Kanoya Zakura moved into contention for the Global Sprint Challenge title with a sweeping victory in the Grade 2 Centaur Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Third choice Kanoya Zakura upstaged the top two picks-Grade 1 champions Suzuka Phoenix and Fine Grain-to cut a winning time of 1 minute 7.3 seconds over 1,200 meters on firm footing and under sunny skies at the Kansai track.
Kanoya Zakura, ridden by Japanese 1000 Guineas (Oka-Sho) winning jockey Futoshi Komaki, held off 6-year-old long-shot Symboli Gran by 1 1/4 lengths for the 4-year-old filly's fifth career win. Promising 3-year-old colt Spring Song, who was the ninth pick in a field of 16, finished a further 1 1/4 lengths behind.
Suzuka Phoenix came home eighth, just in front of Fine Grain who was ninth. The two had been assigned an impost of 58 and 59 kilograms, respectively, against the winner's 55 kilograms.
With the victory, Kanoya Zakura collected 10 points in the Global Sprint Challenge, six points off the pace of series leader Takeover Target with three races remaining in the eight-legged championship.
Provided that she wins the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes on Oct. 5 at Nakayama Racecourse, Kanoya Zakura - currently in a tie for fourth - can take over the Global Sprint Challenge lead. Kanoya Zakura also won the Japan Racing Association's Summer Sprint Series after her win on Sunday, bringing home a combined 50 million yen bonus for her connections.
The 22nd Centaur Stakes turned out to be a repeat of the one-two from the 1,000-meter Ibis Summer Dash at Niigata in July. The Centaur Stakes, which did not feature a single entry from abroad, was slated to be a fast race with the superb turf conditions on opening weekend at Hanshin.
And it was fast alright. Kanoya Zakura's time was only two tenths of a second off the race record set by Believe six years ago, and the furious pace didn't give much of a chance to the late runners.
Kanoya Zakura, Symboli Gran and Spring Song all took position toward the front during the short trip and never looked back. The Yutaka Take-ridden Suzuka Phoenix again was restless inside his barrier and got a terrible jump off the blocks. The former Takamatsunomiya Kinen champion virtually had nothing left for the finish after spending most of what was in his tank to play catchup.
Mastered by the other Take in the field, Koshiro, Spring Song started smoothly from the back stretch and set the tone for two turns. He looked very lively for someone running his first race in four months, and could be an interesting choice for the Sprinters Stakes next month.
But the day belonged to Kanoya Zakura, who showed a closing rush fitting for the long Hanshin stretch. When Komaki flicked the switch, she responded in a heartbeat, leaving her competitors in the dust to cap a performance that will surely make her one of the favorites for the Sprinters Stakes.
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