Both unbeaten, Justin Milano and Sixpence have attractive credentials for Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse.
Justin Milano closed from fifth in a field of 17 to win the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Nakayama Racecourse on April 14 for his third win.
Sixpence has not raced since he won the Grade 2 Spring Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Nakayama on March 17 for his third win.
Tom Wood:
R1: 2-1-7-12
R2: 10-9-3-2
R3: 5-7-4-2
R4: 7-1-9-2
R5: 1-7-4-8
R6: 1-4-9-5
R7: 1-3-4-2
R8: 2-5-8-4
R9: 9-7-1-3
R10: 4-7-1-10 BEST: R9 N9 CALL ME GLORIOUS (WIN)
VALUE: R4 N7 MY WISH (EW)
PLAY: ALL UP 4X1 (WIN): R3-5 HOLY LAKE | R5-1 DIVANO | R7-1 REBEL’S ROMANCE | R9-9 CALL ME GLORIOUS
Rosallion found one horse better than he May 4 in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, but Saturday at The Curragh on Ireland, Rosallion is supposed to be the best horse.
Second in the Guineas after winning the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere to cap his 2-year-old campaign, Rosallion is set to face seven rivals in the Irish Guineas. Three of them are trained by Aidan O’Brien, and another, Haatem, is Rosallion’s Richard Hannon-trained stablemate.
There is an element of familiarity among the leading runners in Friday’s Group 1 Doomben Cup at Doomben Racecourse, near Brisbane, Australia.
The first three finishers from last year’s race – Huetor, Numerian, and Kovalica – are part of this year’s race. The forecast is for a different order of finish in the $660,100 race at 1 1/4 miles.
Rain is at the top of trainer Douglas Whyte’s wish list and the Hong Kong Observatory has currently bestowed a favourable forecast upon him and stable star Russian Emperor.
Seeking a third straight HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 May), Russian Emperor thrives on wet tracks and is set to receive his preferred conditions with daily rainfall expected until early next week.
Tom Wood:
R1: 5-4-2-12
R2: 9-6-7-5
R3: 3-2-5-8
R4: 4-10-5-8
R5: 11-8-3-5
R6: 8-2-1-10
R7: 8-1-3-5
R8: 1-4-11-7
R9: 12-4-2-7
BEST: R7 N8 FAST SERVE (WIN)
VALUE: R5 N11 THE KHAN (EW)
PLAY: R8 QQP 1,4,11
Mark McNamara:
R1: 12.4.2.5
R2: 9.7.6.10
R3: 5.8.3.6
R4: 10.1.7.4
R5: 8.7.12.1
R6: 1.2.8.12
R7: 1.8.10.11
R8: 7.1.4.11
R9: 4.12.5.1
The partnership of the 3-year-old filly Cervinia and jockey Christophe Lemaire were reunited for the first time since October in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse.
The team recorded a minor upset in the $2.08 million classic at 1 1/2 miles on turf.
Cervinia ($10.90) closed from off the pace to catch stretch leader Stellenbosch, the even-money favorite. Cervinia won by a half-length. Stellenbosch, the winner of the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas, finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Light Back (7-1).
If you had been told early Saturday morning that a 5-year-old trained by John and Thady Gosden had won the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, you would not have been surprised. The Gosdens, after all, had the star mare Inspiral entered in the Lockinge for her 5-year-old debut. Inspiral did not win, did not even come close, but the Gosdens did, as Audience, a 5-year-old gelding presumed to be a pacemaker for his heralded stablemate, went to the lead and never came back, capturing this straight-course mile by 1 3/4 lengths while posting a 20-1 upset.
