Trainer Hisashi Shimizu and jockey Yutaka Take agree that six-time G1 champion Kitasan Black to be “in the best shape of his life” as he heads towards Sunday’s Japan Cup.
He has recovered from his victory in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) on 29 October run over a sloppy track, that saw him crash into the front of the gate and come out askew.
Both trainer and jockey say being unruly in the gate is nothing new for the five-year-old, but Take admitted, “We were very lucky this time.”
Shimizu said his blood ran cold when he saw his horse lunge out of the gate but was quickly reassured when he immediately recovered and sped to the fore.
With the Japan Cup and the year-end G1 Arima Kinen (2500m) to be Kitasan Black’s final two starts before his retirement, the pressure is on.
And, victory is by no means assured. Perhaps the biggest threat is Satono Crown, with Mirco Demuro officially confirmed for the ride.
Demuro has ridden the five-year-old in his last four starts, including last start in the Tenno Sho Autumn, when Satono Crown almost caught Kitasan Black.
The extra distance this time is expected to be a plus for the 2016 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) winner, who is tackling the Japan Cup for the first time.
“I am really looking forward to it,” said Demuro, “because 2400m is definitely better for him than 2000m.”
Rey de Oro was given top marks by Christophe Lemaire, who breezed the Kazuo Fujisawa-trained three-year-old on the flat at Miho on Wednesday.
Lemaire gushed over the colt: “He felt great today. He is in perfect condition!”
Fujisawa was more low-key, explaining that the Japan Cup is an especially tall order for three-year-olds and claiming he was mostly interested in giving this colt and his other Japan Cup competitor, the three-year-old filly Soul Stirring, “the experience to learn from the older horses.”
Only two three-year-olds have won the Japan Cup in the past decade – Rose Kingdom in 2010, who was awarded the win after Buena Vista was disqualified, and Gentildonna in 2012. Four other three-year-olds have placed in the past 10 years.
Lemaire also took the reins on Soul Stirring and breezed her for 1000m on the flat. Mirco Demuro’s younger brother Cristian has the ride in the Japan Cup.
Cheval Grand, who ran third in the G2 Kyoto Daishoten (2400m) last time out, will be partnered by Australian champion Hugh Bowman, who is in Japan on a short-term licence.
Bowman rode the five-year-old up the Ritto hill and said, “I’m satisfied. His movement, his balance, everything is sufficient. He has good stamina and I think 2400m is ideal for him. He has what it takes to win.”
Last year, both Kitasan Black and runner-up Sounds of Earth both came directly from the Kyoto Daishoten.
Cheval Grand, as well as two others in the Japan Cup line-up – Sounds Of Earth and Last Impact – have also been given the same rotation.
The four raiders from overseas – Guignol and Iquitos from Germany, Idaho from Ireland and Boom Time from Australia – were scheduled for work at Tokyo Racecourse on Thursday.
All but Boom Time had moved from the jockey school facilities on Monday, with the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner arriving on Wednesday.
Thursday morning saw grey skies and rain in Tokyo, but the forecast holds no more rain through raceday and a fast track is expected.
