Belshazzar proves worthy in Japan Cup Dirt; Pants on Fire
trails
Under a perfectly-timed ride by Christophe Lemaire, Belshazzar collared
Belshazzar began his career as a promising turf prospect for trainer Kunihide
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Spelled for nearly six months, Belshazzar returned to action with a 15th in
the 2012 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy. That turned out to be his lone start as a
four-year-old, for he sustained a fracture and headed to the sidelines once
again.
When resurfacing in 2013 off a nearly 14-month layoff, Belshazzar switched to
dirt and rapidly reinvented himself. After a third in his allowance comeback at
Kyoto May 26, he romped by five lengths versus similar at Chukyo on June 29.
Belshazzar was a closing second next time out at Nakayama September 15, and
hasn’t lost since. He made a successful dirt stakes debut in the October 20
Brazil Cup at Tokyo, and got up in time in the November 13 Musashino at the same
venue to earn his first Grade 3 laurel. The Japan Cup Dirt loomed as his biggest
class test on dirt so far, and unlike his Biblical namesake, this Belshazzar was
measured and found worthy.
As expected, 2009 Japan Cup Dirt champion Espoir City galloped to his
customary position at the head of proceedings. Hokko Tarumae kept tabs on the
pacesetter throughout, in company with Medeia early and with defending champion
Nihonpiro Ours also prominent. Lemaire, who had gotten acquainted with
Belshazzar in the Musashino, reserved the 7-1 third choice in the latter part of
the field, but incrementally improved his position at each point of call. In
contrast, Pants on Fire dropped back after the opening strides and never
appeared to traveling for Hall of Famer Gary Stevens.
In the stretch, Hokko Tarumae took over from the tiring Espoir City and made
his bid for glory. But the rallying Belshazzar was looming ominously, and the
handwriting was on the wall for the favorite. Belshazzar mowed him down, only to
be challenged in turn by Wonder Acute. Rising to the occasion, Belshazzar
repelled him in a final time of 1:50 2/5 for about 1 1/8 miles.
“It’s been a long time,” Lemaire said, alluding to his last Japanese Grade 1
victory aboard Vodka in the 2009 Japan Cup, “but in this job you have to be
patient — it’s very hard to get Group 1 horses — and today, I’m happy for the
trainer, all the staff for Shadai Farm, and of course, for myself.
“In his last race, Belshazzar showed me a good turn of foot, a good ability
on the dirt course, so I was confident for today although it was a very strong
field — the best dirt horses in Japan. I would have been happy to finish second
or third (against this field) but the horse is improving and he had an easy win
last start which may have given him more confidence and in good fighting spirit,
so he was in perfect condition today.
“The good horses today, they liked to ride in a good position so it was
important not to be too far from them, so to run just behind them and try to
keep the energy for the last stretch run was my plan. In the first corner I was
a little bit worried, but I was lucky to improve the position in the
backstretch, and after that the horse reacted very well when I put him out and
let him go.
“When we entered the straight, the horse needed to balance a little bit, but
when I used the whip, then the horse made another effort, and I know the horse
is strong and powerful with big strides, so I started to get very confident
(about winning the race) at that moment. This horse has won over a mile (in his
last start) and 1,800 meters this time — maybe he can do 2,000 meters but that
will be up to the trainer to decide.”
“It’s been a long three years of adjustments on my part as a trainer to bring
another Grade 1 winner to this stage,” Matsuda said. “While I have been blessed
with great Grade 1 winners like Kurofune, Tanino Gimlet and King Kamehameha, the
foremost priority in my recent training scheme has been to maintain the physical
soundness so as not to let potential talents go to waste in their process to a
successful racing career.
“That has especially been the case with Belshazzar who has been a late
developer despite finishing third in his three-year-old classic, the Tokyo
Yushun (Japanese Derby).
“My advice towards jockey Christophe Lemaire was that the chances would be
better, especially over 1,800 meters at Hanshin, to try to keep up with the
front runners and try to save ground as much as possible. As a result,
Christophe seemed to have had a tough time doing that and he had like four
horses inside of him rounding the first corner, but, with a strong field that
are all fighting for the same spot, it couldn’t be helped.
“Nevertheless, the pair did a hell of a good job,” Matsuda concluded, “and
Belshazzar, who is a big horse, about 540 to 550 kilos, can be really tough and
full of fight, especially when he’s bumped about and challenged at the straight.
He’s so brave and he showed that today.”
Wonder Acute had a half-length to spare over Hokko Tarumae. There was a
three-length gap back to Brightline in fourth, followed by Nihonpiro Ours, Grand
City, Espoir City, Testa Matta, Solitary King, Medeia, Grape Brandy, Nice Meet
You, Roman Legend, Incantation, Chrysolite and Pants on Fire.
Stevens reported that Pants on Fire bled.
“He reared in the gate to start and ended up nosebleeding, so I couldn’t push
him any further,” Stevens said. “There’s nothing to say but that we were
unlucky.”
“He did everything right going into the race,” trainer Kelly Breen noted. “He
had a great workout. He was relaxed and I think he took to the whole trip very
good. The (length of) time on the track, the time being saddled, the whole
procedure for racing compared to America…he just handled it like a professional.
It just wasn’t our day.”
Pants on Fire was the first international contestant since 2009, when Tizway
wound up 12th of 16. Summer Bird also shipped that year, but was scratched after
sustaining an injury. The only foreign winner in the 14-year history of the
Japan Cup Dirt remains Fleetstreet Dancer, who prevailed for Doug O’Neill in
2003.
Belshazzar’s resume now stands at 16-6-2-3,
¥326,653,000.
“His future plans will be carefully determined with the well-being coming
first,” Matsuda said. “I can say that his first target next season will be the
February Stakes, but any plans after that are still open.”
One thing is certain: Belshazzar will not defend his Japan Cup Dirt title at
Hanshin in 2014, for the race is moving and changing its name. Next year, it
will be rebranded as the Champions Cup, and the venue switched to Chukyo.
Belshazzar is already a winner over that left-handed circuit.
Bred in Japan, Belshazzar is out of Maruka Candy, a Japanese Grade 3-winning
daughter of Sunday Silence. She is also responsible for the Japanese
stakes-placed Lime Candy. Belshazzar’s second dam, Grade 2-placed Gina Romantica,
is a three-quarter sister to Italian highweight juvenile filly Secrage, who is
in turn the dam of Group 2 hero Teapot Row.
Bleshazzar’s third dam is Waya, the champion older mare of 1979. Aside from
producing Grade/Group 3 scorers De Niro and Vidalia and stakes victress Sofitina,
Waya appears as the ancestress of Group 2 star Crystal Castle and Grade/Group 3
winners Lermontov and Pretty Prolific.
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