Hopeful Stakes (Japan)

The Hopeful Stakes (ホープフルステークス) is the only Grade 1 middle-distance race for two-year-old thoroughbreds in the JRA. This race was started as the Radio Tampa Hai Sansai Hinba Stakes (Grade 3), run at Hanshin Racecourse for two-year-old fillies. In 1991, not fillies but colts were allowed to run. Its name was changed several times (Radio Tampa Hai Sansai Stakes (1991-2000), Radio Tampa Hai Nisai Stakes (2001-2005) and Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai Stakes (2006-2013)). This race was considered important because no other graded race over 2,000 meters for two-year-olds existed in those days. In particular, it was a good chance for horses with ambition for Triple Crown Races to experience a middle distance race. In fact, some triple crown race winners had previously won this race. Logi Universe (2008) and One and Only (2013) won the Japanese Derby, Victoire Pisa (also Dubai World Cup winner) (2009) won the Satsuki Shō, and Epiphaneia (2012) won the Kikuka Shō.

Hopeful Stakes (Japan)

Grade 1 race
Paddock (2016)
Location	Nakayama Racecourse Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
Inaugurated	1984(as Radio Tanpa Hai Sansai Hinba Stakes)
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Race information
Distance	2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs / 1.1/4 mile)
Surface	Turf
Track	Right-handed (inner course)
Qualification	Two-year-old, Colts & Fillies
Weight	Colt 55 kg, Filly 54 kg
Purse	¥152,200,000 (as of 2017) 1st: ¥ 70,000,000

In 2014, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, a grade 1 race for two-year-old colts previously held at Nakayama Racecourse, was moved to Hanshin Racecourse. Then the Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai Stakes was moved to Nakayama Racecourse. With this transfer, its name was changed to Hopeful Stakes, and the grade of the race was elevated to Grade 2. The race was promoted to Grade 1 level in 2017.

The winner in 2016, Rey de Oro, became the Japanese Derby winner in 2017.

Until 2016, this race was held on Arima Kinen day. But from 2017, it will be moved to the final day of the JRA racing season, 28 December.