Much To Admire In Asahi Hai Futurity Field

[Wandering Eyes]

Undefeated in two starts, Junko Kondo's Admire Quads  anchors the advance markets for Sunday's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin. The one-mile race looks to be contentious, as the top four betting choices are split by inches by the betting public.

By Real Steel, like this year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic/G1 Saudi Cup hero Forever Young, the colt delivered in a Tokyo contest in October, before rattling home in a record 1:33.10 for the 1600 metres at Kyoto in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes on November 15. He had Silk Racing's Cavallerizzo (Saturnalia) back in second that day. Ryusei Sakai has the call, and the duo will leave from stall 12 in the 14-horse field.

Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said, “The jockey [Ryusei Sakai] has been working him on the woodchip course and thinks the horse's footwork has improved. He's easy to switch on and off, and there doesn't seem to be any bad points with him. He's relaxed too. Changing to the Hanshin course shouldn't pose any problems either. He's a horse with a lot of speed and power, so I'll look forward to what he can do in a Grade 1 race.”

Another unbeaten group winner is Masatoshi Haramura's Ecoro Alba (Mozu Ascot). Triumphant in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup over the Asahi Hai Futurity distance in October, the colt was first seen breaking his maiden at Niigata in July.

Trainer Yasuhito Tamura said, “His workload's been sufficient, and I think what he's been doing in training has been good enough. The outer course at Hanshin should suit him, and we've considered this when working him. I hope he can run his own race and get a good result.”

G3 Niigata Nisai Stakes hero Realize Sirius (Poetic Flare) is also protecting a flawless record. Stepping out in June to win a newcomers' affair over 1600 metres, his group victory was accomplished at that same distance in August. Off since, he will leave from gate 13 under Akihide Tsumura.

Said trainer Takahisa Tezuka, “He's improved for his recent work, and despite the ground condition of the training track, his times weren't bad. More than the transportation itself, on arrival at the course, we'll need to keep him calm, so we might put blinkers on him. There are plenty of good horses in the race this time, but if he can be sharp enough and get into the flow of things, he should be capable of running a good race.”

Diamond Knot took three tries to find the winner's circle, and, after a second in the Momiji Stakes in October, put his stamp on the G2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes at Tokyo over 1400 metres in November. The son of Bricks And Mortar represents Kaneko Makoto and will leave from stall 10 under Christophe Lemaire.

“He's had a good workload, and there's been no change in the way he's moving,” said trainer Yuichi Fukunaga. “He starts well in his races, so I've thought the shorter trips in his runs would be good, although we've gradually increased the distances of his races and he's been fine. He has a lot of power, and has done everything right leading up to this race.”

White Orchid (Kizuna), Cosmo Red (California Chrome) and Red Ligare (Maurice) are entering on the back of first-out wins. The first-named filly won over course and distance in September. Cosmo Red, the other filly in the 14-horse field, has been seen in action once, when taking a Kyoto 1400-metre affair on November 8. Red Ligare claimed a Kyoto contest over this trip at the end of November.

The post Much To Admire In Asahi Hai Futurity Field appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article