G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes

The top five betting choices were the first five home in Japan's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes on Sunday, with second choice Cavallerizzo closing to take the juvenile contest by three-quarters of a length. Diamond Knot (Bricks And Mortar), a 7-1 shot, was second, with the formerly undefeated favourite Admire Quads (Real Steel) gamely snatching third, a length behind. Sent off at 13-5, the son of Saturnalia raced content in midfield well off the fence, with the first quarter covered in :23.20. At the half-mile marker, Diamond Knot was firmly...

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan, post time: 3.40 p.m., ASAHI HAI FUTURITY STAKES-G1, ¥135,480,000, 2yo, 1600mT Field: Good Piece (GB) (Kingman {GB}), White Orchid (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Ecoro Alba (Jpn) (Mozu Ascot), Cosmo Red (Jpn) (California Chrome), Storm Thunder (Jpn) (Henry Barows {Jpn}), Tagano Aralia (Jpn) (Mr Melody), Corteo Soleil (Jpn) (Win Bright {Jpn}), Cavallerizzo (Jpn) (Saturnalia {Jpn}), Spe Luce (Jpn) (Rey De Oro {Jpn}), Diamond Knot (Jpn) (Bricks And Mortar), Kakuuchi (Jpn) (Admire Mars {Jpn}), Admire Quads (Jpn) (Real Steel), Realize Sirius (Jpn) (Poetic Flare {Ire}), Red Ligare (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn})....

Undefeated in two starts, Junko Kondo's Admire Quads  anchors the advance markets for Sunday's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin. The one-mile race looks to be contentious, as the top four betting choices are split by inches by the betting public. By Real Steel, like this year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic/G1 Saudi Cup hero Forever Young, the colt delivered in a Tokyo contest in October, before rattling home in a record 1:33.10 for the 1600 metres at Kyoto in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes on November 15. He...

Japanese champion Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is set to bring the curtain down on his glittering career next weekend when he bids to repeat his 2023 success in the G1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama, but it was all about the emergence of a future star on Sunday as his stable-mate, Admire Zoom (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), won the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Kyoto in the manner of one who could be another leading light for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi. It was in this race in 2021 that Do Deuce...

Fresh off his Arma Veloce (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB})'s tally in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last Sunday, owner Teruo Ono has a chance to bag a Japanese juvenile Group 1 double with the undefeated Arte Veloce (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Kyoto on Nov. 15. A winner at Sapporo in July and again in Tokyo's G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup besting Taisei Current (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) on Oct. 5, the colt carries the mantle of ante-post favourite. Japanese legend Yutaka Take will be perched...