Perriere closed strong all the way to an overwhelming victory in the February 19 Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse, taking the top spot in the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” with only one remaining remaining. a race in the chain.
PERRIERE is sitting in the box seat for the Kentucky Derby landing after earning 30 points in the Hyacinth Stakes in Tokyo! 🇯🇵
There is one more Japanese race qualifying for @KentuckyDerby point, Fukuryu Staking at Nakayama on March 25 pic.twitter.com/vPtriwEuRc
– World horse racing (@WHR) February 19, 2023
The “Japanese Way” delivers the highest overall score to secure a guaranteed spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Launched in 2017, the series has yet to produce a winner in Louisville but has gained renewed interest this season with a record number of Japanese 3-year-olds, including Perriere, nominated for Three Crown of the United States.
Perriere is a Henny Hughes colt out of victory Fuji Kiseki (JPN) mare Soft Rime . In turn, Fuji Kiseki was bred by the US Horse of the Year 1989 silent sunday. Halo’s six-time 1st grade winner son became Japan’s top male breeder for 13 consecutive years (1995-2007).
The foal won the first two starts at a young age, then finished third in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun competition at Kawasaki Racecourse, the second of four events in “The Road” Japan”. He earned six points for that spot and 30 points for Hyacinth, putting him at the top of the leaderboard.
sotogake skin last year’s Zen-Nippon winner, and continue The winner of the Cattleya Stakes series that opened in November, both skipped Hyacinth for a starting spot in the Saudi Arabia Derby (G3) on February 25 in Riyadh.
Judging by his performance in the Tokyo segment, Perriere will give one of the previous winners a stern test if they stay at home.
After a strong breakthrough from gate 3, rider Yuichi Fukunaga knocked out Perriere and waited until the long distance appeared before pressing the button. When he did, Perriere reacted immediately, edging past the lead to take the lead in the 200 metres, and go on to win by 1.5 meters as the favorites. best in the field 14.
Z Lien And Ecological, both with long odds, placed second and third when Perriere completed 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) in 1:37.2. Eclogite is a US Triple Crown candidate. Z Lien does not.
Perriere was bred by Champions Farm in Japan and raced in the colors of Yuji Hasegawa. He is coached by Yoichi Kuroiwa.
“Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” ends March 25 with Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse. That 1,800 meter (about 1 1/8 mile) test gives the winner 40 points and will therefore create the overall winner in the series.
