2006 News
April 15, 2006
THE 8TH NAKAYAMA GRAND JUMP (J-GI)
Saturday, April 15, 2006
RESULTS OF THE 8TH NAKAYAMA GRAND JUMP (J-GI)
KARASI made history becoming the second runner after Gokai and the first foreign contender to win back-to-back runnings of the world's richest steeplechase event 12 months after capturing his first victory in the 2005 NAKAYAMA GRAND JUMP. He has also improved his score during his stay this time in Japan, finishing second in his previous start in the Pegasus Jump (he was third last year). Trainer Eric Musgrove, who has been conditioning the 11-year-old gelding specifically for his second challenge, did a wonderful job in maintaining KARASI in tip-top form for this year's race, which was reputed to include a tougher field than last year, with local T M DRAGON and Pegasus Jump Stakes winner, TELEGENIC.
BALT FOUNTAIN was the first out in the lead to set the pace with New Zealand raider, FONTERA close at his heels in the inside. T M DRAGON secured third position a few lengths behind while KARASI from rather a slow break traveled well off the pace in the early stages. TELEGENIC, coming off a win in the Pegasus Jump Stakes also sat well behind third from last.
BALT FOUNTAIN continued to lead the way until approaching the second bank before fence o.6 where he backed off and eventually pulled out of the race altogether with a broken leg. FONTERA took over the lead until MEJIRO ORMOND overtook him when the race changed direction to the left.
Meanwhile Brett Scott skillfully edged his way up to fourth position in front of T M DRAGON in the latter half of the journey while TELEGENIC also made advanced to mid-field.
FONTERA (2nd position) and LAUREL DEFI (3rd postion) dropped out of contention well before fence No. 9 while MEJIRO ORMOND was pinned by the KARASI who accelerated well at the landing side of No.9.
KARASI continued to increase his speed towards the last fence with T M DRAGON and TELEGENIC chasing from close behind. With left handed urging from Brett Scott, KARASI just made it to the finish, a neck in front of T M DRAGON to prove himself best among a strong international field, even at 11 years of age.
Winning Jockey Brett Scott was overwhelmed with joy of the KARASI's tremendous accomplishment, "It was a close race but I believed in KARASI because he loves the course at Nakayama and at 11 years he still has so much to give. I would love to give him another go next year."
His stable mate MERLOS was again one paced throughout though showing effort in keeping up with the pace. His jockey Craig Durden commented that though the results didn't turn out as well as he's hoped, the best horses had earned their well-deserved places in the race.
FONTERA was unable to last the distance and barely made it over the last obstacle.
