Jantar Mantar, Japan's champion 2-year-old colt of 2023, got back to a comfortable mile and back to the winner's enclosure after dominating the NHK Mile Cup (G1T) for 3-year-olds May 5 at Tokyo Racecourse.
The cutback in distance may have been key but racing fortune played a role, too, as last year's 2-year-old filly titlist, Ascoli Piceno, ran into a traffic jam as she was bidding for victory and had to settle for second.
Jantar Mantar, a Palace Malice colt, won all three starts in 2023, ending with a title-clinching victory in the Asahi Hai Futurity in December. Although he beat other newcomers in his debut at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles), the other wins were at the mile distance.
Tested for potential Classic mettle at the start of his 3-year-old campaign, he was unable to handle 1,800 meters in his first start, reporting second, then was third in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas-G1) at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles).
The NHK Mile presented no such problems.
After getting a smooth start from the No. 16 gate, jockey Yuga Kawada kept Jantar Mantar just behind the leading clot of rivals, outside of any potential trouble. He crept up on the pacesetters at the top of the straight, challenged inside the 400 meters and was going well as he crossed the finish line in front by 2 1/2 lengths.
Luck did play a role as Ascoli Piceno, a Daiwa Major filly who was a narrow favorite over the winner, ran into a nightmare trip in the late going. With Christophe Lemaire in the irons, Ascoli Piceno raced right inside Jantar Mantar into the stretch. At the crucial moment, Jantar Mantar had her pinned in a pocket behind tiring foes.
Lemaire tried for a narrow gap but had to slam on the brakes when that opening disappeared. By the time he'd recovered and shifted over to the rail, Jantar Mantar was long gone and Ascoli Piceno did well to rally for second.
The talented filly won the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1T) in her 2-year-old finale.
Kawada said Jantar Mantar was never in peril throughout the race.
"I had every confidence in my colt," he said. "Once we were off, I knew he was going to win. There were no doubts in my mind. He ran in good rhythm and showed his true strength. Concerns of his tight schedule—his latest Satsuki Sho start was only three weeks before—obviously was nothing to be worried about.
"I hope I can prove he is the best miler in Japan in the future."
Trainer Tomokazu Takano acknowledged before the race that Jantar Mantar likely was destined to compete as a miler.
"He wasn't able to hold off the other two horses in the closing stages last time, and just couldn't find any more at the end," the trainer said. "But I was still satisfied with his third-place finish. He's a top-class horse with a lot of ability."
Jantar Mantar was bred by Shadai Farm and races in the colors of Shadai Race Horse.
