Owner earned entry to Australia’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) and Cox Plate (G1) with an impressive win in the June 26 Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse, but the horse instead child is heading “straight to France”, according to his happiness coach.
If that plan goes through, it would make Titleholder the latest in a long line of Japanese stars trying to win Europe’s most prestigious race, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1). ) at the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris. The prize has eluded the nation’s knights.
Titleholder made a good case as a candidate to end the tough race.
After breaking through guard from Gate 6 at 2,200 meters (about 1 3/8 mile) Takarazuka Kinen, equestrian Kazuo Yokoyama backed up to Panthalassa Roll at a very hot speed through the long back run. Starting to deliver cakes home, 4-year-old child Duramente Colt was ahead with 200 yards to go, never threatened and finished in a course record time of 2:09.7.
Coach Toru Kurita said it was a rare example of a race going according to plan.
“There may be another horse that wants to take the lead in the race,” Kurita said after drawing the fence. “But the rider, who’s ridden him so often, will know what’s best to do, and we’ll leave it to him.”
The quality of the Titleholder house stretch competition added significantly to the sparkle of achievement. Hishi Iguazurunner-up by a short head to Only love you at the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) last December, finished second, two stages behind the winner. Bold TactJapan’s 2020 Triple Crown winner, recovered from a disappointing 2022 debut to finish third.
Japan’s horse of the year 2021, Efforiais Friday.
The original field also included three horses returning from their early season victory in the Middle East—Be stupid , winner of the Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap (G3) in Saudi Arabia and the Dubai Gold Cup sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2); Panthalassa, who died with Lord North won the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World (G1); and Authorization Neom Turf Cup winner presented (G3) in Saudi Arabia and third in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), both this year.
No results are envisioned. Panthalassa could not maintain the tempo early and finished eighth. Stay Foolish, who seemed to need more distance, came in ninth. Power was scratched by the managers with a wound in his right front leg.
In that lineup, Titleholder came up with the favorite post – that post after finishing first in a fan poll of horses they’d like to see in the race. His rider said he was also very confident going into the event.
“This is my fourth race with Titleholder and I know how to get the pony running smoothly,” said Yokoyama. “The pace is fast but I’m not worried because he still has enough strength in the straight leg. He’s still maturing and I think he’ll get better going forward.”
Owner after his win
Trainer Toru Kurita said the pony’s owner, Hiroshi Yamada, pointed out that the “front” is related to France.
“I’ve been told by the owner that the foal will go to ‘the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe if it wins’, so we plan to send it straight to France with Kazuo,” Kurita said.
Title owner, apart from Motivation Mowen, has shown some promise but is far from making a name for himself in the first two seasons. He finished fourth in Hopeful Stakes (G1) in 2020, second in Satsuki Sho (Japan Two Thousand Guineas-G1), and sixth in Tokyo Yushun (Japan Derby-G1), the following year.
He beat Kikuka Sho (Japan St. Leger-G1) and placed a respectable fifth ahead of the older runners in Arima Kinen (G1) to finish the year. He won both of his previous starts in 2022, including Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1) and Nikkei Sho (G2).
If Titleholder shifts its focus to Arc by the first weekend of October, it will oppose participation in Cox Plate October 23, given the time and space. Still, there is precedent — stellar precedent — for the Arc-Breeders’ Cup double with a month’s worth of time separating those races.
