Neither of Japan’s contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1) may fairly get the job finished of their Sept. 25 prep race at Funabashi Racecourse as Ushba Tesoro got here up one size quick with a livid stretch rally and Derma Sotogake pale to complete a well-beaten fifth.
The Nippon TV Hai, run at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on the grime and below the lights, was the primary begin for each for the reason that Dubai World Cup (G1) March 30.
Derma Sotogake, a 4-year-old colt by Thoughts Your Biscuits , completed second to White Abarrio within the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Basic. Ushba Tesoro, a 7-year-old son of Orfevre , completed fifth in that race. Ushba Tesoro, nevertheless, has appeared by far the stronger of the 2 within the intervening 11 months and confirmed that once more at Funabashi.
William Barows, a 6-year-old who has by no means contested a grade 1 race, sailed out to the lead within the Hai with Derma Sotogake in shut attendance as the sphere negotiated the backstretch. Turning into the straight, William Barows shot out to an enormous lead with Derma Sotogake dropping again shortly.
Ushba Tesoro, who had idled in mid-field, took up the chase and closed 10 or extra lengths within the last 200 meters however had been left simply an excessive amount of to do.
All three related jockeys have been excessive on their mounts’ efficiency.
“If no (different) horse was going to the entrance, I assumed to go to the lead,” mentioned successful rider Ryusei Sakai. “I mentioned so with the coach (Hiroyuki) Uemura and was aiming for a sustained run.
“He felt actually good once I was heading in a straight, so I assumed he would be capable of get away in opposition to Ushba Tesoro.”
Yuga Kawada, aboard Ushba Tesoro, mentioned, “I did not get a superb end result however he was in a position to run in a superb method, so I feel he’ll be capable of carry out nicely” within the Basic.
And Christophe Lemaire, harkening again to Derma Sotogake’s performances at Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park, additionally took coronary heart from the race. It was the colt’s first begin in Japan since December 2022.
“He was in a superb place, however when the tempo picked up he obtained busy … There’s room for enchancment,” Lemaire mentioned. “I pushed him all the best way to the tip and I feel it’s going to assist going ahead. I am not fearful as a result of he can run higher on American grime.”
The result could be particularly encouraging to Ushba Tesoro’s connections and builds on an already glittering resume for the veteran worldwide campaigner, whose end in 2023 at Santa Anita was his worst since he was switched to the grime a yr earlier.
He gained the 2023 Dubai World Cup, took a six-month break and gained the Hai earlier than the Breeders’ Cup disappointment. He bounced again from that to a repeat win within the Tokyo Daishoten (G1) in December, then completed second in each the Saudi Cup (G1) and the Dubai World Cup earlier than once more hitting the bench for an extended relaxation.
Derma Sotogake blasted onto the worldwide scene in December of 2022 with a win within the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, a leg of the “Japan Street to the Kentucky Derby”. He deserted that collection in favor of the 2023 UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai and a victory there earned him a spot within the Kentucky Derby (G1), the place he completed sixth.
After a break of practically eight months, he returned for the runner-up exhibiting within the Breeders’ Cup Basic. That, nevertheless, was adopted by a fifth-place exhibiting within the Saudi Cup and a sixth within the Dubai World Cup.
A 3rd potential Japanese contender, Kentucky Derby (G1) third-place finisher Ceaselessly Younger , is slated for a Breeders’ Cup prep within the Japan Grime Basic Oct. 2 at Oi Racecourse.
