Seeking to rebound from a tiring seventh in the November 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt
Pants on Fire has a stamina question to answer in this about 1 1/8-mile test.
|
With Hanshin being a right-handed course, Pants on Fire will also have to
adapt to a different direction. But Breen is pleased with the way that he’s
handling the track.
“The horse looks phenomenal and has never looked better,” the trainer said
Thursday after seeing him for the first time in two weeks, “and he has carried
his weight well, which means the travel hasn’t affected him and that he likes
the food here.
“His training schedule is very similar to what we do in the United States,
but we have been training a little bit less in distance, worrying more of him
adapting to the right-handed turns. We’ve just been trying to keep him on the
correct leads as we’re running in different directions, but he had a fabulous
work-out on Sunday, his first life-time breeze on a right-handed course, and our
jockey and I have no concerns whatsoever.
“This horse is a top-quality, striking individual and one of the best horses
we’ve ever had. He has been training extremely well and I think he will show a
good performance of himself.”
“Ten is a favorable post for us — it gives Gary Stevens a good tool to win
Hokko Tarumae is arguably the one to beat. Much improved since his third to
|
Nihonpiro Ours, who set a stakes record in the 2012 Japan Cup Dirt, mounts
his title defense off a five-month layoff. He has made only three starts since
his career-best triumph, and played second fiddle to Hokko Tarumae in two
of them, the Antares and the Teio Sho last out. Those efforts bookended a score
in the May 18 Heian at Kyoto. Last year, the son of White Muzzle captured the
Hakusan Daishoten in his return from a break, and warrants respect for his
consistency. But he figures to be parked out wide from post 14.
After starting the year with seconds to Grape Brandy and Hokko Tarumae,
|
Wonder Acute, a seven-year-old son of Charismatic, will likewise make his
fourth Japan Cup Dirt appearance. Sixth to Espoir City in 2009, he missed the
race in 2010 after playing catch-up because of injury, and has rallied boldly
for second in both 2011 and 2012. Wonder Acute has yet to finish out of the top
three this year. Victorious in the September 23 Nippon TV Hai two back over
Solitary King, he was most recently runner-up to Hokko Tarumae as the defending
champion in the JBC Classic. Legendary jockey Yutaka Take, who has struck up a
good partnership with him of late, will try to help Wonder Acute secure an
elusive Japan Cup Dirt trophy.
The streaking Medeia aims to become the first female to win Japan’s marquee
dirt race. By King Halo and out of Grade 2 heroine Witchful Thinking, Medeia has
won five of her last six, all in stakes. Her only flop in that span came in a
rare turf tilt in the May 12 Victoria Mile. She has since reeled off a hat trick
in the July 3 Sparking Lady Cup, the October 3 Ladies’ Prelude and the November 4 JBC Ladies’ Classic. This marks her toughest challenge so far, but her
forwardly-placed running style, and her lethal early move to deliver the coup de
grace, make her dangerous.
Brightline failed to progress in graded stakes on turf, but has similarly
Roman Legend brought a progressive profile into last year’s Japan Cup Dirt,
|
Incantation is one of two sophomores in the Japan Cup Dirt. The Sinister
Minister colt has spent nearly all of his season at this trip, and claims a
good-looking 2 1/2-length tally in the August 4 Leopard Stakes versus his own
age group. Trying graded-caliber elders for the first time in the Miyako,
Incantation failed by a nose to Brightline, and could have still more to offer.
But post 15 won’t help.
The other three-year-old, Chrysolite, stamped himself as a budding star when
demolishing the July 10 Japan Dirt Derby by seven lengths. Not seen again until
the JBC Classic, he never got involved from off the pace on the sloppy track,
and is surely much better than he showed on that occasion.
Chrysolite will be joined by two past Japan Dirt Derby heroes, Testa Matta
(2009) and Grape Brandy (2011). Testa Matta later earned his signature score in
the 2012 February Stakes. The Kentucky-bred son of Tapit has been consistently
beaten in better company since then, however. Coming off a fourth to Espoir City
in the JBC Sprint, he wound up widest of all in post 16 here.
Grape Brandy, fifth in this race last year, looked on the upswing when
rolling to victories in the January 20 Tokai and the February Stakes on February
17. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury thereafter and has been on the
comeback trail in the fall. After an encouraging fourth to Espoir City in the
Mile Championship Nambu Hai, Grape Brandy missed the start in the Miyako and
ended up a non-threatening 10th behind Brightline and Incantation. If away in
good order, and anywhere hear his early-season best, Grape Brandy has upset
potential.
Nice Meet You and Solitary King have been knocking on the door, but must
improve to break through. Grand City shapes up as a cut below, and is winless
from six local starts to boot. Grand City might not have minded if the race had
moved from Hanshin already, but he’s got to wait a year.
In 2014, the Japan Cup Dirt will be renamed the Champions Cup and transferred
to the left-handed circuit at Chukyo.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com