Japan: Jantar Mantar returns to best distance in Grade 1 NHK Mile

Jantar Mantar was the champion 2-year-old male in Japan in 2023 on the basis of his win in the Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at a mile last December.

The mile appears to be Jantar Mantar’s best distance, and why he was one of the early favorites to win for the first time in 2024 in Sunday’s Grade 1 NHK Mile on turf at for 3-year-olds at Tokyo Racecourse.

Jantar Mantar has started twice this year, finishing second by 1 1/2 lengths in a Grade 3 at 1 1/8 miles at Tokyo on Feb. 11, and third by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama on April 14.

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Though he was not beaten far in those races, Jantar Mantar was unable to replicate his win in the Asahi Hai Futurity.

As of Friday, Jantar Mantar was the 5-2 second choice in the NHK Mile behind 2-1 Ascoli Piceno, one of five fillies in the field of 18.

Jantar Mantar, who will be ridden by Yuga Kawada, has a tough draw in post 16. He tends to race as a stalker, which may require an early run to secure position in a big field in the one-turn race.

Ascoli Piceno, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2023 in Japan, was beaten three-quarters of a length in the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas at a mile for 3-year-old fillies at Hanshin on April 7. She closed from eighth in a field of 18 to be closest to the front at the finish.

Ascoli Piceno has won 3 of 4 starts. She beat males in her first two races – against maidens last June and in a Grade 3 at a mile last August.

In the NHK Mile, Ascoli Piceno starts from post 14 and will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, who returns to riding this weekend after sustaining a collarbone injury on the Dubai World Cup program undercard in the United Arab Emirates in late March.

The NHK Mile has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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