This Sunday sees the 57th running of the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen, and the trainers of the top milers from both Japan and Hong Kong are putting the finishing touches on their charges for the big race. The Hong Kong quartet of Joyful Winner, The Duke, Able One and Good Ba Ba have all arrived and seem in good condition, and have been working at Tokyo racecourse during the week.
All the Japanese horses have also finished their final serious trackwork. Likely favorite for the race is the 3 time Grade 1 winner Daiwa Major. He had a tough run in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free last start, but showed he had returned to Japan in fine form with an impressive workout on Wednesday, beating his training partner by over 2 lengths after giving him 20 lengths start early on. His time for the 1000m workout was 61.3 seconds, by far the fastest time of the day on the Miho training center woodchip course. He has only finished 4th and 8th in his 2 starts in the Yasuda Kinen in prior years, but he showed he was a different horse and could now win at the Tokyo course, when winning the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) over 2000m on the track last Autumn.
The likely 2nd favorite for the race is last start Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) winner, Suzuka Phoenix. He also worked well during the week with a 51.1 second 800m workout on the Ritto training center uphill woodchip course, coming home in 12.2 seconds for his last 200m. He has a good record at the track and jockey Yutaka Take takes the mount. His trainer Mr. Mitsuru Hashida commented after his trackwork that his preparation for this race has gone just as planned and he could not be happier with the horse.
Eishin Dover won the traditional lead up to the Yasuda Kinen, the Grade 2 Keio Hai Spring Cup last start in record time. He showed he had suffered no ill effects from the effort, working well during the week. In his main piece of work this week, he traveled smoothly with his working partner before pulling away at the 400m mark to finish 2 lengths ahead. His time for the 800m course was 55.3, with his last furlongs run in 12.5 and 12.3 seconds.
Likely leader of the race, Kongo Rikishio worked by himself up the hill at Ritto. He ran 51.2 seconds for the 800m work with his final 200m in 12.4 seconds. His trainer, Mr. Kenji Yamauchi said that he was happy that he kept working all the way to the finish and he seems very well.
Another horse that will race on the pace, Meiner Scherzi worked on the Miho woodchip course and ran his 1000m in 64.0 seconds with his final 200m in 12.0 seconds. Jockey Yoshitomi Shibata made the trip to Miho to ride him in his work and he declared him to be in better form that he was last start when finishing 4th behind Eishin Dover.
Orewa Matteruze was one of the favorites for this race last year, but he has been out of form ever since. Last start, however, he showed he may be getting back into better shape, and his work this week was impressive. He ran his 800m work uphill in 50.8 seconds, a very quick overall time with his last 200m in 13.5 seconds tiring slightly at the end.
Symboli Escape worked home nicely into 2nd behind Eishin Dover in record time last start, and he has been given a fairly easy time since, as his runs have recently been close together. He worked well with a partner during the week and his trainer was very happy with the work.
 |
 |
Admire Kiss |
Kiss to Heaven |
Sunday Silence 4yo filly Admire Kiss worked well as well, ridden quietly before being asked to sprint home, which she did well running her last 200m in 11.4 seconds. She is coming into this race after running in the Victoria Mile over the same course last start, where she finished 7th. The 4th placed horse in that race, Kiss to Heaven will also line up on Sunday and she has been given an easy time since last start as well. Her connections are happy with her condition and are expecting her to run well, even against the males here.
 |
 |
Dia de la Novia |
Jolly Dance |
Other horses coming out of the Victoria Mile include 5yo mare Dia de la Novia who has raced against the males before, and even raced in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup last year. She was disappointing last start, but does have a big finish at times, and top trainer Katsuhiko Sumii thinks she is doing well. But the mare that may be the most favored of all the Victoria Mile runners here is 6yo mare Jolly Dance. Although she has drawn the outside barrier in the 18 horse field she released a powerful finishing burst in the slowly run Victoria Mile and with the fillies and mare doing well against the males in recent Japanese feature races, she is likely to have support from the racing fans here. She has also been lightly worked since her last start, but the connections only decided on a start after deciding that she was in good shape.
One horse that loves the Tokyo track (4 wins and 3 seconds from 7 starts) and has been aiming at this race is Air Shady and he seems to be back in better condition than last start, when he lost 18kgs during the trip down to Osaka. He has worked well since then, and his trainer Masanori Ito declared him to be better than he was when finishing 2nd to Suzuka Phoenix over this course early in the year. That was after he worked well during the week, finishing a neck ahead of his work partner after giving him 4 lengths start early on.
© Japan Association for International Racing and Stud Book (JAIRS). All Rights Reserved.
