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The final day of the JRA season sees the running of the Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama on Saturday.

The babies stretch out over a longer trip. Derby winners have come via this race and another may be born in the Hopeful Stakes (2000m) at Nakayama.

2019 HOPEFUL STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Hopeful Stakes is a Grade 1 race run under Set Weight conditions for two year old colts and fillies at Nakayama Racecourse conducted by the Japan Racing Association.

The Hopeful Stakes is run over 2000m. It was first run in 1984.

It was initially run as the Radio Tanpa Hai Sansai Hinba Stakes. That was previously for 2yo fillies then in 1991 it swapped to colts.

In 2014, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes for two-year-old colts was moved to Hanshin Racecourse. This race was then moved to Nakayama Racecourse and with this transfer, its name was changed to Hopeful Stakes with an elevation to Grade 2.

The race was promoted to Grade 1 level in 2017 and moved from Arima Kinen day to be the final day of the JRA racing season.

The Hopeful Stakes is worth JPY152,200,000 in 2019 (approx. AUD1.9million).

Nakayama racecourse is a right handed course with the start at the top of the home straight.

Derby winners like Rey De Oro, One And Only and Logi Universe have won both races while Victoire Pisa won an Arima Kinen and Dubai World Cup and Epiphaneia eventually took a Japan Cup so staying potential gets shown early.

Four global riders have won the last four years – Hugh Bowman, Christophe Lemaire, Christian Demuro and Mirco Demuro.

Notable winners of the Hopeful Stakes include Rey De Oro (2016), One And Only (2013), Epiphaneia (2012), Victoire Pisa (2009) and Logi Universe (2008).

The 2018 Hopeful Stakes was won by Saturnalia from Admire Justa and Nishino Daisy.