Shades of Do Deuce as Admire Zoom Dominates Asahi Hai Futurity

[Wandering Eyes]

Japanese champion Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is set to bring the curtain down on his glittering career next weekend when he bids to repeat his 2023 success in the G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama, but it was all about the emergence of a future star on Sunday as his stable-mate, Admire Zoom (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), won the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Kyoto in the manner of one who could be another leading light for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi.

It was in this race in 2021 that Do Deuce gained the first of his five Group 1 wins, beating the subsequent G1 Mile Championship winner Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) by half a length, and Admire Zoom was arguably even more impressive in the way he ran away from the second betting choice, Museum Mile (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), in the closing stages of this year's contest.

Admire Zoom broke alertly and took advantage of an inside draw to join a three-horse rally for the early lead, before settling nicely behind Daishin Ra (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}) in second. He moved up to challenge Daishin Ra on the home turn and his potent turn of foot soon had his rivals toiling in his wake. At the line he was two and a half lengths clear of the hitherto unbeaten Museum Mile, who ran on nicely to pull the same distance clear of Lance of Chaos (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}) in third place. Daishin Ra stuck to his task well to fare best of the remainder, one place ahead of race favourite Arte Veloce (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}). The G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup winner was held up in an attempt to settle him in the early stages, before meeting traffic when trying to mount a challenge early in the straight.

Tomomichi is now a three-time winner of the Asahi Hai Futurity, having also struck with Admire Mars (Jpn)–who was successful in 2018 for the same owner, Junko Kondo–in addition to the aforementioned Do Deuce. For jockey Yuga Kawada it was his fourth success in the race after those of Danon Premium (Jpn) in 2017, Grenadier Guards (Jpn) in 2020 and Jantar Mantar (Jpn) last year.

“I'm glad that the colt was able to finish the season at a good note,” Kawada said of Admire Zoom, who coped admirably with the step up in grade on his return to Kyoto, following a fourth-place finish on his debut and a three-length victory on his second start, both over the same course and distance.

“His last race was also very impressive and I knew he had great potential to win this one too. However, he's not the easiest horse to keep in control so I was careful to deal with that. Today, he was in good rhythm coming into the last corner so I was able to bring out his best performance and I knew then we were unbeatable. As I've said, he does need to be handled carefully, but he has outstanding ability to have a great future ahead.”

 

Admire Zoom (#アドマイヤズーム) breezed to a comfortable success in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes earlier this morning!#競馬 | @netkeiba | #朝日杯フューチュリティステークス pic.twitter.com/lvHNu2Kdo2

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 15, 2024

 

Pedigree Notes

Admire Zoom is the sixth individual Group 1 winner produced by Shadai Stallion Station resident Maurice (Jpn), with the others including Osaka Hai hero Jack D'Or (Jpn) and Sprinters Stakes scorer Pixie Knight (Jpn). He is out of the Listed winner Daiwa Zoom (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) who, in turn, is out of the Listed-placed Fornalia (Jpn) (Capote), a half-sister to the GI Spinaway Stakes and GI Matron Stakes heroine Strategic Maneuver (Cryptoclearance). Admire Zoom is one of three winners from four runners out of Daiwa Zoom and the first to gain black type.

Sunday, Kyoto, Japan
ASAHI HAI FUTURITY STAKES-G1, ¥135,660,000, Kyoto, 12-15, 2yo c/f, 1600mT, 1:34.10, fm.
1–ADMIRE ZOOM (JPN), 123, c, 2, by Maurice (Jpn)
      1st Dam: Daiwa Zoom (Jpn) (SW-Jpn, $829,792), by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
      2nd Dam: Fornalina (Jpn), by Capote
      3rd Dam: Prayer Wheel, by Conquistador Cielo
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥115,000,000 Ylg '23 JRAJUL). O-Junko Kondo; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); T-Yasuo Tomomichi; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥71,162,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, ¥77,762,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Museum Mile (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Leontes (Jpn)–Museum Hill (Jpn), by Heart's Cry (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥28,332,000.
3–Lance of Chaos (Jpn), 123, c, 2, Silver State (Jpn)–Heidrun (Jpn), by Lohengrin (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Yoshinori Itsukage; B-Fujiwara Farm (Jpn); ¥ 18,166,000.
Margins: 2HF, 2HF, 2. Odds: 8.10, 2.70, 44.80.
Also Ran: Daishin Ra (Jpn), Arte Veloce (Jpn), Craspedia (Jpn), Dragon Boost (Jpn), Cosmo Storm (Jpn), Nitamonodoshi (Jpn), Arlecchino (Jpn), Ermland (Jpn), Panja Tower (Jpn), Total Clarity (Jpn), A Shin Wand (Jpn), Taisei Current (Jpn), Take It All (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

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