Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1) - Preview

2010 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes

Grade 1 action here in Japan continues apace, and after the thrilling fillies' contest last Sunday going to Joie de Vivre, the scene moves to the Nakayama racecourse on Sunday, Dec. 18 for the 2-year-old colts race, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes.

One of the earliest races for 2-year-olds in Japan was at Tokyo back in 1946, and the first Asahi Hai, as it was then known, was run in 1949. It was a race initially open to colts and fillies, and staged over shorter distances until 1962 when it was set at 1600 meters. From 1971 foreign bred horses became eligible, and in 1991 fillies were excluded from the race. By 2001 the race took on the name of the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, and in 2004 fillies were once again permitted to take part, despite being able to race against their own sex in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. In this latter year, race conditions stipulated no geldings could be in the lineup. And the final part to the race's history so far was it becoming an international Grade 1 just last year.

Recent winners of the race include Dream Journey in 2006, Rose Kingdom in 2009, and the first two home last year, Grand Prix Boss and Real Impact, went on to win the NHK Mile and the Yasuda Kinen this year. For those who care to stretch the memory back a little further, Triple Crown winner Narita Brian won the race in 1993.

The race has always been run at Nakayama, and from the 1600 meter start, it's just a short dash to the first corner. On the outside turf course, the runners follow a steady downhill path right into the short home straight, where from around the 180 meter mark there's an uphill stretch before leveling out to the winning post. The tightness of the track has never been kind to horses drawn in the outside gates, and the race has a maximum number of sixteen runners. This year's field will be all Japanese bred horses, and the 2-year-olds will carry 55kgs, with an allowance of 1kg for fillies. First and second favorites have a good recent record, and foreign jockeys excel in the race. The record time for the race is 1 minute, 33.4 seconds, set by Meiner Recolte in 2004. These are some of the expected market leaders in the 63rd Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes:

Alfredo Alfredo: An unbeaten bay colt by Symboli Kris S who won the Kimmokusei Tokubetsu over 1600 meters last start at Niigata. Both the Northern Farm bred colt's wins have been over 1600 meters and Craig Williams looks set to take the ride.

Clarente Clarente: It's two wins from three starts for this colt by Dance in the Dark. One of his wins came in the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes two starts ago, before finishing 13th behind Deep Brillante in the Grade 3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes on soft going over 1800 meters on Nov. 19. Trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi and regular jockey, Futoshi Komaki, are expected to team up for Clarente's chance.

Dahlonega Dahlonega: The Carrot Farm owned colt by Daiwa Major has two wins from four starts, and after winning the Nojigiku Stakes at Hanshin over 1800 meters two starts ago, finished second in the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes on his most recent run. Tetsuzo Sato is likely to take the ride.

Laurel Bullet Laurel Bullet: The Akio Tsurudome trained Laurel Bullet is coming off a good recent win in the Senryo Sho on Dec. 4 at Hanshin. From six starts, he has two wins – both over 1600 meters – and the Laurel Racing Co. Ltd.'s famous silks will most probably be donned by the 2011 five Grade 1 winning jockey, Kenichi Ikezoe.

Leo Active Leo Active: It's two wins from six starts for this son of Admire Moon, and he won last start in the Grade 2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes over 1400 meters at Tokyo. Previous to that he finished second in the Kurumi Sho, also over 1400 meters at Tokyo. Norihiro Yokoyama is expected to be in the saddle.

Snowdon Snowdon: One of two Darley Japan runners in the lineup, Snowdon is also by Admire Moon and trained by Takayuki Yasuda, another man having a great year. Snowdon has two wins from four starts, his most recent win being a stamina searching victory in the Hagi Stakes over 1800 meters at Kyoto on Oct. 29. He also has one win to his name over 2000 meters at Niigata. Jockey Yuichi Kitamura is set to take the ride.

Sudden Storm Sudden Storm: The second of the Darley Japan runners is by Storming Home and has already amassed prize money of just over ¥31 million in five starts. The chestnut colt's two wins have come over trips of 1200 meters, and he finished second most recently to Leo Active in the Keio Hai Nisai Stakes. He's trained by Katsuichi Nishiura, and Masaki Katsuura likely gets this big race ride.

Other runners making the lineup, and certainly with chances, are Makoto Reversal, Meiner Robusto and the former successful jockey Hiroshi Kawachi trained Hishi Wild. All have wins to their name, and Japanese and foreign jockeys will take their chances on these runners. Deep Brillante is the one notable absentee, taking other routes to the successes he's likely to gain next year.

Post time for the 63rd Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes is 3:25pm, and the winner's purse of ¥70 million (US$875,000 approximately) awaits the top 2-year-old colt of 2011.