Third favorite Red Falx claimed the G1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama on Sunday, topping the best short distance runners to become Japan’s autumn champion sprinter.

After wins in races between 1200 and 1400m over both turf and dirt, the versatile five-year-old grey landed his first graded win in his previous start in the G3 CBC Sho (1200m) on turf in July after running on dirt in all of his other four starts this season.

After registering a second with Sakura Gospel in last year’s Sprinters Stakes, his trainer Tomohito Ozeki celebrated his first JRA G1 victory after landing a total of eight graded wins since opening his yard in 2009.

Italian jockey Mirco Demuro, who has won all his three ride son Red Falx, landed his 17th JRA G1 career title.

Demuro settled Red Falx in mid-field down the backstretch and steadily pushed up to improve his position rounding the final turn.

The son of Swept Overboard struggled to gain ground but then found a second gear in the last half furlong to overtake the stubborn leaders and beat the frontrunner Mikki Isle at the wire by a head.

“The horse was very relaxed today,”Demuro said.

“We launched our bid early and after that he just stretched well.

“I’ve won all three races I’ve ever been on him which makes us a terrific team.

“When I first rode him at Chukyo in 2014, I never imagined he would develop the way he has. He was really tough today.”

Big Arthur, winner of the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and the Centaur Stakes, was slow from stall one and sat off the pace but was unable to make headway when he trapped behind horses.

However he lost momentum 100 meters out, finishing a dismal 12th.