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Result of the 25th World Super Jockeys Series [Day One]

The WORLD SUPER JOCKEYS SERIES (WSJS), a popular annual event in Japan and throughout the world, is a championship that brings together fifteen outstanding jockeys from Europe, North America, Oceania, Asia and Japan. Points are awarded to each jockey according to their placing in the race, and the total points accumulated from the four races run over the two-day period is calculated at the end of the second day to determine the champion. This year's Series, which celebrates its twenty-fifth occasion, includes the following jockeys: Ramon Dominguez (USA) and John Velazquez (USA) from North America; John Murtagh (IRE), Paul Hanagan (GB), Ioritz Mendizabal (FR), and Eduardo Pedroza (GER) representing Europe; Brett Prebble (HK) representing Asia; Luke Nolen (AUS) from Oceania; Masayoshi Ebina, Norihiro Yokoyama, Yuichi Fukunaga, Kenichi Ikezoe, Yasunari Iwata and Yuga Kawada from the Japan Racing Association (JRA), and Hiroto Yoshihara from the National Association of Racing (NAR).

Last year, the series was held as a one-day three-race event at Tokyo Racecourse to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Japan Cup,which took place at the same course on the following day. Ryan Moore from Great Britain captured his first series title in his third challenge, with a total of 33 points by winning the first leg and coming in 11th and fourth in the following two races. Craig Williams from Australia was close behind in second with 32 points, followed by Irish contender John Murtagh who scored 30 points.

[1st leg] 2011 GOLDEN SADDLE TROPHY

Saturday, December 3, 2011   Hanshin Racecourse   10th Race   Post Time: 15:10
3-year-old & up, 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs), turf, right-handed
3-y-o winner of ¥10 million or less, 4-y-o & up winner of ¥20 million or less
3-y-o: 57kg, 4-y-o & up: 58kg, 2kg allowance for Fillies and Mares, 15 runners

-Race Summary-

Hiroto Yoshihara partnered with sixth choice Auxerrois ran wire to wire to claim the Golden Saddle Trophy, the first leg of the World Super Jockeys Series, to acquire 20 points. Ioritz Mendizabal from France on board seventh pick Kyoei Asura followed by Norihiro Yokoyama riding race favorite Shiny Hawk, closed in well in the final furlong, coming in second and third to acquire 15 points and 13 points, respectively.

Yoshihara and his mount broke sharply from the outermost draw and set the pace after briefly rallying for the lead with Brett Prebble mounting fourth favorite Dreadnought. Mendizabal settled his colt in mid-division around seventh from the front while Yokoyama traveled wide and steadily accelerated through the last two corners, entering the homestretch in good striking position. Yoshihara, who continued to hold off Prebble at the top of the stretch, accelerated tenaciously, while fending off the strong challenges of Mendizabal and Yokoyamz who broke free from the remaining pack in the last furlong, to prevail by 3/4 lengths. Prebble, though holding well in the stretch,was overtaken by the charging two colts right before the wire, to finish a neck behind in fourth.

5th: (1) Yasunari Iwata—saved ground behind leaders, made bid from inside, outrun last 100m
6th: (6) Yuga Kawada—7th position between rivals, good response at stretch but met traffic
7th: (8) John Murtagh—mid-pack between rivals, angled for clear path
8th: (13) Masayoshi Ebina—sat behind mid-division 2W, wide around last turn, good speed
9th: (11) Ramon Dominguez—traveled wide while chasing behind leader, nothing left
10th: (2) Luke Nolen—2W in 5th position, faded 2 furlongs out
11th: (9) Kenichi Ikezoe—trailed in rear, turned wide, improved position in stretch
12th: (14) Yuichi Fukunaga—keen early, settled behind mid-pack, failed to launch bid
13th: (10) Paul Hanagan—hugged rails in rear, never a threat
14th: (7) John Velazquez—saved ground while 4th from rear, dropped to last in 3rd corner
15th: (3) Eduardo Pedroza—saved ground in mid-division around 9th, used up mid-stretch

-Comments by Foreign Jockeys-

2nd: Ioritz Mendizabal
“He was rather slow out of the gate but we were able to position ourselves as planned to the fourth corner. He responded well when I urged him to an opening, a little to the outside. He was easy to ride.”

4th: Brett Prebble
“I was told that he's a front runner so I was focused on keeping him well up front. He held on well at the stretch.”

7th: John Murtagh
“I was told that he didn't start well. I was careful, but he didn't jump straight. It may have been because it was his first race after a long break”

9th: Ramon Dominguez
“She wouldn't settle waiting to get loaded into the starting gate, but once the race broke off, she didn't throw her head up or anything and ran smoothly. It was after the last turn that I wasn't getting the response I wanted.”

10th: Luke Nolen
“She jumped smoothly from the gate and all was well as we tracked the winner along the way. She accelerated well before the final turn but the winner was too fast for us.”

13th: Paul Hanagan
“He was slow to start and we ended up racing behind. We were trailing throughout and there he didn't respond when asked.”

14th: John Velazquez
“She jumped well and was easy to ride, but she's even paced, so I think she might suit better to longer distance. The grass surface is no problem for her.”

15th: Eduardo Pedroza
“He was on his toes inside the starting stall and missed a beat at the start. He ran honestly during the trip but didn't have anything left at the stretch.”

