Danon Fantasy Looks To Join Elite Lineup

[Wandering Eyes]

Given the fact that this decade alone, the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) has thrown up such stars as Buena Vista (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}), Apapane (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Harp Star (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and current darling Almond Eye (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), it is hard to believe that the favourite has won the Classic just three times in the last 10 years, the last to do so being Harp Star in 2014. That is good news for the 17 competitors lining up against even-money favourite Danon Fantasy (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Sunday’s renewal, and with a typical full field lined up for a Japanese Group 1, no one is running scared.

Since finishing second on debut last June, Danon Fantasy has not been denied. She broke her maiden by two lengths over this course and distance in September and promptly added the G3 Kyoto Sho Fantasy S. and the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies to earn the champion 2-year-old filly title. She resumed with a smooth victory on Mar. 2 in the G2 Tulip Sho over the re-opposing Shigeru Pink Dia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) again over this track and trip. Assistant trainer Teruhiko Saruhashi said, “In the Tulip Sho she got into a good early position and was able to settle well. She had to be switched to the outside on the run for home, but accelerated well to go on and win. It was a good result to go into the big race next.”

Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) holds the distinction of being the only horse to beat Danon Fantasy thus far, and it will be an intriguing clash as they line up against each other for the first time since each of their first outings in June. While Danon Fantasy has stayed against her own sex, Gran Alegria took on the colts following her debut, winning the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup over a mile at Tokyo in October before finishing third as the favourite in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity. The Sunday Racing colourbearer has not been out since and is the 2-1 second choice. Assistant trainer Masaru Oehara said, “In her last race, the winner took us by surprise, and she did hang a bit in the home straight. The result was unfortunate. Since then she’s had a break at Northern Farm Tenei, but has returned to the stable, and after settling in again she seems her usual self.”

Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) ran Danon Fantasy to a half-length in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in her only career loss, and she returns for another go at the favourite. She began her career with a pair of two-length scores going 1800 metres last fall, but proved she can cut back to this trip with a win when last seen in the Feb. 11 G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup. Trainer Takashi Saito said, “It was a slow pace in the Queen Cup last time, but she was patient and able to hold off the other challengers at the finish. We could take a lot from that race. She’s since had a break at Northern Farm Shigaraki and returned to the stable at Ritto on Mar. 14.”

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