3 minute read

The Japanese are here in force and the question - if not fear - is will these raiders from the Land Of The Rising Sun embarrass our local talent in the Group One races over the next four weeks?

CHRIS SCHOLTZ looks for the answers.....

The one constant about Japanese racing is they run hard and they run fast no matter what distance.

That historic Melbourne Cup quinella by Delta Blues and Pop Rock in 2006 told us that - and we have continually been reminded of their class and talent on the infrequent times we have seen Japanese horses perform in this country in the intervening years.

Last autumn in Sydney we got another taste of what a good class Japanese horse can do on our turf when the mare Hana’s Goal produced a whirlwind finish to win the G1 All-Aged Stakes at Randwick.

It was an upset result given that she appeared to be out of form leading into the race, but the way she put away that field was a clear reminder that when the Japanese hit our shores be prepared to expect the unexpected.

The global record of Japanese thoroughbreds when they race overseas is outstanding, which is why the four Japanese horses now in Sydney may well become the big story of The Championships if they strike anything like their best domestic form.

Make no mistake this quartet are vastly superior in ability and class to Hana’s Goal. That alone should be enough to tell you our horses will need to be on their game to match these Japanese raiders if they run to their best home figures.

For instance To The World was the third highest rated Timeform horse in Japan in 2014. His 128 rating sits behind only Japan’s champion stayers Epiphaneia (132) and Just A Way (131) and is equal to the Timeform rating attained by Protecionist when he won the Melbourne Cup in November.

As an historic overview it puts him in the same league as past champions Bonecrusher, Saintly, Beau Zam and Super Impose, just some of our past stars who hold a TF career rating of 128.

It’s a figure that tells you To The Word can be a serious player in his two Sydney starts in next week’s $1.5 million BMW (2400m) at Rosehill and the $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 11.

World Ace, taking on our crack three-year-olds in the G1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday, is a G2 winner with G1 form that includes a second in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and a fourth in last December’s Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin on his first overseas excursion.

It’s quality international form that earned him recognition in the 2014 IFHA World Racehorse Rankings. He also has a Timeform figure equivalent to any of the current crop of accomplished Australian weight-for-age performers.

World Ace also boasts a Group win over 1600m in the amazing time of 1.31.2. It goes without saying that a performance like that would make him the horse to beat in the $3 million The Star Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 4.

World Ace is joined in the George Ryder Stakes by Real Impact, the oldest and most accomplished of the Japanese team.

His Group wins include Japan’s top mile race the G1 Yasuda Kinen in 1.32.0 – a terrific qualification for the Doncaster Mile and another example of the amazing times these Japanese can run in their top domestic turf races!

We also get our first look at the untapped 4YO Tosen Stardom, a Group winner up to 2000m, in Saturday’s Ranvet Stakes (2000m).

Interestingly three of the four Japanese team are by the champion racehorse Deep Impact, the sire of 19 individual G1 winners in the northern hemisphere. This will be the first time we have seen his progeny race in Australia.

Together this Japanese team undoubtedly brings a new perspective to the Sydney carnival.

If they strike their preferred firm and fast tracks during their stay they will lift the The Championships to what the ATC hopes they will become – a showcase for international racing of the highest quality.

The Japanese have been here for two weeks and by all reports their preparations at Canterbury – where they have had exclusive use of the best course proper surface in Sydney – has gone without a hiccup.

They, like most top grade Japanese-bred horses, are imposing equine athletes.

If they perform as good as they look we could be in for something special!

Judge for yourself their qualifications - it makes impressive reading….

TO THE WORLD (10 starts; 4 wins/4 placings; $A2.7m prizemoney): Rated Japan’s best 3YO in 2014 when he was placed in two G1 races including the championship Arima Kinen and won the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho at Nakayama defeating Japan Derby winner One And Only.

WORLD ACE (12 starts; 4 wins/2 placings; $A$2.7m prizemoney): A three-time Group winner including the G2 Milers Cup (1600m) in record time of 1.31.4 at Kyoto and G1 placed in the Satsuki Sho (Japan 2000 Guineas) as a 3YO in 2012 before he had two years off due to injury. The six-year-old last raced on December 14 when fourth to HK champion Able Friend in the G1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin with Australia’s multiple G1 winner Criterion third.

TOSEN STARDOM (8 starts; 4 wins/0 placings; $A1m prizemoney): Lightly-raced four-year-old with four wins up to 2000m. At his latest start he captured the G3 Challenge Cup (1800m) at Hanshin in December. He was unbeaten in his first three starts including his only two starts as a two-year-old.

REAL IMPACT (25 starts; 4wins/6placings; $A4.6m prizemoney): The most accomplished and experienced of the Japanese team, he is a triple Group winner that includes Japan’s top mile race, the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) plus successive wins in the G2 Hanshin Cup (1400m).

THE TRAINERS

YASUTOSHI IKEE (To the World, World Ace , Tosen Stardom): Currently leading this year’s Japanese training premiership, a title he won in 2012. He has been in the top five Japanese trainers for the past five years and is best known on the world stage as the trainer of Orfevre. Japan’s 2011 Horse of the Year and winner of the Japanese Triple Crown.

NORIYUKI HORI (Real Impact): Group One-winning trainer who sits in the top 10 trainers in Japan. One of his best horses was Jaguar Mail, winner of the G1 Tenno Sho when ridden by Craig Williams.