Epicharis All the Rage for Hyacinth

In the 2016 running of the Hyacinth S. over the dirt course at Fuchu Racecourse, a then 3-year-old colt called Lani (Tapit) finished a somewhat disappointing fifth before annexing the G2 UAE Derby and contesting all three legs of the American Triple Crown. Epicharis (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) is set to follow a similar path and will look to remain undefeated in what figures the biggest test of his career.

A ¥28-million (about US$256,100) purchase out of the 2014 JRHA Select Foal Sale, the dark bay was perfect in three tries as a juvenile, winning his first two outings by a combined 13 lengths, including a course-and-distance affair Oct. 15. He is unraced since a 12-length romp in the Hokkaido Nisai Yushun (1800m) at Mombetsu Nov. 1 and figures tough here at odds-on.

Adirato (Jpn), a son of 2016 leading first-crop sire Rulership (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) placed once in three turf appearances to begin his career, but is unblemished in two starts on the dirt, a record-setting, 10-length maiden win in the mud at Hanshin Dec. 24 followed by a three-length score at Chukyo Jan. 16. Yutaka Take takes the call.

Multiple US Grade I winner Champagne d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) was purchased for $2.7 million with a Tapit foal in utero at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November Sale and produced a colt by America's pre-eminent sire in May 2014. Named Foggy Night (Jpn), he was subsequently knocked down to Kaneko Makoto Holdings for ¥248.4 million (about $1.87 million) at the 2015 JRHA Select Yearling Sale and was impressive in carrying Ryan Moore to a popular debut success over this track and trip Nov. 12.

The Hyacinth is the final of two races in which Japanese-based horses can accrue points for a berth in the Kentucky Derby. The first leg, the Nov. 26 Cattleya Sho, was won by Mont Saint Legame (Jpn) (Came Home), who earned 40 points for that victory. The Hyacinth is worth 50 points to the winner. The horse to amass the most points in the two races will be in line for a trip to Kentucky.