Competitive Field Assembles for Japan’s G1 Winter Cup
This years edition of the Grade 1 Winter Cup boasts a highly competitive field and promises to be an exciting affair with no fewer than thirteen Graded winners in attendance for the main event. Among the entrants we find a top mare, three improving three year olds and several seasoned veterans of the turf led by the six year old hard knocking mare MAGNIFORMA (italst2). This group is so evenly matched that the track handicapper had difficulty seperating them with three horses sharing the favorites role at 7-1 and a second pair at 8-1! Without further delay let’s handicap this field and make our selections. Good luck to All!
PARALLEL LINE
HenrytheNavigator x Danzig x Nijinsky 2nd (CAN)
5 Year Old Horse … Owner: super28 (17-1)
This has been a challenging season for the five year old son of HenrytheNavigator in which he has yet to get untracked. Last season’s edition of the G1 Winter Cup ended his three race Graded win streak and started another winless one which he has yet to shake. In eight starts this season he has produced two seconds and one third while covering two miles of ground in every 2013 event. However it will take more than a cutback in distance to produce a positive result as better form and a little racing luck would be a blessing in this spot against a tough group.
REEK
New Approach (IRE) x Kris S x Northern Dancer
4 Year Old Horse … Owner: thethumb (15-1)
In a nutshell this handsome four year old son of New Approach is a running machine. The longer the race the more Reek likes it and that goes against what he needs to do today. Like others in the field he comes out of the two mile G1 Millwood Cup where he finished evenly and was a distant third. A strategic approach will be needed here as this big cutback in distance is a new challenge for him and will be the task at hand for top jockey Radzinski to solve. With a career high race rating of 108 he will need an extraordinary effort here to be a factor and impact the end result.
COWS WITH GUNS
Tapit x Mr. Greeley x Giant’s Causeway
6 Year Old Horse … Owner: shaghar1 (7-1)
One of two six year olds in the field Cows With Guns comes off a disappointing effort in the G1 Japan Cup where he failed to fire when called upon. He last won three starts ago in the G3 Autumn Stakes where he posted a 113 while pulling away to win by five leaving three G1 winners in his wake. He stretches out here an eighth which can only help his cause as he did win a minor Stake back in the Spring over this same distance. A return to his best form is needed in this spot for an chance to make some noise.
APEX FALLACY
Montjeu (IRE) x Darshaan x Caerleon
5 Year Old Horse … Owner: mtk76 (10-1)
It’s been a long time between celebratory drinks for this five year old son of Montjeu. He last raced back in early November where he competed in the G2 New Zealand Drinking Device Stakes over two miles of ground. In that one he was poised to run down his opponent sitting chilly in second and closing at the top of the stretch but it wasn’t to be on that day. A bit of an in and outer Apex will need to bring his “A” game today to have any prospect of pulling off the upset while the cutback of three eighths of a mile will only help his cause. Jockey M. Kelly makes the trip from Delaware and was on his back last time out which produced a second place finish in a Grade 2 event.
LEMONDROP MINI MOO
Lemon Drop Kid x Ela-Mana-Mou (IRE) x Troy
5 Year Old Horse … Owner: gr8white (8-1)
This lumbering five year old son of Lemon Drop Kid can go all day and has had his best days at the track running over two miles of ground regardless of condition. He’ll be challenged on the cutback to thirteen furlongs where he has been less effective in the past. He last raced in the G1 Millwood Cup seven weeks ago where he held the lead to the top of the lane but could not hold off a late charger through the stretch. His best running comes while either on an uncontested lead or sitting forward on the pace. In last year’s edition of the G1 Winter Cup Lemondrop finished a middling fifth beaten over eight lengths. He will need his best game today if he hopes to make things interesting.
THANKS DUDE
Dynaformer x Sadler’s Wells x Miswaki
5 Year Old Horse … Owner: peachman4 (10-1)
Thanks Dude has a penchant for stirring finishes and is a crowd favorite among the punters on the green. Of course one never knows on which day he will rouse but there’s never a dull moment when he races. Two starts back in the G2 Longdale Cup he sat fourteen lengths in arrears at the top of the lane. With a roaring crowd trackside and closing like a freight train the “Dude” caught a tiring field to win by three. He won’t have the benefit of two miles of ground to work with today but he will have pace and has won at today’s distance in the past albeit against an easier group. A nice value play at 10-1. We may be Thanking this Dude at the windows when all is said and done!
MACONDO BUENDIA
Pivotal (GB) x Sadler’s Wells x Theatrical (IRE)
4 Year Old Horse … Owner: kuovadis (8-1)
This striking four year old son of Pivotal returns to the scene of his greatest triumph just three starts back in the G2 Shimko Classic here in Japan. A monster effort ensued after sitting chilly just off the flank of the leader early then taking command at the half and never looking back to win easily while putting up an impressive 116 race rating. Most recently he ran well to be second in the G2 Carlton Fisk Handicap but will need to step it up here as this group promises to be much tougher than his most recent opponents. I expect he’ll be forwardly placed early and in spite of some additional ground to contend with will be of little consequence in determining his performance which can go either way.
