Exclusive Topics for JAPAN CUP DIRT 2012- 4th Edition

The last of the major step races leading up to the Japan Cup Dirt ended on November 5th with the JBC Classic (dirt, 2,100m). A few runners from the Musashino Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,600m), which was held on the November 11, are also predicted to start in the Japan Cup Dirt.

Dirt racing is an enduring career for many horses as injury rates are lower than in turf racing, and because there is less incentive to retire early as dirt sire prospects are not appreciated as much as sires in turf circles. In addition, current rules require substantial achievements to qualify to run in major dirt races, making it harder for younger three- and four-year-olds to make the dirt line-ups. Despite all these factors, however, this season has marked the beginning of a new era as long-reigning champions give way to new generations.

Roman Legend	Espoir City	Nihonpiro Ours

First in line among the new dirt stars is Roman Legend (JPN, C4, by Special Week), who is coming off a six-race winning streak with two grade-race victories. Winless in his first two career starts on turf as a three-year-old, the dark bay colt proved an immediate success when switched to dirt in May last year. Given a six-month rest, he registered his second win and then a 1/2-length runner-up effort, after which he has remained undefeated since the end of last year. He won the July Stakes at Chukyo by a six-length margin in a record 1:49.4 over 1,800 meters. He marked his first grade-race victory in the following Elm Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,700m), his first grade-race start, in which he outdueled seven-time top-class dirt race winner and 2009 Japan Cup Dirt champion Espoir City (JPN, H7, by Gold Allure) to win by a neck. It may have helped that he was carrying 56 kilos, three less than his rival, but the Special Week colt definitely proved himself well qualified to compete against the best. Roman Legend won his latest start, the Miyako Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,800m), from being forwardly positioned and rated in the inside, then breaking away from the lead group for a neck win. Expectations are high for the colt’s inaugural G1 victory in his first Japan Cup Dirt attempt, which would extend his winning streak to seven.

Placing just a neck behind Roman Legend in the Miyako Stakes was Nihonpiro Ours (JPN, H5, by White Muzzle), who has proved extremely consistent in his recent starts. Raced on dirt since January 2010, he has finished worse than sixth only once out of 21 starts—ninth by 0.7 second from the winner in the Japan Cup Dirt last year. After landing his first grade-race victory in the Nagoya Grand Prix (dirt, 2,500m) last December, he has collected two more grade-race titles this season—the Nagoya Daishoten (dirt, 1,900m) and the Hakusan Daishoten (dirt, 2,100m)—and turned in runner-up efforts in both the Tokai Stakes (G2, dirt, 1,900m) and the Miyako Stakes, in the latter carrying 58kg, or one more than the winner.

Hokko Tarumae	Hatano Vainqueur	Transcend

The Miyako Stakes also included up-and-coming three-year-olds Hokko Tarumae (JPN, C3, by King Kamehameha) and Hatano Vainqueur (JPN, C3, by King Kamehameha). Hokko Tarumae showed his tenacity by staying in contention all the way to finish a neck-and-neck third.He also captured the three-year-olds’ Leopard Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,800m) in August, which earned his ticket to run in the Japan Cup Dirt this year. Hatano Vainqueur, who was sent to post the second favorite after being undefeated in five previous dirt-race starts, including a win in the three-year-olds’ Japan Dirt Derby (dirt, 2,000m), was unable to keep up with the solid pace and faded to 10th.

Meanwhile, older runners who had dominated dirt racing until last year are beginning to find it hard to keep their form. Smart Falcon (JPN, by Gold Allure), who fashioned a nine-race winning streak including six top-class dirt race titles between November 2010 and early this year, was sent off to his first overseas challenge in the Dubai World Cup (G1, AW, 2,000m). Despite being sent to post the second favorite, the chestnut lost weight and his form due to the long travel and faded to 10th. Smart Falcon was retired upon returning to Japan, never getting his chance to challenge in the Japan Cup Dirt or start a JRA race after August 2008 despite a remarkable record of 22-4-1 out of 30 career starts on dirt. Last year’s Japan Cup Dirt Champion Transcend (JPN, H6, by Wild Rush)disappointed to seventh after being sent to post the race favorite in his kickoff start in the February Stakes (G1, dirt, 1,600m) this year. An overseas challenge in the Dubai World Cup, in which he was runner-up last year, was also unsuccessful as he was heavily beaten to 13th. His comeback start in the JBC Classic this fall was also a dispiriting loss by eight lengths, with the bay unable to maintain his usual tenacity to lead.

Wonder Acute	Civil War

Among the older champions, Espoir City continues to keep his form since finishing third in the Japan Cup Dirt last year. So far this season he has scored two wins and three seconds out of six starts—his worst being a fifth in the February Stakes—including top-class dirt race titles in the Kashiwa Kinen (dirt, 1,600m) and the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (dirt, 1,600m). He will be bidding for a second victory in his third Japan Cup Dirt after claiming the title in 2009. This year’s JBC Classic winner Wonder Acute (JPN, H6, by Charismatic) is another hopeful among the older generation. Bouncing back from a disappointing spring campaign, the six-year-old bay turned in an overwhelming five-length victory in his latest start to capture a well-deserved first G1 title. If he can maintain form in his second start this fall, he has a very good chance to claim the Japan Cup Dirt title this year. Civil War (JPN, H7, by War Emblem) has an impressive record in distances mainly over 2,000 meters at NAR (local public racing) tracks, but he will need to handle the fast pace predicted in the coming G1 test. Although well beaten to second in the JBC Classic, he bested the rest of the field by three lengths.