2005 News
December 3, 2005
THE 39TH SPORTS NIPPON SHO STAYERS STAKES (GII)
Sunday, December 3, 2005
RESULT OF THE 39TH SPORTS NIPPON SHO STAYERS STAKES (GII)
Heavy favorite Delta Blues and French jockey, Olivier Peslier, lived up to expectation, demonstrating a performance of difference class in capturing this year's Stayers Stakes. The victory was the second grade-race title for the Sunday Silence colt since the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger GI, 3,000m) in 2004. His first win out of just two starts this season after recovering from a leg problem that ruled him off the tracks for most of this year. Settling nicely between horses in fifth to sixth position, Delta Blues, carrying top weights at 58 kilos found no difficulty in pinning the leader before the wire.
All broke smoothly with Go with Wind dictating a considerably slow pace that covered the first 2,000 meters at about 2 min. 10 seconds. The field strung out over ten lengths for the first lap and gradually increased its pace after passing the 2nd corner for the second time and really started to pace up towards the turn for home as the pacesetter began to fall behind.
Robbery Genio who tracked the leader for most of the journey, led briefly after the last turn until overtaken from the inside by Er Nova who came shooting up from between horses at the furlong pole after traveling a few lengths behind Delta Blues. Delta Blues who was forced to go wide to secure a good spurt quickly closed the gap from 100 meters out while Sakura Century, coming from well off the pace, showed good speed for the share.
