NHK Mile topped by Japanese juvenile champ
The NHK Mile at Tokyo Racecourse has produced past winners as prominent as Seeking the Pearl and El Condor Pasa, but this year’s edition appears to lack that sort of star power.
Marcus HershMay 05, 2011
The NHK Mile at Tokyo Racecourse has produced past winners as prominent as Seeking the Pearl and El Condor Pasa, but this year’s edition appears to lack that sort of star power.
His only start was a maiden win, way back in September, but Marhaba Malyoon could reach the Epsom Derby on June 4 if he runs well in Saturday’s Group 3 Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield Park, south of London.
Wonder of Wonders won her second race in a week in Wednesday’s Cheshire Oaks at Chester Racecourse in England, and is now likely to make her Group 1 debut in the English Oaks at Epsom on June 3.
Frankel, the brilliant 3-year-old whose win last weekend was rated one of the best ever in the English 2000 Guineas, will be pointed to the St. James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot rather than the Epsom Derby.
Thursday’s Group 3 Chester Vase, a nominal trial for the Epsom Derby, drew a field of just five, with Nathaniel the most highly regarded derby hopeful among the quintet.
The Keeneland 2-year-old maiden winners Everyday Dave and Judy the Beauty won allowance races over five furlongs on turf at Chantilly, France, on Monday for American trainer Wesley Ward, giving Ward three winners in France in a little more than 48 hours.
Wonder of Wonders, who won a maiden race in her 2011 debut at Tipperary, Ireland, last Thursday, will make her a quick turnaround for her stakes debut in Wednesday’s Cheshire Oaks at Chester Racecourse in England.
Blue Bunting’s strong late rally carried her to a three-quarters length victory over Together in the Group 1 Quipco 1000 Guineas on Sunday at Newmarket, England. The performance made the Godolphin-owned Blue Bunting into one of the favorites for the English Oaks, and gave second-year trainer Mahmood al Zarooni his first victory in an English classic race.
Ambitious Dragon capped an ambitious and successful Hong Kong season with a comfortable victory Sunday at Sha Tin in the Group 1, $1.8 million Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
Saturday, trainer Wesley Ward saddled Tiz Terrific to win a maiden turf race for 2-year-olds over about five furlongs at Longchamp in Paris, the trainer’s first winner in France.