 Expert - Naohiro Goda |
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| 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 Arima Kinen (S1-1) (Naohiro Goda)
S1-1 Arima Kinen
Runners of the G1 Arima Kinen, year-end Championship race in Japan on 23rd December are selected by racing fans through voting, and the most unique name appeared on the voters’ leaderboard this year is OJU CHOSAN, the Best Steeplechase Horse of Japan in 2016 and 2017. Since he completed the hat trick of the JPN G1 Nakayama Grand Jump on 14th April, the popular racehorse ran flat twice and won both of them, although both of which are minor races. Naoyoshi Nagayama, who owns OJU CHOSAN, would like to see the 7YO horse by STAY GOLD to run in the Arima Kinen and encouraged racing fans to vote on his horse through racing media. As the result, OJU CHOSAN received 100,382 votes, the third most among all, and will show up at Nakayama on Sunday ridden by Yutaka Take. As Arima Kinen is people’s race, I have no objection to his appearance, though, I affirm he has no chance.
As it is the end of long season, I am afraid some of the Arima Kinen runners might be squeezed out and no juice is left in fruit. I prefer the horse who have been lightly raced and trained seeing this race as the ultimate target.
Likely favorite is REY DE ORO, winner of the G1 Tokyo Yushun in 2017 and collected his second G1 victory at Tokyo on 28th October, when he won the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn by one and a quarter of length. Kazuo Fujisawa, who trains REY DE ORO has won the Arima Kinen in three consecutive years from 2002 to 2004, decides to skip the G1 Japan Cup, to save the 4YO colt by KING KAMEHAMEHA for the Arima Kinen, and this stratagem has taken. He is trained beautifully at Miho Training Center and I select REY DE ORO as my first choice without any hesitation.
MIKKI ROCKET, 5YO colt by KING KAMEHAMEHA, defeated mighty WERTHER from Hong Kong when he won the G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin on 24th June. Since then, he took four months off and finished fifth in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn, finishing two and a quarter of length behind REY DE ORO. I reckon it was not bad effort by MIKKI ROCKET and his trackwork on uphill course at Ritto Training Center on 12th December was impressive. MIKKI ROCKET will be ridden by Oisin Murphy and he is my second choice.
MOZU KATCHAN, winner of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2017, ran bravely against colts in the G2 Sapporo Kinen on 19th August, when she was narrowly beaten third. The standard of fillies and mares in Japan is high, which was proved at Sha Tin on 9th December, as all three horses who finished second in international events, carrying Japanese flag, are fillies and mares. And it is encouraging factor that the 4YO filly by HARBINGER is ridden by Mirco Demuro, who has already won two G1s in December. MOZU KATCHAN is my third choice.
CHEVAL GRAND is the winner of the G1 Japan Cup in 2017 and finished third in the G1 Arima Kinen twelve months ago. While his performance this year looks to be slightly inferior to last year, I find the competition of the Arima Kinen this year is slightly weaker than last year. I believe CHEVAL GRAND ridden by Hugh Bowman has chance to earn money on Sunday and he is my fourth choice.
KISEKI, who finished second to ALMOND EYE in the G1 Japan Cup, might be the second best horse in the field after REY DE ORO. However, as everybody knows, Japan Cup was very tough race and I am worried four weeks since Japan Cup was not long enough to restore his energy.
SELECTIONS:12. REY DE ORO, 11. MIKKI ROCKET, 3. MOZU KATCHAN, 15. CHEVAL GRAND & 14. KISEKI
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