 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 (S2-1) (Naohiro Goda)
S2-1 Yasuda Kinen
ALMOND EYE, winner of five stakes with premier grade, returns to Tokyo Racecourse on 2nd June, when she tries to extend her winning streak to eight in the G1 Yasuda Kinen, championship race for milers during the first half of annual racing calendar at Japan Racing Association.
It was Meydan Racecourse on 30th March, when we saw the reigning Horse of the Year last time. She won the G1 Dubai Turf as impressively as ever. Though she shown symptom of slight heat stroke after the race, and the connection made the announcement on 17th April that the 4YO filly by LORD KANALOA would not travel to Europe later the year and stay in Japan instead. After travelling back from Dubai, she had easy time at Tenei branch of Northern Farm, which bred her, for five weeks, and returned to Sakae Kunieda’s barn at Miho Training Center on 10th May, since then, she has been trained well for the Yasuda Kinen.
Yes, she is the Queen of Turf, and I do not want to see her to meet with defeat, which she has not experienced since August 2017, when she was beaten second in maiden for unraced 2YOs, however, I reckon the Yasuda Kinen could be the toughest task for her in recent starts, because of a couple of reasons. The race at Dubai was tiring for her and I was wondering if two months off was long enough for her to be fully recovered. And while this is first time for her to run mile race since April 2018, when she won the G1 Oka Sho, the first leg of Triple Tiara for 3YO fillies, there is very good miler in the field of the Yasuda Kinen.
My first choice is DANON PREMIUM, 4YO colt by DEEP IMPACT. As like ALMOND EYE, the Champion Juvenile in 2017 has experienced only one defeat, when he was beaten sixth in the G1 Tokyo Yushun in 2018, through seven starts so far, and he is 3 for 3 over 1,600m. He won a G3 contest over the same course and distance as the Yasuda Kinen, breaking stakes record in October 2017, captured the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, the championship race for 2YO colts in Japan in December 2017, and won the G2 Milers Cup, one of the most important prep races for the Yasuda Kinen easily on 21st April. I believe he is a horse with comparable class as ALMOND EYE.
STELVIO was well beaten in the G1 Osaka Hai last time out and it is obvious that 2,000m is too long for him. As far as mile race, he started four times and won two of them, including the G1 Mile Championship in November 2018, and finished second at two occasions, both of which he was beaten by DANON PREMIUM. He is my third choice.
INDY CHAMP, winner of the G3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai, over the same course and distance as the Yasuda Kinen, on 3rd February, is my fourth choice. Though he was beaten fourth in the G2 Milers Cup, the tempo was not strong enough for him and he pulled so hard in the race.
LOGI CRY, winner of the G3 Fuji Stakes, over the same course and distance as the Yasuda Kinen, in October 2018 and finished good third in the G2 Keio Hai Spring Cup on 11th May at Tokyo, one of prep races for the Yasuda Kinen, is my fifth choice.
SELECTIONS: 15. DANON PREMIUM, 14. ALMOND EYE, 8. STELVIO, 5. INDY CHAMP & 16. LOGI CRY
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