While older Japanese horses continue to make their presence felt on the world stage, the sorting process of a new crop of 3-year-olds gets underway in earnest in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) April 16 at Nakayama Racecourse.
A competitive field of 18 is set for the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), the first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown but, as has been the case in most recent years, the outcome is well in doubt. Only three of the last 10 favorites have won.
The wide-open nature of the race is fueled in part by the absence of two of the 2022 juvenile stars.
The reigning 2-year-old champion, Dolce More, winner of the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1) in December, finished seventh April 8 at Nakayama when given the less ambitious task of the New Zealand Trophy (G2). Dura Erede, winner of the other top event for 2-year-olds, the Hopeful Stakes (G1), was detoured to the international dirt racing circuit where he finished second to Kentucky Derby contender Derma Sotogake in the UAE Derby (G2) in March.
There were two official Guineas trial races: The Yayoi Sho (Deep Impact Kinen, G2) March 5, run over 2,000 meters at Nakayama, and the Spring Stakes (G2) March 19, at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) at Nakayama. The first three in each of those races received automatic entry to the Guineas, and all six are in the line-up.
Tastiera, by Satono Crown, Top Knife, by Declaration of War, and One Direct, by Harbinger, filled the frame in the March 5 race. Two weeks later and 200 meters shorter, it was Bellagio Opera, by Lord Kanaloa, Ho O Biscuits by Mind Your Biscuits, and Metal Speed by Silver State.
Bellagio Opera remains undefeated after three starts, all at 1,800 meters, and is the only runner still undefeated after more than two races. He already has two victories in the books this season.
"He's still a bit loose despite his three wins, but last time was the best he'd been in a race," said Bellagio Opera's trainer, Hiroyuki Uemura. "It was a big win, I thought. He has good racing sense and is easy to control, and it's good that he's been able to win at different tracks."
Tastiera has not raced since the Yayoi Sho and trainer Noriyuki Hori said he likes that the colt is arriving fresh and responding to some equipment adjustments.
"There's no tiredness about him," Hori said of Tastiera. "The effect of the blinkers and cheekpieces in training has been good and his breathing has improved. He's improving a lot ability-wise, and mentally and physically he's in the right place. There's a fresh feel to him, so he should go to the race in good shape."
Bellagio Opera drew gate 15 with Hironobu Tanabe named to ride. Tastiera is just to his inside with Kohei Matsuyama set to take the reins.
Among the others, Danon Touchdown, a Lord Kanaloa colt and a half brother to Danon the Kid, finished second in the Asahi Hai Futurity in his last race of 2022 and makes his 3-year-old debut. Hrimfaxi, a half-brother to Deirdre, has won three straight while moving up the class ladder. Phantom Thief, by Harbinger, suffered his only loss in four starts while finishing fourth in the Hopeful in December.
The race starts at the top of the stretch and proceeds right-handed around the inner loop of the sprawling Nakayama turf course.
