Japan is on its way to the departure gate for the first Saturday in May when sotogake skin And continue stabilize in Churchill Downs back after a long trip from the Middle East.
Kate Hunter, a representative of the Japan Racing Association, said the ponies are working every day to regain strength. In the final match, they finished first and third respectively in the UAE Derby (G2) on 25 March at Meydan Racecourse.
“They’re shipping well, they’re as tired as you might expect from the long journey from Saudi Arabia. But they’re adapting to their new routine and their atmosphere,” Hunter said. “This week we will relax before we start equipping it. The horses are very happy and enjoying their new stables, the quarantine barn here is really nice.”
Must take these pictures when you have runners in the Kentucky Derby! Continuar & Derma Sotogake pic.twitter.com/uGWeMu50p4
— Hunter Kate • ハンター (@KeibaKate) April 10, 2023
The horses had to be quarantined due to the inability to test for the sexually transmitted disease CEM (Equestrian Infectious Metritis) in Japan. They are imported under a CEM exemption that allows them to be transported over and raced, but they cannot be housed with other horses to avoid cross-contamination.
She said that last year’s candidate proud crown was able to ship directly to Louisville but this year the foals had to stop in Chicago first, where they spent two days in quarantine before arriving in Kentucky.
Trainers will likely be looking to ramp up horse training this weekend.
“You’ll see them slowly pick up their spirits and improve at what they’re doing and recover from the ride as they move forward,” says Hunter.
The your cookie heart colt Derma Sotogake, who was coached by Hidetaka Otonashi for Hiroyuki Asanuma, is currently 7th on the Kentucky Derby (G1) standings with 100 points.
Derma Sotogake wins UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse
Continuing, a son of camel . The positions went to him along with trainer Yoshito Yahagi and Lion Race Horse owner, who accepted the bid.
Meanwhile, runner-up Santa Anita Derby (G1) Mandarin hero , who was coached by Terunobu Fujito for Hiroaki Arai, will also be targeted for the Derby despite not having enough points. He’s currently 23rd on the leaderboard with 40. Hunter says that if he doesn’t get into the race, he’ll likely head towards the Triple Crown’s middle jewel instead.
“The goal is to play it by ear. What they told me was they wanted to try and ‘Rich Strike it’. They were hoping maybe they would get in even if it was the last minute,” Hunter said. “It’s a dream for any man with a good ground horse to win the Kentucky Derby, no matter what country you’re from. See the reaction after that race (Santa Anita Derby), you would think they won the race based on how happy they were. It was really touching.
“I hope there are horses that decide for themselves that they want to skip the Kentucky Derby so we can get in and obviously nothing bad will happen. They are always some of the people who decide that it will. unfit or want to give their horses more rest.If that doesn’t work out there’s always Preakness.He’s been nominated for a Triple Crown so he can do either. put him in either of you.”
Santa Anita . Park, Hunter said that more horses will probably be delivered due to the track’s proximity to the port of entry and it’s a shorter ride overall. Last year, Japan was represented by only one horse at the Breeder’s Cup in Lexington, this is due to both the Japanese economy and the location of the track.
“Because people are going to California this year,” says Hunter. I worry a lot less about that. It won’t affect the west coast as much as the east coast,” Hunter said. “Ideally you want to get your horses straight into the racetrack so that when the 48 hours are up they can immediately start training and relaxing.”
For now, though, Japan is more focused on its current mission—winning the first in the Run for the Roses.
“It’s great to see how the Kentucky Derby has resonated with the people of Japan and it’s something they’d love to be a part of. It’s also very encouraging that Churchill, with the creation of the Japanese Road, is very encouraging. They went to the Kentucky Derby and everything they did, they also wanted to help push the world to be part of the Kentucky Derby,” Hunter said.
“It’s exciting to have two talented ponies here and hopefully a third will come and represent Japan. We’ve been very successful everywhere else; Kentucky is the next stop. It’s on my checklist anyway.”
