Notturno fought his way to the top at the top of the ramp in the Japan Derby on 13 July and fought hard on the sloppy Oi track to win by 3/4 the length from Eisha Es.
The Dirt Derby is currently a listed race conducted under the auspices of the National Racing Association of the Japanese local government. It is expected to be upgraded over the next two years to become the anchor foot of the new “Dirt Triple Crown” that recognizes the country’s recent successes on that surface in major international races.
As the race itself becomes increasingly important, Notturno’s performance could put him up among the nation’s dirty contenders. No Japanese stars were involved in the Oi case but Notturno, a Heart’s Cry colt out Song of Unbridled mare Sheikh’s Serenade shows winning potential and his coach says bigger things are ahead.
Parked outside his opponent’s flying mud, jumper Yutaka Take kept Notturno close enough down the back post and moved up as he hit the second inning. The pony is ready to advance, then clears ahead for the final 100 metres. He completed 2,400 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in 2:04.06.
Take, who won the race for the first time in 17 years, said: “When I got to the gate, I could feel the horse’s condition better than ever so I could ride with confidence.”
Traditionally, NAR asked the winners of bet races to address fans, and Take said:
“Thanks for the rain. I myself am very happy to win the Japan Dirt Derby for the first time in a long time… I am 53 years old, but this horse is only 3 years old, so I hope we can continue to work hard together in the future.”
Notturno won the first two times of this season at Hanshin on the Japan Racing Association circuit. He then finished second in the Fukuryu match at Nakayama Racecourse — the final leg of the Japan Circuit to the Kentucky Derby.
Returning to the NAR circuit, he subsequently finished second in the listed Hyogo Championship at Sonoda Racecourse. Dirt Derby was his first race at 2,400 metres.
Winning coach Hidetaka Otonashi said: “I’m thinking about heading to the Champions Cup in the future. “We will notify everyone as soon as it is decided.”
The December 4 (G1) Championship Cup was run at 1,800 meters (about 1/8) of a mile on the dirt track of Chukyo Racecourse. Chuwa Wizard won that event in 2020 and finished second in 2021 and went on to finish second, then third, at the Emirates Airline (G1)-sponsored Dubai World Cup in Meydan in 2021 and 2022.
