Nakauchida tries for Repeat with Rio Antonia Filly

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida returns to Sunday’s G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies with another favorite, Ria Amelia (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), after taking last season’s renewal with Danon Fantasy (Jpn). Out of GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor), Ria Amelia debuted in impressive fashion in June, when she won by eight lengths at Hanshin. She followed up in her second start by going from last to first on the final straight in the G3 Artemis S. Oct. 26 at Tokyo. There was some speculation after the filly put on 20kg ahead of the Artemis, however, she silenced her detractors when completing the final three furlongs in :33 seconds flat.

“She was not fat despite what her weight may have suggested,” said assistant trainer Teruhiko Saruhashi. “She just grew and started filling out, simple as that. I will not say she has no issues whatsoever after the way she’s raced so far, but I’m also not particularly worried either. We’ve been communicating with the jockey and everyone else on the team after the races so we’re in good shape.”

He added, “She’s been putting in the work since her last race at a constant. She was born a brilliant racehorse so I’m not sure how much better she can get. I don’t see a huge difference in her from the last start, but she’s shaping up really well.”

Also trained by Nakauchida, Cravache d’Or (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) won her September debut going a mile at Hanshin against the boys and then followed up with a runner-up finish in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup Oct. 5. In the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup, Cravache d’Or faced Salios (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry), who won in a course record for 2-year-olds, and is slated to contest next week’s Asahihai Futurity S.

“I don’t think we could have asked for more out of her in the previous start,” Saruhashi said. “It was a good performance. We always felt the challenge for her was going to come away from the race itself–traveling to the racetrack, all the waiting around, warming up, that sort of thing. Maybe because it was her second time out, but she handled everything much better than we expected.”

Given a freshener since that effort, Cravache d’Or has been working out well which only strengthens her case as a legitimate contender.

“She’s been training good at the stable since. She isn’t nervous and is all set to go,” Saruhashi said.

 

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