2005 News
June 5, 2005
THE 55TH YASUDA KINEN (GI)
Sunday, June 5, 2005
THE 55TH YASUDA KINEN (GI)
Seventh favorite ASAKUSA DEN'EN partnered with Shinji Fujita claimed his first grade-one title only three weeks after winning his first grade-two title in the Keio Hai Spring Cup in record time. A neck behind in second was SWEEP TOSHO, with Hong Kong raiders SILENT WITNESS and BULLISH LUCK following in 3rd and 4th.
The race broke off with LOHENGRIN rushing to set the pace. Fifth pick SILENT WITNESS saved ground and eventually settled outside the frontrunner in second. ASAKUSA DEN'EN ran in mid-pack around ninth position while 10th choice SWEEP TOSHO waited further behind in 13th. As the field spread wide after the last corner, SILENT WITNESS caught up with LOHENGRIN and accelerated to capture the front.
Meanwhile, ASAKUSA DEN'EN, steering to the outside to find an opening between horses, slipped out from the crowd 200 meters out, with SWEEP TOSHO stalking right behind. Capturing the front 50 meters out, ASKUSA DEN'EN crossed the wire first with SWEEP TOSHO a neck behind and SILENT WITNESS another head behind.
Jockey Felix Coetzee who rode SILENT WITNESS commented: "He ran really well. He was a bit perplexed because of the left handed turn. We would like to come back to Japan again." Trainer Anthony Cruz said: "The horse ran well. He ran his heart out till the end and we're very happy with his performance".
Sixth pick BULLISH LUCK settled 3rd from the rear, traveled wide around the final turn and gave a good kick in the homestretch to advance to fourth place. "The horse was in good shape. The pace was too fast and he was a bit nervous, but he ran really well," said Jockey Gerald Mosse.
Fifteenth choice BOWMAN'S CROSSING settled 5th from the rear, fell further back around the last corner and advanced position in the homestretch to 13th place. "The horse was in good condition and the track suited him well. He just didn't run well. Ten furlongs would be better for him," commented jockey Anthony Delpech
In the post-race press conference, winning jockey Shinji Fujita expressed his thrill in winning his first GI in three years and finally being able to give back a victory to the connections that have given him the opportunity to ride some best horses. After breaking smoothly at the start, which was his only concern about the son of Singspiel who had a habit of kicking out and looking around and neighing in the starting stall, he was blocked by a rival at one point at the stretch. However, Fujita said that ASAKUSA DEN'EN had plenty left in him after coming out from between rivals and gave a good fight to rally for the win.
Michifumi Kono, his trainer said that he had every confidence in the horse provided that he was able to break smoothly, in which he did, to win his first GI challenge. The six-year-old who still acts like a youngster neighing at other horses in the post parade, is said to still have room for improvement and will be given a spell after this race to prepare for the fall campaign which may include the possibility of running in Hong Kong.
