Shirankedo Claims Niigata Kinen (GIII) Victory, Deep Monster's Surprise Third Place Sparks Fan Excitement

The Niigata Kinen (GIII), held on August 31st, saw Shirankedo, the second favorite, brilliantly win with a superb performance alongside its new partner, jockey Ryusei Sakai, securing its second graded stakes victory following the Nakayama Himba S. However, the horse that garnered the most attention in this race was Deep Monster, who, despite being the seventh favorite, managed to clinch third place.

Shirankedo claimed victory with a powerful run, while the first favorite, Energico, finished in second. The battle for third place, which went down to a photo finish, ultimately saw Deep Monster prevail, narrowly holding off Shinryokuka in fourth. Deep Monster's strong performance, ridden by jockey Akira Sugawara, surprised many horse racing fans and generated a flurry of reactions on social media.

On X (formerly Twitter), numerous comments expressed surprise and joy over the longshot's strong finish, such as, "Deep Monster, the horse that shows up when you don't bet on it," and "Thanks to Deep Monster for holding on in the Niigata Kinen." There were also many posts from fans whose betting slips were made or broken, like, "I feel like an idiot for cutting Deep Monster... sob," and "I had Shirankedo as my anchor and Deep Monster as a string, but no Energico, so my bet is busted." Some recalled past successes, saying, "That's Deep Monster, who helped me out in the Chukyo Kinen! Can't believe I didn't include him in my picks 😭😭," while others praised his consistent performance with comments like, "Deep Monster is truly a horse that brings pride to its owner."

Some fans apparently spotted Deep Monster's excellent condition in the paddock, drawing attention to their "eye for horses." Deep Monster's third-place finish as the seventh favorite in this Niigata Kinen indicates that the horse still possesses high potential, raising expectations for its future performances.

The Context

The Niigata Kinen (GIII) is a prestigious graded stakes race held annually at Niigata Racecourse, an important event within the Japanese horse racing calendar. In Japanese horse racing, "GIII" signifies a Grade 3 race, which is a significant level of competition, though below the top-tier G1 (Grade 1) races.

In horse racing, a "favorite" is a horse that receives the most bets and thus has the lowest odds, expected to win. Conversely, a "longshot" (or in this case, a lower-ranked "favorite") is a horse with high odds, meaning fewer people bet on it. Deep Monster's status as the seventh favorite indicates it was considered a longshot, making its third-place finish a notable upset and a pleasant surprise for bettors who took the risk.

A "photo finish" occurs when horses cross the finish line so close together that the order of finish cannot be determined by the naked eye, requiring a review of a high-speed photo taken precisely at the finish line. This ensures accurate placement in tight races.

The "paddock" is an enclosure at the racecourse where horses are paraded before a race. This allows fans and professional handicappers to observe the horses' physical condition, gait, and demeanor, which can offer clues about their readiness for the upcoming race. The ability to accurately assess a horse's condition from the paddock is often referred to as having an "eye for horses."