K’S FALLIBILISM
Dubawi (IRE) x Danzig x Mill Reef
3 Year Old Colt … Owner: bacchus (26-1)
Super K just keeps getting better and better. A three year old son of Dubawi this handsome colt comes off a winning effort in the G1 The Japanese Legend Stakes. He was dominant on a yielding course as he took charge early and toyed with a field that included his main rival today in Asador Etxebarri. He won’t have the benefit of such conditions on this day but he’s riding a four race win streak and is clearly on the rise. Tactically he can stalk or take the lead and that makes him dangerous with veteran jockey S L Ledwith on his back. A nice value at 26 – 1 and a must include in any exotic play.
AUTHORING BALLET
Authorized (IRE) x Danehill Dancer (IRE) x Groom Dancer
4 Year Old Horse … Owner: stcmead (9-1)
This handsome four year old son of Authorized became a Graded winner for the first time as he wired the field in the Grade 2 Cities Cup just four weeks ago in New Zealand. In that race he had some nice horses behind him including the 2012 G1 Winter Cup winner CAPINSKI who is not here today to defend his title. Today he’ll be asked to travel a quarter of mile farther than ever before but is at the top of his game at present. Ever dangerous he must be kept close and not be allowed to get away on an uncontested lead which could prove fatal. For as far as he goes he’s the one to catch!
HANNABAA
Anabaa x Peintre Celebre x Prince John
6 Year Old Horse … Owner: flurgen3 (14-1)
After a strong 2012 campaign this season has been a challenge for this six year old son of Anabaa which has seen him struggle in Graded company with his only victory coming at the Allowance level two starts back. Even his reputation for delivering big results on his favored off tracks has eluded him in 2013. He comes to Japan out of a minor Stakes event in which he finished in mid-pack while delivering his second lowest turf rating of the season. Perhaps this handsome fellow has one more good effort left in him and we’ll be rooting from the bleachers for him to upset this quality field.
ASADOR ETXEBARRI
Invincible Spirit (IRE) x Rainbow Quest x Nureyev
3 Year Old Colt … Owner: dabears (10-1)
This strapping 3 year old son of Invincible Spirit comes into the G1 Winter Cup fresh off a two and a half length win in the Grade 1 Japan Cup just twenty three days ago over twelve furlongs of firm ground. In doing so he posted a career high 113 while defeating #1 Ranked and G1 Breeders Bowl Turf winner TO CATCH A KITTY who was not himself that day. The only off the board finish to date came just two starts back over a yielding course considered heavy but the forecast for Saturday is sunny and dry. A winner of $3.4 Mil to date Asador is being asked to go a furlong farther today and seems quite capable as he looks to pad his account in this spot. His running style will have him far back early and he’ll be closing hard into what he hopes will be a quick pace and a clear path to the winners circle. Beware the bounce but a serious contender none the less.
THE APOCALYPSE
Monsun (GER) x Dynaformer x Deputy Minister (CAN)
3 Year Old Colt … Owner: icbomber2 (11-1)
This handsome three year old son of Monsun continues to improve with each start and in spite of excellent dirt results to date finds himself on the turf once again to face this quality group of seasoned performers. After a disappointing result in the G1 Travelers Stakes on the dirt his connections sent him back to the lawn and the move proved to be a tonic as he destroyed a quality field of graded performers in a minor Stakes event four weeks ago. In that event he put up a career high 114 while covering the ten furlongs in 2:28 and change after chasing quick fractions throughout. As a result he has attracted top jockey Z. Kentucky to ship in from Ireland. If he can repeat the form he displayed on that day he’ll be one to reckon with late in the game.
BICHENO LAD
Deep Impact (JPN) x Octagonal (NZ) x Danehill
4 Year Old Horse … Owner: liam (7-1)
This event marks the fifth straight Grade 1 and seventh consecutive Graded race on the calendar for this consistent son of Deep Impact. Back in May he won the Grade 2 Kinsho Kho Classic over ten furlongs of firm Japan turf and though he has been competitive since has not been able to revisit the winners circle. Perhaps his two best efforts of the season came in Graded affairs in which he finished second both times while putting up race ratings of 113 and 116 of with the latter coming here in japan. Clearly he enjoys this racecourse and can run both on or off the pace depending on how the race unfolds once the gates open. Stable favorite P. Bangs returns to take the reins here and guide this colt to a good result once more. A strong contender.
MAGNIFORMA
Galileo (IRE) x Dynaformer x Mr. Prospector
6 Year Old Mare … Owner: italst2 (7-1)
An outstanding daughter of Galilieo this six year old mare returns to the turf after giving the dirt a try for fun. This classy multiple Grade 1 winner has a preference for a distance of ground and will be on a sharp cutback for this return. Prior to her most recent experiment she posted a fourth and second respectively in Grade 2 events at sixteen furlongs after leading by large margins in both. In last year’s edition of the G1 Winter Cup this quality mare found herself mid-pack at the half and made her move early only to find herself backing up in deep stretch after being right there at the top of the lane. After that effort she got on a roll and reeled of three consecutive Grade 1 wins all over two miles of turf. Magniforma is capable of beating the boys but will need to rediscover the form she displayed back in the summer.
Hladun’s Selections …
1. MACONDO BUENDIA (kuovadis) 8-1
2. BICHENO LAD (liam) 7-1
3. AUTHORING BALLET (stcmead) 9-1
LONGSHOT PLAY: THE APOCALYPSE (icbomber2) 11-1