Four runners from abroad are contesting the Yasuda Kinen (G1) this year. Hong Kong, which has been successful with two wins, one second and two thirds during the past 10 years, has four of their best milers, Able One (NZ, 5g, by Cape Cross), Joyful Winner (AUS, 7g, by El Moxie), The Duke (AUS, 8g, by Danehill) - the three top finishers in the third leg of the Asian Mile Challenge, the Champions Mile (G1) - and Good Ba Ba (USA, 5g, by Lear Fan) who marked three consecutive wins leading up to the Champions Mile, to challenge the final leg of the Asian Mile Challenge.
Meanwhile, the standard of milers in Japan has also shown considerable improvement in recent years, which adds much excitement to the international event.
Among this year's Japanese runners here are the ones that are thought to be the key players.
A standout in class among the Japanese field, Daiwa Major (JPN, 6h, by Sunday Silence, Rating: 121M-I), after winning the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) as a three-year-old, experienced a downturn in form then reemerged as a quality miler from the end of his four-year-old season and has showed his consistent performance. Reaching the pinnacle of his career winning back-to-back G1s in the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m) as well as the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1, 2,000m) late last year, the son of Sunday Silence has had just one start this year in the Dubai Duty Free (G1, 1,777m) in UAE in which he succumbed to third place. Back on home ground and over his best distance should work to his advantage. He will stay close to the pace in second or third position during the early stages then take the front at the head of the stretch holding off his foes with his tenacity.
Suzuka Phoenix (JPN, 5h, by Sunday Silence, Rating: 116S) also held much expectation from the beginning of his career but because of racing style coming from behind, his late speed did not prove quite effective until February this year when he landed his first grade-race victory in the Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3, 1,600m). Two starts later, he won his first G1 challenge in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) traveling in mid-division, circling wide at the turn and bursting to a 2-1/2 length victory. Taking into consideration his race performance, he gave the impression of being better suited to a mile though proving best over 1,200m in the race.
Eishin Dover (USA, 5h, by Victory Gallop, Rating: 112M) has also been consistent throughout his career but was short of winning a title until this year. However, he is on the upward trend this season, winning the Hankyu Hai (G3, 1,400m) and the Keio Hai Spring Cup (G2, 1,400m) which is one of the main step-up to the Yasuda Kinen. Having also performed well over 1,800m, he should have no problem handling the mile distance. He likes to race from mid-division.
Another improving contender is Kongo Rikishio (IRE, 5h, by Stravinsky, Rating: 115M). He pulled off a wire-to-wire victory against a quality field in his last start, the Milers Cup (G2, 1,600m) setting a new course record in the process - 1 min. 32.2 seconds. A gifted horse with formidable speed, his performance in the coming race is well worth looking out for.
Other notable runners include Meiner Scherzi (JPN, 4c, by Grass Wonder, rating: 114M) who finished fourth against proven G1 winners when only a three-year-old in the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m) last year. Since then, he has added a grade-race title in the The Sports Nippon Sho Kyoto Kimpai (G3) this January and has shown steady improvement.
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