Race favourite Danon Platina responded well to expectations in capturing this year's Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes to top his generation.
His three career-starts are consisted of a runner-up finish in his debut start, followed by a convincing four-length win in a maiden race in October, and another strong three-length victory in the Begonia Sho, an allowance race seven weeks later. Since the Victoria Mile triumph with Apapane in 2011, this win marks trainer Sakae Kunieda's 11th JRA-G1 victory, while jockey Masayoshi Ebina celebrates his 23rd JRA-G1 title after claiming the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies partnered with Shonan Adela, also sired by Deep Impact, just a week ago. Deep Impact offspring has now dominated ten out of 23 JRA-G1 races this year.
After breaking sharply from an inner stall, Masayoshi Ebina kept Danon Platina reserved third from the rear and three wide while the colt briefly fought the bit in the backstretch. However well in hand by the last turn and angling out wide entering the straight, Ebina allowed the gray to hit his best stride, and the colt willingly demonstrated a resounding finishing kick passing rivals and eventually the front runner Active Minoru at the furlong pole, holding off fast closing Arma Waioli.
“The going wasn't very good and since we broke from an inner stall, I tried hard to position him away from the rails which went well as planned. He was relaxed and had enough left in him by the last corner for a strong final run. He definitely takes after his sire Deep Impact—his finishing speed speaks for itself,” commented Masayoshi Ebina.
Sent to post 14th favorite, Arma Waioli was reserved in the latter half of mid-pack saving ground and edged up between horses from the inside while the winner took an outer route for the last run. Still struggling in seventh to eighth from the front at the furlong pole, the Matsurida Gogh colt stunningly found an explosive kick in the last 100 meters to pick off the tiring frontrunners and close well for a 3/4-length second.
Icho Stakes winner Clarity Sky cruised down the backstretch from mid-division smoothly inching up from the outside, and as he found himself in good striking position at the final corner, the colt galloped on strongly in the stretch but was overtaken by Danon Platina at the furlong pole. Although picking off Active Minoru immediately after that, he was once again pinned by the fast closing Arma Waioli in the final strides for third.
