 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 Tenno Sho Autumn (S1-1) (Naohiro Goda)
S1-1 Tenno Sho Autumn
The Queen of Turf is back! Long-awaited reappearance of ALMOND EYE is the feature of the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn on Sunday at Tokyo racecourse.
The winner of Triple Tiara for 3YO fillies in 2018 won the G1 Japan Cup in last November, when she established new world record of 2,400m on turf, 2 minutes 20.6 seconds, and added the G1 Dubai Turf in her tally at Meydan in March. The filly by LORD KANALOA suffered first defeat since August 2017, when she was beaten third in the G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo on 2nd June. However, there are some certain excuses. First of all, she was bumped badly soon after the break and left further back…….almost rear of 16 runners’ field…….than usual. It was amazing that she covered final 600m for 32.4 seconds, though, she failed to catch INDY CHAMP and AEROLITHE by neck and nose. And the distance of Yasuda Kinen, 1,600m, might be too short for ALMOND EYE. She enjoyed summer holiday at Tenei Branch of Northern Farm and returned at Sakae Kunieda’s barn at Miho Training Center on 26th September, a month before Tenno Sho Autumn. Since then, she has been trained very well and is ready to run her race on coming Sunday. ALMOND EYE is my first choice, which is undisputed in my mind.
As like the first choice, it is easy to select the second choice from the field of Tenno Sho Autumn, because it includes the best 3YO colt in training in Japan. SATURNALIA, unbeaten winner of the G1 Satsuki Sho, first leg of Triple Crown for 3YOs, experienced his first defeat in the G1 Tokyo Yushun on 26th May at Tokyo. And as like the case of ALMOND EYE in Yasuda Kinen, there was a certain excuse. The colt by LORD KANALOA, who was unsettled in the barrier, ducked his head a second before the gate was opened and dwelt coming out of the stalls. Despite he covered final 600m for 34.1 seconds, the fastest of 18 runners, he did not manage to finish better than fourth. He restored his impaired reputation at Hanshin on 22nd September, when he won the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai by three lengths. As Christophe Lemaire selects to ride ALMOND EYE, Christophe Soumillon is booked for SATURNALIA on Sunday.
Another attractive runner is DANON PREMIUM, winner of six races including the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes from eight starts. Though he was well beaten in the G1 Yasuda Kinen, I believe we can take no account of the poor result, as the colt by DEEP IMPACT had very rough trip, as like ALMOND EYE. His performance in the G2 Kinko Sho in March and the G2 Milers Cup in April are both very impressive and I reckon he is the third best horse in the field of Tenno Sho Autumn.
SUAVE RICHARD, winner of the G1 Osaka Hai in 2018, who prefers anticlockwise track, is my fourth choice, and AL AIN, winner of the G1 Osaka Hai in 2019, who finished fourth in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn twelve months ago, is my fifth choice.
SELECTIONS: 2. ALMOND EYE, 10. SATURNALIA, 9. DANON PREMIUM, 4. SUAVE RICHARD & 16. AL AIN
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