Sprinters Up To The Challenge

SPRINTERS UP TO THE CHALLENGE 
The G1 Sprinters S., the eighth leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, is staged tomorrow at Niigata Racecourse. Unlike the last two years, when champion sprinter Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) swept this 1200 meter contest, there is no clear cut favorite amongst the lineup, but a number of intriguing contenders nonetheless. Hakusan Moon (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}) finished second here last year after taking a pair of group contests. The now 5-year-old was beaten five lengths when fifth behind Copano Richard (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen-Sprinters S. Mar. 30, and finished second off a near six-month layoff in the G2 Centaur S. two weeks ago. Copano Richard opened his 4-year-old campaign with a pair of clear-cut victories in the G3 Hankyu Hai Mar. 2 and the Takamatsunomiya, but could manage no better than seventh as the favorite when stepped up to 1400 meters in the G2 K H Spring Cup when last seen May 17. The drop back in trip should suit. Grand Prix Boss (Jpn) (Sakura Bakushin Oh {Jpn}), a dual Group 1-winning miler, could manage only seventh here last year and failed to shine in two subsequent outings, but the 6-year-old showed his old spark once again when coming to within a nose of denying Just A Way (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in his lone outing of the year so far June 8. Michael Tabart’s Hana’s Goal (Jpn) (Orewa Matteruze {Jpn}) made a successful voyage to Australia earlier this year, capturing the G1 All Aged S. Apr. 26, and the 5-year-old makes her first start since that breakthrough effort. The 2012 G1 Hanshin Juvenile S. victress Robe Tissage (Jpn) (War Emblem) has this year made an evolution from miler to sprinter, and the transition has thus far gone smoothly, with the 4-year-old finishing second in the G3 Hakodate Sprint June 22 and winning the G3 Keeneland Cup Aug. 31. Both races were over this distance.