Japan’s incredible international success could come with top-level competition in the nation’s domestic program with Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) March 27 at Chukyo Circuit being an early indicator.
The 1,200 meter (about six distances) sprint has a full field, but only three of the promising athletes have had previous top-tier victories. And all of those wins came in the 2-year-old season.
Meanwhile, the Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1) a day earlier in Dubai attracted Lauda Sion and Entscheiden . Laudi Sion won the 2020 NHK Mile Cup (G1) championship at Tokyo Racecourse and most recently finished fourth in the 1351 Sprint presented by stc (G3T) in Saudi Arabia on February 26. Entscheiden finished third at the Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) at Longchamp on October 3 and 12 in the 1351 Turf Sprint.
The impact itself isn’t huge, and Japan has certainly sent some of its best horses overseas over the decades. But the Takamatsunomiya Kinen is just the first in a series of 11 class 1 races in Japan that runs through June. And with 23 untrained Japanese horses starting in Dubai and a few more already running in May. before in Saudi Arabia, it would be worth watching to repatriate and repatriate those rivals to domestic competition.
Meanwhile, Takamatsunomiya Kinen’s home sprinters don’t have much talent even when it comes to winning at the highest level.
Salios train last December in Hong Kong at Sha Tin . Racecourse
Saliosthe son of Heart’s Cry , reduced the gap after finishing third in the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) last December. His highest score was in the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1) in 2019 and Takamatsunomiya Kinen will be his first attempt at the short 1,200 meters but coach Noriyuki Hori said he sees no reason. that 5-year-old boy can’t learn a new trick, art, trick.
“His innate trait was one of the reasons I decided to bring him here,” Hori said. “His body type and footwork both benefit short distances.”
However, Hori admits that nail problems have affected Salios’ training – an issue he has addressed with a three-quarter shoe. “He’s improved,” the coach said.
Resistenciaa 5 year old child Daiwa Major mare, won the 2019 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) with her single highest score but finished second in her first year of high school. She failed this race last year with a single turn, runner-up in the Sprinters Stakes (G1) in October, and second in the most recent start, the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) was involved in an accident in December.
Coach Takeshi Matsushita said track athlete Takeshi Yokoyama worked with Resistencia on the hill track at the training center on March 16, “pushed her hard and around the clock (approx.: 50). .. The instructions for her job were to get up the hill on (:52) and something and give her a little encouragement when she got to the finish line. The driver did that and she looks strong.”
The Grenadier GuardsOne Frankel colt, raced mainly at the one mile and won the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1) at that distance. Although he also ran the 1,200 meters for the first time, he had some sprinting health from his dam, Wavell Avenue TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup winner 2015 Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland and came second in the same event the following year at Santa Anita . Park.
Salios has drawn the inner gate in a field of 18. The Grenadier Guards are assigned number 18 and the Resistencia will start from stall number 7.
