2026.1.5 Manyo Stakes

The reason I am entrusting my pick to ⑤ Aqua Vernal

To get straight to the point for this race, my favorite is ⑤ Aqua Vernal.

In long-distance races, the first thing I want to prioritize is
that I believe in "the jockey" more than "the horse."

Pace distribution, composure, and timing of the move.
If even one of these goes wrong, even the best-bred horse can easily fall apart in a long-distance race.

In that regard, this time I want to
"Buy the jockey for long distances"
and follow this maxim faithfully.

The reliability of Jockey Sakai

The biggest reason I made ⑤ Aqua Vernal my favorite is
Jockey Sakai's sense of stability and judgment.

・Does not move unnecessarily
・Does not make early moves
・Prioritizes the horse's rhythm above all else

I think his sense of balance in these areas is top-class among current young to mid-career jockeys.

Pedigree and recent performance

In addition, this horse's pedigree background is
a combination that is well-supported in terms of stamina.

It is not flashy, but it is the type that shows its best only when the distance increases, and
its recent performance is "not as bad as the finishing order suggests."

It would not be surprising if it suddenly surged forward depending on how the race unfolds,
and I see these conditions as a welcome factor.

⸻

Betting strategy

The axis is ⑤ without hesitation.

Umaren / Wide forecast

⑤ - ②, ③, ④, ⑨