Let’s be real. If you’re playing Umamusume: Pretty Derby, you’ve probably spent a fair amount of time staring at the race schedule and wondering why certain Grade 2 races feel like such a massive roadblock. One of those is the New Zealand Cup Umamusume event. It’s not a Grade 1. It doesn’t have the flashy prestige of the Arima Kinen or the Japan Cup. Yet, for many trainers, it’s the make-or-break moment for a Mile-spec build.
You’re basically looking at a 1,600m turf race at Nakayama. It happens in the first half of April (Junior Year). It’s tricky. Nakayama’s track layout is notorious for that final uphill climb, and if your girl isn't prepared for a Mile distance with a bit of stamina to spare, she’s going to sink like a stone right when it matters most.
Why the New Zealand Cup Umamusume is a Strategy Bottleneck
Most players ignore the New Zealand Cup until they realize their favorite Umamusume needs it for a specific mission or a fan-count threshold. Honestly, the biggest mistake is treating it like a "filler" race. In the real-world JRA (Japan Racing Association), the New Zealand Cup is a trial race for the NHK Mile Cup. In the game, it functions exactly the same way. It’s a gatekeeper.
The race is right-handed. That’s a detail people forget. If you’ve stacked skills that only trigger on left-handed tracks, you’re essentially wasting skill points here. The distance is 1,600m. While that technically qualifies as a "Mile" race, Nakayama is a "short" track with a "short" straightaway. This means positioning is everything. If you’re running a "Between" (Betwixt/Sashi) or "Long" (Chaser/Oikomi) strategy, and you get boxed in during that final corner, the race is over before you even see the finish line.
Seriously. Two seconds of bad pathing and you’re looking at a 5th-place finish.
Breaking Down the Nakayama 1,600m Layout
Let's talk about the actual dirt—or turf, rather. The start of the New Zealand Cup is on a slight downhill/flat stretch before hitting a curve. But the nightmare is the home stretch. It’s only about 310 meters long. For context, Tokyo Racecourse has a home stretch of over 500 meters.
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Why does this matter for your New Zealand Cup Umamusume run?
Because "Accelerators" are king. You don’t have time for a slow, majestic ramp-up in speed. You need explosive power the second you exit that final bend. If you rely solely on "Speed" stats without enough "Power" to push through the crowd, the shorter straightaway will betray you every single time. It's frustrating. You think you have the best build in the world, and then a random NPC girl with better "Acceleration" skills snatches the win.
The Stats You Actually Need to Win
Don't overcomplicate it. For a Junior-year Grade 2 like this, you aren't looking for Max stats. You're looking for balance.
- Speed: Aim for at least 400-450 by the time April rolls around.
- Stamina: 250 is usually the "safe" zone, though you can scrape by with 200 if you have a recovery skill like "Corner Recovery."
- Power: Do not ignore this. 350+ is the sweet spot to handle the Nakayama slope.
- Guts/Wisdom: Keep them around 200-250. Wisdom helps with skill activation, which is vital in a crowded Mile field.
It’s worth noting that the weather and track condition can fluctuate. If the RNG gods decide it’s "Heavy" or "Soft" turf, your stamina consumption spikes. Suddenly, that 200 stamina looks very risky.
Common Characters Who Tackle This Race
You’ll usually find yourself entering the New Zealand Cup Umamusume with girls like Oguri Cap, Vodka, or Daiwa Scarlet. Interestingly, El Condor Pasa often finds this race a natural fit for her progression toward the NHK Mile Cup.
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If you are training a "Runner" (逃げ - Nige) like Daiwa Scarlet, your life is easier. You just need to stay ahead of the pack. But if you’re using someone like Grass Wonder or El Condor Pasa on a "Sashi" build, you absolutely must have a skill that helps with "Overtaking." Without it, the congestion at the final corner of Nakayama is a literal wall of horsegirls that you cannot pass.
Dealing with the "Luck" Factor
Sometimes you just lose. You can have the best stats and the perfect skills, and you still get blocked. That’s the nature of the New Zealand Cup. Because it’s a Mile race with a large number of entrants, the "inner lane" can become a trap.
If your Umamusume has the "Inner Lane" weakness or just low Wisdom, she might get stuck behind a tiring NPC. There’s a specific frustration in watching your 500-speed superstar trot behind a 200-speed fodder girl because she can't find a gap.
How do you fix this? Positioning skills. Skills like "Lane Move" or anything that mentions "finding a path" are literal lifesavers here.
The Rewards: Is it Worth the Turn?
Usually, the answer is yes. Winning the New Zealand Cup Umamusume gives you a solid chunk of fans—around 10,000 to 15,000 depending on your bonuses. This is crucial for hitting the "G1" fan requirements for the later half of the year. If you skip these Grade 2 races, you might find yourself scrambling for fans in the Senior year, forcing you to run unnecessary races when you should be training.
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Also, don't forget the "Factor" (Blue/Red factors). If you want to breed a successor with a "Mile" or "Nakayama" specialty, winning this race consistently increases the chances of getting those specific stars. It’s a long game. You aren’t just winning for today; you’re winning for the next ten generations of Umamusume you’re going to train.
Strategic Shifts in the 2024-2025 Meta
With the newer scenarios like "U.A.F. Ready!!" or "Mecha-uma," the way we approach the New Zealand Cup has shifted slightly. In older scenarios like URA, you were just trying to survive. Now, with the massive stat boosts available through scenario mechanics, the New Zealand Cup is often used as a "test" for your power levels.
If you can’t stomp the New Zealand Cup, you have zero chance in the NHK Mile Cup or the Yasuda Kinen later on. Consider it your diagnostic tool. If you struggle here, go back and focus on Power training for the next three turns.
Key Skills to Prioritize
- Mile Straight / Mile Corner: These are cheap and effective.
- Nakayama Racecourse: If you can get this from a support card (like SSR Kitasan Black or others), take it. The boost to Stamina/Speed on this specific track is huge.
- Spring Umamusume: Since this race is in April, this skill is active. It’s a flat speed buff. Use it.
- Accelerators: "Non-Stop Girl" is overkill for a G2, but the lower-tier version "Dashing Position" is perfect.
The Cultural Context (Just for Fun)
In real life, the New Zealand Cup was established to commemorate the exchange between the JRA and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing body. It’s a "sister" race to the Japan Trophy held in New Zealand. In the game, this isn't mentioned much, but it explains why the race exists in such a specific slot. It’s a bridge between the junior ranks and the big-boy (or big-girl) leagues.
When you see your Umamusume lining up at the gate, remember that this race represents a transition. She’s moving from being a "rookie" to a "contender."
Actionable Training Steps for Your Next Run
To ensure you don't just "participate" but actually dominate the New Zealand Cup Umamusume, follow this tactical checklist during your next training session:
- Check the Calendar: Ensure you aren't hitting a "Rest" turn right before April. You want your energy high so you don't get a "Late Start" penalty at the gate.
- Prioritize Power over Speed for 2 Turns: If you are under 300 Power by March, dedicate two full training turns to Power. The Nakayama slope will eat you alive otherwise.
- Grab a "Yellow" Skill: If you have the points, buy one speed-up (Yellow) skill before the race. Don't hoard all your points for the end of the year. Winning now gives you more fans, which unlocks more events later.
- Watch the Replay: If you lose, don't just skip. Watch. Did she get blocked? Did she run out of stamina on the hill? This tells you exactly what stat you're neglecting.
The New Zealand Cup isn't the hardest race in the game, but it's the one that punishes "lazy" builds the most. Fix your positioning, respect the Nakayama slope, and you'll stop seeing those 2nd and 3rd place finishes.