The Japanese 2000 Guineas (Satsuki Sho) winner Isla Bonita will be the likely favourite in the 81st running of the Japanese Derby (Tokyo Yushun) this Sunday
But Isla Bonita, who has won five of his six starts, faces stiff competition, not only from the leading finishers in the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, but also from others who have taken a different route to the Derby starting gate.
One And Only, To The World and Red Reveur are considered to be Isla Bonita’s greatest rivals, but Tosen Stardom, Win Full Bloom and Bell Canyon are all solidly in the running.
On Wednesday morning, all eyes were on Japan's two JRA training centres, Miho in the East and Ritto in the West, as most of the Derby hopefuls were given their final fast workouts for the big event on Sunday.
Isla Bonita's trainer Hironori Kurita says his colt has improved markedly since winning the 2000 Guineas. "Since the Satsuki Sho, he has a much stronger presence to him," Kurita said, adding that he has been "working on keeping him relaxed in the interim and he has been relaxed." Isla Bonita has four wins in four starts at the home of the Derby. "He's had good results at Tokyo. It's his best venue," the trainer said.
Red Reveur, the first filly to compete in the Derby since Vodka won the race in 2007, was given a run up the hill at Ritto on Wednesday. Working under jockey Yuichi Fukunaga, Red Reveur started some 2.5 lengths behind her stablemate at a relatively leisurely pace for the first half of the 800 metre workout. Then the pair picked up speed and they finished upsides at the top of the hill, but Fukunaga still had a lot of horse under him. Red Reveur clocked 53.3 seconds for the gallop, with the final 200 metres in 12.7 seconds. Though the time was a bit slower than the filly's workout prior to her last race, she travelled well and looked in great shape.
A little later, One And Only took on the hill course too, after it had been harrowed. Working with another horse from the Kojiro Hashiguchi stable, he set off a little behind his work companion. One And Only was keen to get on with things, but was restrained as per Hashiguchi's instructions. Still, he easily caught his workmate and ran on powerfully over the 200 metres. He clocked 52.2 seconds for the 800 metres, with the last 200 metres in what seemed to be a slightly disappointing 13.3 seconds. Hashiguchi felt otherwise though, saying: "With the going being a bit heavy, that's expected. If he didn't have power, he wouldn't get this kind of time. I give him passing marks."
Win Full Bloom will be trainer Hiroshi Miyamoto's first ever runner in the Derby. The colt will race for the first time over 2,400 metres, as is also the case with a number of the others, including Isla Bonita. "We won't know if he can handle the 2,400m until we give him a try. With his running style I think he can make it," said Miyamoto. Win Full Bloom's sire Special Week excelled at distances of 2,000m and longer, winning not only the Derby but also the Japan Cup over the same course and distance, so the chances of Win Full Bloom staying the trip seem positive.
