade 1 flat race reserved for thoroughbred fillies and colts aged three and above. The Japanese St. Leger race takes place at Kyoto Racecourse in October and runs a distance of 3000m. Due to construction in Kyoto, Kikuka Sho will take place at Hanshin Racecourse. The top performer of the St. Lite Kinen will hence go on to compete in the Kikuka Sho in October.
The St. Lite Kinen was first held in 1947. It was named in honour of St. Lite, the champion of the Japanese Triple crown. Since its inception, St. Lite Kinen has been held at various racecourses, including the Tokyo Racecourse in the early years, followed by the Niigata Racecourse and now the Nakayama Racecourse. Last year, Asamano Itazura won the race at odds of 42/1, landing his first graded win.