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 (S3-1) (Naohiro Goda)

S3-1 Yasuda Kinen

We all involved in horse racing in Japan are very excited to have two elite runners from Hong Kong in the field of the 74th running of Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo on 2nd June. The last international winner of Yasuda Kinen is BULLISH LUCK, trained by Tony Cruz, who won this race in 2006. Both ROMANTIC WARRIOR and VOYAGE BUBBLE arrived safely at Tokyo on 21st May and have been settled well at the international barns at infield of Tokyo Racecourse.

My favorite is ROMANTIC WARRIOR. As far as he is kept in top form, there is no other choice. Though he was a good horse when he started running at Hong Kong in 2021, he has improved significantly and completed as a perfect athlete now. He has won four G1 races in a row since October 2023, and margin between him and second finisher were always less than a neck. He is a brave and tough horse, and I believe he is the best mile and a quarter horse in the history of Hong Kong racing. It may be the key factor that distance of Yasuda Kinen is 1,600m. It is widely recognized that 1,600m course at Tokyo is tough and runners are required stamina to stay a mile and a quarter. I believe 1,600m course at Tokyo is the stage where ROMANTIC WARRIOR can show his true ability.

I understand the strongest opponent for ROMANTIC WARRIOR is NAMUR, ridden by Yutaka Take. Tough she was a disappointing eighth in the G1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo on 12th May, it costs a lot that she dwelt coming out of the stalls. I regard her form highly when she won the G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto on 19th November and when she was narrowly beaten second in G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan on 30th March. If she re-produces those form on Sunday, I believe NAMUR should be the second best horse in this field.

My third choice is VOYAGE BUBBLE. His performance was impressive when he won the G1 Stewards Cup at Sha Tin on 21st January and he finished second to ROMANTIC WARRIOR in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin on 25th February. He had a tough trip at Dubai in March and I was worried about his condition, when he was beaten third in G1 FWD Champions Mile. However, he looks very fresh since he arrived at Tokyo and I believe he is ready to run on Sunday.

My fourth choice is SERIFOS, who won G1 Mile Championship in 2022 and finished second in G1 Yasuda Kinen last year. While he lost his form in second half of 2023, he finished second in the G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup at Kyoto on 21st April and I am sure he is now bouncing back.

My fifth choice is PARALLEL VISION, who started at Tokyo for three times, won two of them, and finished third once.

SELECTIONS: 7. ROMANTIC WARRIOR, 5. NAMUR, 15. VOYAGE BUBBLE, 17. SERIFOS & 9. PARALLEL VISION

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