2006 News
May 28, 2006
THE 120TH MEGURO KINEN (JPN GII)
Sunday, May 28, 2006
RESULT OF 120TH THE MEGURO KINEN (JPN GII)
Third favorite POP ROCK partnered with Yuga Kawada won this year's MEGURO KINEN to land his first grade-race victory. Runner-up was second-pick EYE POPPER mounted by Yutaka Take, with DADDY'S DREAM coming in third.
The race broke off with EXPLOIT saving ground to take the lead. Race favorite TOKAI TRICK stalked right behind on the outside with SMART STREM following three lengths behind. POP ROCK settled in mid pack around 7th from the front followed by EYE POPPER on the inside. Twelfth choice DADDY'S DREAM traveled wide in 5th to 6th position but gradually moved up to third position by the end of the backstretch.
As the field turned for home, DADDY'S DREAM and POP ROCK surged out from the pack, rallying with TOKAI TRICK, who was still keeping the front. As POP ROCK broke off from the two horsed around the 300-meter line, Yutaka Take steered EYE POPPER between the horses to make a challenge and drew even with POP ROCK in the last 50 meters. POP ROCK, however, barely held off the challenge to reach the goal a neck in front. DADDY'S DREAM also held on well in the homestretch, coming in third for two consecutive years.