[2nd leg] 2011 GOLDEN BRIDLE TROPHY

Saturday, December 3, 2011   Hanshin Racecourse   12th Race   Post Time: 16:20
3-year-old & up, 1,800 meters (about 9 furlongs), dirt, right-handed
3-y-o winner of ¥16 million or less, 4-y-o & up winner of ¥32 million or less
3-y-o: 57kg, 4-y-o & up: 58kg, 2kg allowance for Fillies and Mares, 15 runners

The race broke off with Kenichi Ikezoe's Sakura Briance, Ioritz Mendizabal's Perfect Run and Brett Prebble's Meiner Obelisk that formed the leading group and Yasunari Iwata on Sei Capricorn, four-length behind that in fourth position, while the winning pair traveled 1/2-length behind and outside Iwata. The field had already closed in on the leaders going around the third corner as Ikezoe and his mount began to drop back passing the 600-meter mark. While Mendizabal maintained an advantage along the rails turning for home with Prebble close at his heels, Yoshihara's Laser Bullet exerted a bursting turn of speed another two horses wide with 200 meters to go, and flew past his rivals and easily drew off to open the margin while the next three finishers rallied fiercely for second place.

John Velazquez gave ninth choice Jo Meteor a terrific ride as he skillfully advanced behind the winner from mid-pack as they rounded the third corner, and gave as much of a burst of speed as the winner as the path cleared at the stretch for second. John Murtagh, from saving ground in 11th position along the rails early aboard long-shot La Luce, also split horses and quickly seized an opening on the inside, just missing by a nose for second, while Paul Hanagan's eigth choice Agnes Minuet came flying from the outside to join the rally with 50 meters to go.

5th: (13) Yasunari Iwata—4th from front, rallied at top of stretch, passed by rivals in last 100m
6th: (14) Yuga Kawada—traveled 2W in 8th, held on well in stretch
7th: (10) Ramon Dominguez—2nd from rear, good effort after entering straight last
8th: (8) Masayoshi Ebina—trailed in rear, turned wide, good late charge
9th: (11) Eduardo Pedroza —raced towards rear, advanced position in straight
10th: (3) Luke Nolen—settled 7th by rail, failed to threaten
11th: (5) Brett Prebble—pressed pace 2-3rd from front, ran out of stream in last furlong
12th: (7) Yuichi Fukunaga—2W behind mid-division, even paced at straight
13th: (6) Norihiro Yokoyama—hugged rail in around 6th, ran out of stream 200m out
14th: (15) Ioritz Mendizabal—set pace in backstretch, faded after 200m pole

-Comments by Foreign Jockeys-

2th: John Velazquez
“His trainer told me that he was difficult to settle down, so I was especially careful early in the race. He began to get keen rounding the first turn but I was able to get in hand and I think we had a good race. He has the tendency to take the bit, so if that can be improved I think we can expect more from him. ”

3rd: John Murtagh
“I heard that she was difficult, but she was quiet today. She also stretched well once we found an opening. I thought for a moment that we could hold on for second.”

4th: Paul Hanagan
“I was able to race her from behind as instructed by the trainer. After I angled her out for the stretch run, she responded well. I think she can handle a little more distance.”

7th: Ramon Dominguez
“We were able to keep our own pace during the race and he gave a good turn of foot at the stretch.”

9th: Eduardo Pedroza
“He didn't like the sand kicked into his face so we had to race a little wide. He responded well during the trip but was a little dull at the straight.”

10th: Luke Nolen
“I had him traveling along the rails but I had to urge him on because he disliked the sand kicked into his face. I gave him the go from 600 meters out and he ran gamely at the stretch. It's only his first time out after a spell, so I think he has the potential to win at this class.”

11th: Brett Prebble
“I think he was well positioned during the trip. I drove him hard at the stretch but he ran out of steam in the end.”

14th: Ioritz Mendizabal
“I was told to run him up front so that's where we were. He was relaxed in the first half but began to tire already between the third and fourth corner and came up empty. I think maybe he should race behind the pace in third or fourth position.”

*1st: 20 points 2nd: 15 points 3rd: 13 points 4th: 11 points5th: 10 points6th: 6 points 7th: 5 points 8th: 4 points 9th: 3 points10th: 2 points11th: 2 points 12th: 1 point 13th: 1 point14th: 1 point15th: 1 point

[Other Races Ridden by Foreign Jockeys]
1st race: Two-Year-Olds (Maiden), dirt, 1,800m, 16 runners
Ramon Dominguez—13th on Within Sunday (JPN), 6th favorite

2nd race: Two-Year-Olds (Maiden), dirt, 1,400m, 14 runners
Ramon Dominguez—6th on Cosmo Flame (JPN), 10th favorite

3rd race: Two-Year-Olds (Maiden), turf, 2,000m, 15 runners
Ioritz Mendizabal—2nd on Meiner Across (JPN), 9th favorite

Ramon Dominguez—11th on Van Helsing (JPN), 8th favorite
Luke Nolen—14th on Realize Taisei (JPN), 13th favorite

8th race: Three-Year-Olds & Up (Allowance (10Million & Less)), dirt, 2,000m, 16 runners
Ramon Dominguez—5th on Rosso Nero (JPN), 10th favorite

9th race: Poinsettia Sho (Two-Year-Olds, Allowance (5Million & Less)), dirt, 1,400m, 16 runners
Brett Prebble—12th on Sunrise Chateau (JPN), 12th favorite
Ramon Dominguez—15th on Tommy Barows (JPN), 10th favorite
Ioritz Mendizabal—Fail to Finish on Jo Raptor (JPN), 15th favorite

11th race: Naruo Kinen (G3) (Three-Year-Olds & Up), turf, 1,800m, 13 runners
John Murtagh—8th on Danon Spasibo (JPN), 3rd favorite
Ramon Dominguez—12th on Magellan (JPN), 10th favorite
Paul Hanagan—13th on Destramente (JPN), 13th favorite