Japan: Horse of the Year Efforia makes seasonal debut in Grade 1 Osaka Hai
Efforia was the 2021 Horse of the Year and outstanding 3-year-old in Japan, and is expected to live up to those titles in his 2022 debut in Sunday’s Grade 1 Osaka Hai at 1 1/4 miles at Hanshin Racecourse.
Efforia is expected to be an odds-on favorite in his first start since a win in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen at 1 9/16 miles at Nakayama Racecourse on Dec. 26, his sixth victory in seven career starts. The only blemish on Efforia’s race record is a second by a nose in the Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse last May.
The $3.13 million Osaka Hai will be Efforia’s first start at Hansin.
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Efforia is part of a field of 16 and will be ridden by his regular rider, Takeshi Yokoyama for trainer Yuichi Shikato. Efforia is likely to take his customary position at the back of the field. The style has led to three Grade 1 wins, including two races at 1 1/4 miles – the Japanese 2000 Guineas last April and the autumn running of the Tenno Sho last October.
The distance will suit the 4-year-old colt Jack d’Or, a winner of five consecutive starts at 1 1/4 miles and 6 of 9 races in his career. On March 13, Jack d’Or won the Grade 2 Kinko Sho at 1 1/4 miles at Chukyo Racecourse in course record time of 1:57.20, finishing 2 1/2 lengths clear of Lei Papale, who is part of the Osaka Hai field.
Jack d’Or’s winning streak includes three allowance races from September to November and a minor stakes at Tokyo in January.
The Osaka Hai is the first major turf stakes at a distance in Japan this year. Post time is 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.