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Steeplechase racing has been dominated by Oju Chosan and Up to Date from 2016 up to now.
Steeplechase racing has been dominated by 2016-17 Best Steeplechase Horse Oju Chosan (JPN, H7, by Stay Gold) in recent years. The son of Stay Gold (JPN, by Sunday Silence) not only accomplished a third consecutive victory in the Nakayama Grand Jump (J-G1, 4,250m) in April, he also demonstrated his speed on the flat in July by winning the Kaiseizan Tokubetsu (2,600m), his third career start on the flat. The steeplechaser-turned-flat runner was invited to the G1 Prix du Cadran (4,000m) in France but decided to test his strength against the best in the year-end Arima Kinen.
Meanwhile, 2015 Best Steeplechase Horse Up To Date (JPN, H8, by Kurofune), after later being dethroned by Oju Chosan, is working his way back to the top now that his nemesis has moved on to flat racing. The son of Kurofune was runner-up to Yokagura (JPN, G5, by Harbinger) in the Kokura Summer Jump (J-G3, 3,390m) in July and then claimed the following Hanshin Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,140m) on September 15.