Danon Decile, a late scratch from the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas in April because of unsoundness, provided a shock result at 76-1 with a win in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse.
Danon Decile paid $155.40 in American pools. He was the 45-1 ninth choice in a field of 17 in Japan in the $3.89 million Japanese Derby.
Ridden by 56-year-old Norihiro Yokoyama, Danon Decile had a ground-saving trip through 1 1/2 miles on turf.
Heavily favored Rosallion caught his Richard Hannon Jr.-trained stablemate Haatem on the wire to win the Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday at The Curragh.
Rosallion had been second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Haatem, in the 2000 Guineas earlier this month at Newmarket but the margin was reduced Saturday to a head. Haatem under Jamie Spencer tracked the pace and got first run on Rosallion, who took some time to find his best stride but eventually wore down Haatem under jockey Sean Levey.
Rebel’s Romance has won Group 1 races over 1 1/2 miles in Germany, America, and the United Arab Emirates. Sunday, he’ll try to win one in Hong Kong, where Rebel’s Romance starts in the Champions and Chater Cup at Sha Tin.
At one point it appeared Opera Singer would have her 2-year-old finale in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The filly, in the end, never got on a plane carrying European horses to Santa Anita and instead makes her 3-year-old debut Sunday at The Curragh in the Irish 1000 Guineas.
Ryan Moore will be aboard Opera Singer, the favorite as of Friday to provide trainer Aidan O’Brien his 11th win in the Irish classic.
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.
