Pentiffic arrives in Japan for Nakayama Grand Jump and Pegasus Jump Stakes

Australian gelding Pentiffic arrived in Japan on Wednesday morning (March 17) for the upcoming Pegasus Jump Stakes and the Nakayama Grand Jump, and was immediately transferred to the Shiroi Quarantine Center from Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture.

The 7-year-old Pentiffic, winner of the 2009 Grand National Steeplechase, the Crisp Steeplechase and the Hiskens Steeplechase, made the 18-hour trip from Melbourne in one piece, according to trainer Frances Houlahan. Pentiffic reached Shiroi just before 10 a.m.

Pentiffic, who has five wins from 10 jump starts, is scheduled to start in the 3,350-meter Pegasus Jump Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse on March 27 before running in the Nakayama Grand Jump over 4,250 meters on April 17 – the world's richest jump race with a total value of more than 158 million yen, the winner receiving 75 million yen. The total purse of the Pegasus Jump Stakes is 35.46 million yen with 17 million yen of it going to the winner.

"He's in very good condition, it's as if he were back home," Houlahan said of his treble-winning horse. "We've brought his partner along, so we think he'll adjust to the environment in Japan very quickly.

"As for the training, we'll gradually pick up the pace. He's scheduled to do a little exercise tomorrow, just to loosen him up a bit."

Pentiffic will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Australia's legendary jumper Karasi, who won the Nakayama Grand Jump three consecutive years from 2005 to 2007 before injury forced him to withdraw just days ahead of the 2008 race.

"Distance wise, we like to think he's suited more to the Nakayama Grand Jump than the Pegasus Jump Stakes," Houlahan said of Pentiffic. "Our goal here is to win the Nakayama Grand Jump, so we're not going all out in the Pegasus Jump Stakes. We're hoping he can perform the way Karasi used to do."

Ten-year-old Mazzacano, also of Australia, was set to enter in both the Pegasus Jump Stakes and the Nakayama Grand Jump, but withdrew from the two races last week.