Al Ain favored against 16 rivals in Japanese St. Leger

ARCADIA, Calif. - Al Ain, the winner of the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas in April, will be favored to win Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese St. Leger at 1 7/8 miles on turf at Kyoto Racecourse against 17 rivals.

In his first start after a summer break, Al Ain was second by a neck to Mikki Swallow in the Grade 2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse on Sept. 18.

Al Ain, a winner of four of seven starts, will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire from post 16.

“Last time, he was coming back from a break, and it showed in the final stages of the race,” trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said in a statement released by the Japan Racing Association.

“But now he’s been trained with the (1 7/8 miles) in mind and we can look forward to the race with confidence. I feel he has improved. While we don’t know for sure about staying the trip, pedigree-wise, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

A colt by Deep Impact, Al Ain was fifth in the Japanese Derby in May.

Japanese Derby winner Rey do Oro is not part of the St. Leger field, and is expected to race in the Japan Cup in late November.

Mikki Swallow is another contender for the $2,312,852 Japanese St. Leger, which is formally known as the Kikuka Sho. Mikki Swallow won his first stakes in the St. Lite Kinen and has won half of his six starts.

Bless Journey and Kiseki are other leading candidates.

Bless Journey will have his 2017 debut in the Japanese St. Leger. As a 2-year-old in 2016, Bless Journey won three of four starts, including two Grade 3 stakes.

Kiseki was second to Rey de Oro in the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Hanshin on Sept. 24.