Dubai delivers two to Japan as Gentildonna battles to victory in Sheema Classic, Just a Way drops jaws in winning Duty Free
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| Gentildonna wins Dubai Sheema Classic | Just a Way wins Dubai Duty Free |
Despite torrential rains earlier in the week, Dubai World Cup Day, the world's richest day of racing, boasting nine races (six of them G1s) and over $27 million in prize money, was blessed with clear skies Saturday, March 29. Japan's team of eight to the United Arab Emirates was also blessed with victory as the two horses most expected to taste success did indeed do just that.
It was a sweet victory indeed as two-time Japan Cup winner Gentildonna avenged her narrow miss in last year's Sheema Classic with a gutsy showing this year. She graced the winner's circle only shortly after Japan's Just a Way had done the same with a win of the Dubai Duty Free.
The over 80,000 people in attendance on Saturday at Dubai's Meydan Racecourse and racing fans the world over were shown yet again that Japan's equine elite back home excel abroad as well and can be backed with confidence.
Japan's first win of the day came in the 1,800-meter Dubai Duty Free (G1), run over turf. Post time was 8:39 p.m. local time (1:39 a.m. in Japan). Thirteen horses went to the gate, with race favorite Just a Way, Logotype and Tokei Halo representing Japan, the latter two runners at about 16 to 1 odds. The Fugue, Vercingetorix and Dank were the race's other top choices.
Tokei Halo, who had run second in the Hong Kong Cup last year, took the lead in the early stages while Just a Way held off toward the rear and Logotypesettled about midfield. With about 2 1/2 furlongs to go, Just a Way, with Yuichi Fukunaga in the saddle, made his move on the outside and passed the leadingVercengetorix with 300 meters left. There was no catching Just a Way as he drew away with each stride to put 6 1/4 lengths between him and runnerupVercengetorix. Dank finished in third, with Mshawish fourth under Lanfranco Dettori.
Soumillon, riding the previously unbeaten Vercengetorix, was stunned by Just a Way's winning drive. “I thought I’d win when we turned for home so I was left speechless when the Japanese horse came flying past me,” he said.
Just a Way bested the track record by nearly 3 seconds with his winning time of 1:45.52. The 5-year-old clinched his last two starts, the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at the end of October followed by the G2 Nakayama Kinen on March 2. He put 4 lengths between him and runnerup Gentildonna in the Tenno Sho and topped both Logotype and Tokei Halo in his last start.
By Heart's Cry out of the Wild Again mare Sibyl, Just a Way is trained by Naosuke Sugai and owned by Akatsuki Yamatoya.
“We had two plans and went with the second one, which was to sit behind,” Sugai said. “That’s what we did when we won the Tenno Sho and the jockey gave my horse one of the best rides I have ever seen.”
"He was In tiptop shape," said Sugai of his charge. "I had been somewhat confident that he would win." As for future plans, the Ritto-based Sugai said "I'll be looking at how he comes out of this race and will think about where to aim him next."
Winning jockey Fukunaga said Just a Way had settled nicely. "He didn't rush things and we were able to proceed smoothly. From the looks of this performance I'd have to say that everything with his preparation for the race had gone well. It was a very strong win, but I wasn't surprised. That's how strong this horse Is."
Logotype and Tokei Halo finished sixth and seventh, respectively. Former jump jockey and now trainer Tsuyoshi Tanaka said of Logotype, "His start wasn't all that good and I have the feeling that that is where he lost the race. He had some rough spots during his trip as well, but he gave it his all and did quicken nicely," Tanaka said. "I think this experience will stand him well."
Cristian Demuro had the reins for Logotype. "We kept up with Tokei Halo's fast pace and (Logotype) didn't run at his own pace. He got tired out. Once into the stretch, he just didn't have the kick that he normally does."
Trainer Hisashi Shimizu saw the race as a good one, despite the results, "The start was good, and we were able to take the lead," Shimizu said. "He was able to run the kind of race he likes and everything went perfectly." However, rider Yutaka Take found Tokei Halo "tense from the start" and said, "I think that cut into his stamina in the end. He was in good shape otherwise so that really is a shame."
Sir Michael Stoute said of Dank, who had been piloted by Ryan Moore, "We're pleased with third. She just couldn't quite get a run when she wanted to."
The Fugue surprised with an 11th-place finish. Trainer John Godsen said, "She is not quite herself. She hasn't had much time off since Hong Kong as she's run a bit flat, even though she had a good position in the race. These things happen. It's early in the year for a filly. I think we'll wait for Royal Ascot now."
Fukunaga was riding in the Dubai races for his third year and his second time in the Duty Free after riding Dark Shadow to a ninth-place finish in the 2012 version of the race. Japan has fielded 11 different horses in seven runnings of the race since 2001 for a total number of 12 shots at the prize money. This was Japan's second win, the first being by Admire Moon, ridden by Yutaka Take, in 2007.
