Tokyo's NHK Mile Cup on Sunday has drawn a full field of 18 3-year-olds, with a handful of those looking to rebound from beaten efforts in the first two Japanese Classics of the year, the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the fillies' equivalent, the G1 Oka Sho. Oka Sho fourth Major Emblem (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) is favoured here off a fourth as the heavy favourite in that contest Apr. 10, and will look to take advantage of the four-pound fillies' weight allowance. The chestnut had gone into that off wins in the G1 Hanshin Juveniles Fillies in December and the G2 Daily Hai Queen Cup in February, over this trip, but connections were offering up no excuses for her turnover. Trainer Yasuhito Tamura said, “After her last race she went to Northern Farm Tenei [training farm], and she got in five pieces of fast work while she was there. She returned and has been training well. In her last race, it didn't go perfectly for her, but we know what she can do over the mile at Tokyo.”
Lord Quest (Jpn) (Matsurida Gogh {Jpn}) could manage no better than eighth in the Satsuki Sho, which is contested over 2000 metres, but he has won over this track and trip and took the G3 Nisai S. going this distance last year, indicating the drop back down in distance may be in his best interest. He had just one run heading into the Guineas; a third in the G2 Spring S. over 1800 metres.
Tosho Drafter (Jpn) (Unrivaled {Jpn}) looks to fulfill the promise of three straight wins going 1400 metres in his first try at the highest level. The chestnut kicked off his sophomore campaign with a win over this track Jan. 30, and most recently took the G3 Falcon S. Mar. 19 over Brave Smash (Jpn) (Tosen Phantom {Jpn}), who was a winner over this track and trip last year in the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup. Tizona (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) also rides a win streak into this, having won his last two, including the Marguerite S. at Hanshin Apr. 3.
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