MICHAEL KINANE on board race favorite Super Chance (horse 5-y-o) claimed the GOLDEN SPUR TROPHY, the first leg of the World Super Jockeys Series to acquire 20 points. A neck behind in second was YUTAKA TAKE riding 3rd pick Zenno Trevi (colt 3-y-o), followed by NORIHIRO YOKOYAMA mounting 11th favorite Madam Cherokee (filly 4-y-o) in third.
TAKE mounting Zenno Trevi broke well and saved ground to set the pace with YOKOYAMA riding Madam Cherokee stalking right behind on the outside. Waiting in midfield around 6th position by the rail, KINANE steered his mount to the outside through the last corner and bid for the front. Although the two frontrunners held on well in the homestretch, KINANE's mount responded to the jockey's urgings with a magnificent stride to capture YOKOYAMA's filly 200 meters out and then TAKE's colt in the last four strides to claim the race.
Comments by foreign jockeys:
MICHAEL KINANE riding Super Chance: "Although we were caught in the crowd during the race, I was able to slip him out in the homestretch. I'm really happy we were able to win the race. "
RAFAEL BEJARANO riding 6th-pick Inter Koki (horse 6-y-o): "I wanted to race a little more toward the front but the horse showed a strong kick at the end."
DARREN BEADMAN riding 13th-pick San M Teio (colt 4-y-o): "I was able to race him in good position until the last 500 meters but the colt didn't have enough to give in the last 100 meters."
KIEREN FALLON riding 8th pick Silk Desperado (horse 6-y-o): "I had to urge my mount throughout the race but he didn't accelerate or flatten out. He might run a better race with a blinker."
EDGAR PRADO riding 2nd pick Star Market (colt 4-y-o): "We broke well but the colt didn't respond after the last corner."
DOUGLAS WHYTE riding 7th pick Clear the Coast (colt 4-y-o): "The distance suits the colt well but I think he prefers turf more than dirt, because he was nervous of the splash of sand."
STEPHANE PASQUIER riding 12th pick Fumino Top Halo (horse 7-y-o): "I had to use the whip from the beginning. Although I did my best, I think the race was too short and fast for the horse."
LEITH INNES riding 4th pick Yuki Avance (colt 4-y-o): "The colt has good ability but he might have been a bit too heavy."
DARREN BEADMAN mounting 6th pick Lord Majesty (colt 3-y-o) overtook 2nd favorite Mighty Collar (mare 5-y-o) ridden by YASUNARI IWATA before the goal to a 3/4-length victory in the GOLDEN WHIP TROPHY to finish the first day of the Series in second with 30 points, only one point behind KIEREN FALLON who landed 1st and 4th in today's two races respectively.
Third favorite Nihonpillow Keith (colt 4-y-o) ridden by FUJITA broke slow but accelerated in the backstretch to bid for the lead. BEADMAN partnered with Lord Majesty broke well and settled in mid-pack and IWATA's Mighty Collar traveled wide, third from last. As the field swung for home, IWATA steered his mare to the outside while BEADMAN guided his colt further out to rush for the front. With FUJITA's colt holding tenaciously until the end, BEADMAN's mount showed a strong late kick to capture the front just before the wire with IWATA's mare pursuing right behind in second, reaching the wire only a nose before FUJITA.
Comments by foreign jockeys:
DARREN BEADMAN riding Lord Majesty: "He broke well and ran as urged. He showed a strong kick when I steered him out of the pack in the last stretch"
MICHAEL KINANE riding 14th-pick Charles Guerlain (horse 5-y-o): "The horse bore well during the race and showed a strong kick in the stretch to overtake the frontrunners. I hope I'll still be leading the Series at the end of tomorrow's race."
LEITH INNES riding 13th-pick Shigeru Dontoike (colt 4-y-o): "I was able to position the colt as planned, but we were caught in the crowd before the last corner. He's a great horse and didn't gave up till the end."
EDGAR PRADO riding top favorite Marubutsu Light (colt 3-y-o): "The colt broke too well and wanted to go from the beginning. He would do better if he could break slowly."
KIEREN FALLON riding 9th-pick Blue Shotgun (horse 6-y-o): "He felt good but I think the distance was about 200 meters too long for him."
RAFAEL BEJARNO riding 12th-pick Otokono Yujo (horse 7-y-o): "I was able to place him in good position but he didn't have enough kick at the end due to his long break before the race.
DOUGLAS WHYTE riding 7th-pick Hyuma (horse 5-y-o): "He broke well and was well placed but the 1,600-meter distance maybe a bit too long. 1,400 meters may suit him better."
STEPHANE PASQUIER riding 11th-pick Daitaku Sonic (horse 6-y-o): "He wasn't in his best form, coming back from a long break. I wasn't able to race him as planned."
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