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| Gentildonna's connections |
Denim and Ruby
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Next up on Saturday at Meydan was the Sheema Classic, a 2,410-meter race over turf that got under way just past 9:15 p.m.
The field, including such big names as 2012 winner Cirrus des Aigles and race favorite Magician, Dunaden and Meandre, saw 15 leave the gate. Representing Japan were last year's runnerup and Japan's 2012 Horse of the Year Gentildonna and Denim and Ruby, a 4-year-old filly. Both are daughters ofDeep Impact. Denim and Ruby ran second to Gentildonna in last year's Japan Cup.
Two-time Japan Cup winner Gentildonna, who went off as second choice, broke from the No. 12 gate and came from behind from the 600-meter mark. With 2 furlongs to go, she ran into traffic and was caught in a pocket, then checked behind Cirrus des Aigles to her outside. Ryan Moore never lost his cool, however, but moved the 5-year-old mare sharply out to pass Cirrus des Aigles with 200 meters left in the race, after which Gentildonna held her lead comfortably to win by a length and a half.
In third place was the Irish-bred Ambivalent, trained by Roger Varian. Empoli, bred in Germany, crossed the line in fourth. Denim and Ruby had taken the lead early on but came up empty 400 meters out. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Magician failed to meet expectations and finished in sixth place.
Gentildonna's winning time of 2:27.25 represented a new track record.
Christophe Soumillon on Cirrus des Aigles praised his mount while giving a nod of respect to Japan's winner. “(Cirrus des Aigles) ran a fabulous race. I thought that he was going to win. Even when I saw Gentildonna, I thought she would find it difficult to catch us. When my horse quickened, he did it really well but (Gentildonna) is an outstanding champion and she beat us easily today."
Gentildonna's trainer Sei Ishizaka claimed, "I thought she would make it when Ryan shifted her to the outside. "This was her second time (in Dubai) and she’s getting used to being here," Ishizaka maintained and, with pride, added, "She did just what she had to do. I had continued to believe that she would change," he said in reference to her disappointing sixth-place finish In her Feb. 16 prep that had left many fans wondering.
"We have G1 races In the spring back at home and with her having handled such a tough race as today's, I am really looking forward to those races," Ishizaka said. “She’s getting even better. It's been a while since she showed us the kind of guts she showed today. Gentildonna really did well."
Ishizaka indicated that her main target back in Japan would be a third attempt at the Japan Cup.
Jockey Ryan Moore claimed that despite all appearances, "It was an easy race. I thought It best to make sure she had something left for the finish and things went exactly as planned." Moore, whose only win Saturday came from Gentildonna, said, “It is hard to say just how good she is because when she gets there, she doesn’t do a lot but she’s a very tough horse. It’s hard to get to the bottom of her. She is really an amazing mare."
Gentildonna became the third Japan-trained horse to win the Sheema Classic following Stay Gold, partnered with Yutaka Take in 2001 and Heart's Cry, with Christophe Lemaire in the saddle in 2006. Japanese horsemen have fielded 10 horses in nine of the race's past 15 runnings. Gentildonna was the only horse thus far to take on the race twice.
Kazuhiko Sumii, trainer of Denim and Ruby, said of the filly, "she started better than I thought she would and so the race unfolded differently from how I had imagined."
Jockey Suguru Hamanaka too indicated that the exemplary start came as unexpected. "Because she broke from the gate just too well, we went to the front. And, she was quite excitable during the race. The trip was different from any up to now and this was the result."
Sadly, this year's Sheema Classic was marred by tragedy when the Michael de Kock-trained Mars apparently suffered a heart attack early in the race. He crashed into the outer rail. Jockey Richard Hughes escaped serious injury.
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| Belshazzar |
Hokko Tarumae
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The day's marquee race and final race of the day, the Dubai World Cup, went off just after 10 p.m., or 3 o'clock in the morning back in Japan. The World Cup was won by the Godolphin-owned African Story, who had run fifth last year. He became the sixth horse to win the World Cup for the Godolphin stable in the race's 19-year-history and the seventh win for Godolphin owner Sheikh Mohammed.
Japan's two runners in the World Cup – Belshazzar and Hokko Tarumae, both by King Kamehameha – may have been flummoxed by the artificial surface and failed to pose any threat. Belshazzar ran rear of midfield and finished in 11th place. Hokko Tarumae did chase the leaders and raced strongly until but 800 meters out but was soon beaten. He crossed the line in last place.
The 7-year-old African Story, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of the frontrunner, the William Haggas-trained Mukhadram. The Darley-bred African Story is trained by Saeed bin Suroor and was sired by Pivotal. He is out of the Gone West mare Blixen. African Story clocked 2 minutes 1.61 seconds over the 2,000 meters of Tapeta and bettered the previous Cup record by more than a second.
Race favorite Military Attack finished far off the front as 10th of 16. Ruler of the World, also a popular choice, finished 13th.
