Horse Racing
Season
Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) - Form Comments

23/10/2020 16:41

G1 – 3000m – Turf

1 Diamant Minoru
Won 3 over 2000m to 2400m from 10 career starts. Last took a 2-win class stake race (2400m) at Kyoto over the rain affected soft track on 10 October. 3000m should be his trip. Hold-up runner.
2 Galore Creek
G2 winner over 1800m, also finished closest when 3rd to Contrail and Salios in the G1 Satsuki Sho (2000m) in April. Kicked off his autumn campaign with a fine 3rd in the G2 St. Lite Kinen (2200m) at Nakayama in September latest. Races handy but can settle back. Tested only on firm and good.
3 Contrail
Likely the overwhelming race-favourite aiming to follow his sire Deep Impact’s footsteps for an unbeaten Triple Crown title. Easy 3L win in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m) in May and he scored in a similar fashion in his 2L victory, without any asking from the jockey, in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) in September last out. Settles better than midfield. Tested on firm and good track.
4 Man Of Spirit
Best run this spring a neck 2nd behind Deep Bond in the G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai (2200m) in May, before unplaced in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m). Chased from last but only finished 9th in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) last out. Stretching out to 3000m appears as though it will suit. Settles back. No ground issues.
5 Satono Impresa
Won his first 3 career starts, culminating with the G3 Mainichi Hai (1800m) in March. Ran well when 4th in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m) but finished a disappointing 10th in the G2 Mainichi Okan (1800m) at Tokyo last out. Handles all going but prefers firm track. Hold-up runner.
6 Weltreisende
Half-brother to World Premiere, winner of this race last year. Defied his odds to finish 3rd behind Contrail in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m) in May. Also smart efforts when 2nd again to Contrail in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) last out. Settles midfield or better. Can handle firm and rain affected track.
7 Danon Gloire
Finished on the board in all 6 starts. Won last 2 including a 2-win class stakes race (2500m) at Nakayama in September last out. Usually sits handily or takes lead but sometimes from midfield. Should be suited to 3000m.
8 Deep Bond
Scored his first graded race success in the G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai (2200m) in May before a decent 5th in the G1 Japanese Derby (2400m). Returned from 4-month break and ran a smart 4th in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) in September last out. Best on firm and stretching out to 3000m should be his trip. Races handily.
9 Aristoteles
Missed the board only once in 8 starts, also twice placed at Listed level over 2000m and 2200m. Proved his stamina when taking a 2-win class stakes race (2200m) at Chukyo in September latest. Settles forward but can race from deep. Best on firm.
10 Satono Flag
Completed a hat-trick of wins in the G2 Yayoi Sho (2000m) at Nakayama in March, before finishing a respectable 5th in the G1 Satsuki Sho (2000m). Promising efforts when 1.5L 2nd to Babbit in the G2 St. Lite Kinen (2200m) last out. Settles midfield or further back. No track worries.
11 Babbitt
Unbeaten in all 4 starts this term. Took an 1800m G3 at Fukushima two starts back in July, before making all in the G2 St. Lite Kinen (2200m) at Nakayama last out. No distance queries. Races on speed. Tested only on firm and good.
12 L’Excellence
Won his first 3 races since his debut but well beaten in first two legs of Triple Crown. Packed and struggled to find a clear path late when 7th in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) last out. Strong finisher and no track worries.
13 Robertson Quay
Lightly raced but has finished in the money in all 4 outings. Made his Pattern races debut with a decent 3rd behind Contrail in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) latest. Has been training well. Races back. Handles all going.
14 Valcos
2 wins at 1800m and 2400m from 8 career starts. Finished a neck 2nd in the G2 Aoba Sho (2400m) in May, but well beaten in the Derby. Returned to track for the first time in 4 months for a 5th in the G2 St. Lite Kinen (2200m) at Nakayama in September last out. 3000m should be his distance. Races from midfield or further. No ground issues.
15 Black Hole
Winless since taking the 2YO G3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes (1800m) last August. Ran 9th in his first run against older horses in the G2 Sapporo Kinen (2000m) on 23 August. Prefers softer track. Hold-up runner.
16 Turkish Palace
3 wins between 1600m and 2000m from 7 outings. Showed strong closing speed when 5th to Contrail in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) last out. Likes soft track. Settles close to the speed.
17 Chimera Verite
Won a 1800m Listed on dirt as a 2YO last year. Switched to turf for 3 runs earlier this term, best, a 2nd in the Listed Wakaba Stakes (2000m) at Hanshin in March. Below par when back on dirt in the G3 Sirius Stakes (1900m) at Chukyo on 3 October. Usually races on speed but settles handily sometimes. No ground concerns.
18 Bitterender
Ran a smart 2nd in the G3 Kyodo News Service Hai (1800m) in February. Also won a Derby trial race, the Listed Principal Stakes (2000m) in May. Raced close to pace but faded late to finish 11th in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai (2200m) last out. Sits handily. Tested on firm and good. The right-handed track at Kyoto is the only concern.