Mac Lir Leads Field for Kumotori Sho

The Kumotori Sho, one of the most important prep races for the Haneda Hai, will be held Feb. 18 going 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) at Oi Racecourse. The course and the distance are the same as the April 29 Haneda Hai, which is the first leg of the Japanese Dirt Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. The likely favorite is Silk Racing's Mac Lir (JPN), one of four Japan Racing Association representatives in the field. The colt by Lord Kanaloa (JPN), trained by Takahisa Tezuka, was a 3-length winner of a maiden race over 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) at Tokyo Racecourse Nov. 24. He followed that up with a victory in the Kuretake Sho at Nakayma Jan. 10. Christophe Lemaire is booked to ride in the Kumotori Sho. The best hope for the National Association of Racing is Ayasan Jorato (JPN), trained by Satoshi Saito at Funabashi. The colt by Thunder Snow (IRE) finished fourth in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun Dec. 17 at Kawasaki, the second leg on Japan's Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1). The top two NAR-trained finishers in the Kumotori Sho are guaranteed a spot in the Haneda Hai. The top two JRA-trained horses who finish in the top five of the Kumotori Sho will receive priority entry into the field of the Haneda Hai. In 2025, Janadriyah, by Gold Dream (JPN) and representing the JRA, won the Kumotori Sho and subsequently finished third in the Haneda Hai.