De Sousa was ecstatic over the win. "It’s amazing! It’s our home track and our own horse. He’s already won the Godolphin Mile, he’s just proven that he can step up in class.
"It was brilliant and it was a great reception. I knew the way he was traveling that he would have a bit of extra for me. He’s marvelous, it’s amazing. I’m absolutely delighted. I’m over the moon. I always thought I was in the right place to win the race."
"This is our sixth win in the race and it has been a long time in coming," said bin Suroor. "There has been a lot of pressure from a lot of people, but I thought two years ago this was the right horse for this race. In my heart I thought this horse could win; he is something really special and I told Sheikh Mohammed this two years ago.
"This is a big thrill and I dedicate this win to my mother and I will give her my golden whip," bin Suroor exclaimed.
Several notches over on the emotional spectrum were the connections of the Japanese runners. Kunihide Matsuda said of the 6-year-old Belshazzar, who had run third in the G1 February Stakes at Tokyo on Feb. 23, "I thought he was suited to the Tapeta surface. But, in the race he looked different than he had. Maybe 2,000 meters over the Tapeta was asking a bit too much." Still, Matsuda took the loss in stride. "It's good the horse came through the race without mishap. I hope that once back In Japan he'll be able to use this experience to his advantage."
“He showed little speed from the start," said Christophe Lemaire, who had the ride on Belshazzar. "And then we ran into interference going into the homestretch and he had to slow a bit, which meant he wasn't able to use his long stride as he normally would. He wasn't sharp in the stretch."
Katsuichi Nishiura, who trains the 5-year-old Hokko Tarumae, said, "I'd like to first express my appreciation for all the connections of the Dubai Racing Club for having invited us here," he said. "(Hokko Tarumae) was able to get the position we'd expected and I thought he would be able to keep up with the pace but he may just have not have had the stamina.
"I apologize for these results to all those who supported us and hope in the future that I will be able to take on many more overseas races, not only with this horse, but with others that can compete on the international level."
Hideaki Miyuki, who rode the February Stakes runnerup Hokko Tarumae, said, “We were able to get the position I’d wanted to, but turning into the bend it started to get tough for him. In training, it had seemed like he was handling the Tapeta well, but maybe with him racing at top speed in the race, it was another matter."
"Up to the race, everything had gone well. He was his regular self," Miyuki said. "But this was his first time on such a surface and it’s possible he just didn’t really know what to do. It was a good experience though.”
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One other horse represented Japan at Meydan this year. Brightline was the first of the Japanese horses to run on Saturday, in the G2 Godolphin Mile, the second race of the day. Post time was 5:10 p.m. local time with a field of 15.
Brightline was on the pace chasing the leaders and looked, with 400 meters left, to have every chance, but he failed to quicken over the final furlong and crossed the line in fifth place about 2 1/2 lengths off the winner and race favorite Variety Club. The South African-bred, Joey Ramsden-trained Variety Clubsoon took the lead from the gate, picked up the pace from 600 meters out and won with ease under Anton Marcus. Variety Club clocked 1 minute 37.28 seconds over the artificial surface.
Last year's winner Soft Falling Rain, also bred in South Africa, finished in second place.
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Brightline
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Fukunaga, who was riding in the Mile for the first time, said "I was able to get into third position but we had to run wide. In the final stages, his kick was too weak." Fukunaga felt that "if his kick had been a bit better, he could have won."
Brightline's trainer Ippo Sameshima said, "The start was bad, but he was able to get a good position after that. When he rounded into the stretch he was in third position and I thought he would quicken from there." Unfortunately, that was not the case. "I think having had that good position early on translated to a poor finish," Sameshima said, but he remained upbeat. "Everything as far as his preparation is concerned went well and I think it was a good experience for him."
Brightline, the sixth Japan-based horse to take on the Godolphin Mile, was the first participant from Japan in four years. Japan's Utopia won the race in 2006.
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In taking horses to Dubai races, Japan's horsemen have fielded their largest number in the country's flagship race, the Dubai World Cup. Victory came for the first and only time thus far in 2011, when Victoire Pisa claimed the winner's prize on what was Japan's 14th bid. Transcend in second place made in a one-two finish for Japan only weeks after the tragedy of March 11.
Sixteen other horses had tried but failed to win the World Cup before then, with a second by To the Victory in 2001 the previous best. Buena Vista also ran in 2011 but finished eighth. Since then, a total of five other horses from Japan, including this year's pair, have tried for the World Cup trophy on two more occasions.
* Official results; Godolphin Mile (G2) , Dubai Duty Free (G1) , Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) , Dubai World Cup (G1).
* Please visit the following websites for more information.
Dubai World Cup: http://www.dubairacingclub.com/race/dubai-world-cup
Dubai Racing Club: http://www.dubairacingclub.com/
Emirates Racing Authority: http://www.emiratesracing.com/ |
