Becrux settling in well in Japan

Becrux will bid to make history at Kyoto (Benoit Photo) Team Valor International and Gary Barber’s BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan) has settled in well at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan, where he will try to become the first foreign horse ever to win Sunday’s Mile Championship (Jpn-G1). The Neil Drysdale charge arrived in Japan on November 6, was released from quarantine on Monday, and has been exercising on the track since Tuesday. Becrux shipped along with his stablemate, Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill), who is targeting the November 25 Japan Cup (Jpn-G1). Becrux jogged one lap on Kyoto’s dirt course Thursday, one day after turning in a more rigorous five-furlong exercise on the turf. “Yesterday’s gallop has not affected him,” Drysdale said on Thursday. “His condition is very good, and everything is going as planned. We’re thinking of schooling him at the paddock tomorrow.” Becrux scored his biggest career victory in last year’s Woodbine Mile S. (Can-G1) and finished a creditable sixth as the defending champion two starts back, beaten a total of 3 3/4 lengths by Shakespeare. Underscoring the depth of this season’s Woodbine Mile, runner-up Kip Deville (Kipling) came back to capture the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). A two-time winner of the Wickerr H. at Del Mar, Becrux is coming off a rallying third in the about 6 1/2-furlong Morvich H. (G3) at Oak Tree. Drysdale had earlier expressed satisfaction with Becrux’s work over the Kyoto turf.

“We did a 1,000-meter strong gallop with him (Wednesday), and it
was pretty good,” the horseman said. “We wanted to get him accustomed to the
right-hand course, which is the opposite of what he’s used to in the United
States.

“He’s a miler, but we raced him in a 1,300-meter prep race (the Morvich)
before coming here,” Drysdale continued. “He’s not good on soft going, so we’re
hoping it doesn’t rain.”

The lone international shipper in the Mile Championship, Becrux is expected
to face a star-studded field. Among the likely cast are Japan’s reigning
champion miler and last year’s winner DAIWA MAJOR (Sunday Silence), a troubled
ninth in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (Jpn-G1) in his latest venture; Tenno Sho
(Autumn) runner-up AGNES ARK (Agnes Tachyon); multiple Grade 2 hero KONGO RIKISHIO
(Stravinsky), who was second to Daiwa Major in the prestigious Yasuda Kinen
(Jpn-G1) in June; FUSAICHI RICHARD (Kurofune), the champion juvenile of 2005 who
just missed to SUPER HORNET (Rodrigo de Triano) in the Mainichi Broadcast Swan
S. (Jpn-G2) last time out; Victoria Mile (Jpn-G1) queen KOIUTA (Jpn) (Fuji
Kiseki), who has yet to return to form after finishing ninth in the CashCall
Mile Invitational S. (G2) at Hollywood Park in July; NHK Mile Cup (Jpn-G1)
victress PINK CAMEO (French Deputy), who should enjoy cutting back in trip;
SUZUKA PHOENIX (Sunday Silence), successful in the six-furlong Takamatsunomiya
Kinen (Jpn-G1) in March; and SWEEP TOSHO (End Sweep), the champion older mare of
2005 who is exiting a third in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup
(Jpn-G1).