Expert - Naohiro Goda

Naohiro is a leading journalist and commentator in Japan with regular television shows on networks such as NHK Network and Green Channel. He is a regular contributor for newspapers, magazines and websites including Sports Nippon, Weekly Gallop, and netkeiba.com. He also operates a bloodstock business marketing firm. Naohiro is a frequent international racing traveler and a regular visitor to the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin.

Expert Column for Yasuda Kinen (S1-1) (Naohiro Goda)

S1-1 Yasuda Kinen

It is obvious that the best horse in the field is SUAVE RICHARD, who won the G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin on 1st April impressively and holds international rating 121, the highest among 16 runners in the G1 Yasuda Kinen. And the 4YO colt by HEART’S CRY likes anti-clockwise track, where he won three races from five starts and finished second twice. The connection wants to give him the race at Tokyo, with anti-clockwise track and long homestretch, and it is the reason why they decide to drop back to mile. Is this good idea? No, I don’t think so.

SUAVE RICHARD is the winner of the G2 Copa Republica Argentina over 2,500m, finished second in the G1 Japanese Derby over 2,400m, and has never run the race shorter than 1,800m. Moreover, the track at Tokyo, which is known as quick track, is quicker side of firm going currently, and the horses with speed or acceleration tend to be superior to the horses with power or stamina. Hence, I reckon Yasuda Kinen is too sharp for SUAVE RICHARD and decide to exclude him from my choices.

I understand this is the suitable race for the progeny of DEEP IMPACT, who pass down speed and acceleration. 

My first choice is SUNGRAZER, who won the G2 Milers Cup on 22nd April, breaking the track record at 1,600m turf course at Kyoto. And it was very good effort by the 4YO colt by DEEP IMPACT, because it was the first start of the season after having four months off. And he finished third in the G2 Hanshin Cup, the race over 1,400m at Hanshin on 23rd December, when the winner ISLA BONITA broke the track record and SUNGRAZER’s time was only 0.2 seconds slower than ISLA BONITA. Those performances prove that he has a plenty of speed. It is another encouraging factor that he receives the service by Yuichi Fukunaga, who won the G1 Japanese Derby a week ago.

My second choice is SATONO ARES, another 4YO colt by DEEP IMPACT in the field. He is Japanese Best 2YO Colt in 2016. He lost his form last year when he was 3YO, however, he is bouncing back this year, finishing second in the G3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai on 4th February and third in the G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup on 12th May both at Tokyo. As it looks he has regained his top form, I believe he is good enough to be competitive in this field.

REAL STEEL, 6YO horse by DEEP IMPACT, is the winner of three Group races, including the G1 Dubai Turf, and all of which are the races at anti-clockwise track. He is my third choice.

AEROLITHE is an impressive winner of the G1 NHK Mile Cup last year, the race at the same course and same distance as Yasuda Kinen, when she outstripped top-class colts, and ran well in the G1 Victoria Mile on 13th May at Tokyo, finishing fourth, despite she lost a shoe soon after the break. She is my fourth choice.

And my fifth choice is CAMPBELL JUNIOR, who ran a good second in the G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup last time out.


SELECTIONS: 15. SUNGRAZER, 2. SATONO ARES, 11. REAL STEEL, 4. AEROLITHE & 8. CAMPBELL JUNIOR

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