$1,000,000 Gr I Japan Rising Sun Spring Cup

–   2006 Rising Sun Spring Cup   –
Grade I – $1,000,000
Seven furlongs Firm Turf
All horses, 4 years old and up

THE FIELD
TSR = TURF SPRINT RANKING

• No.  1  TSR 139   7/1  SCANDALOUS
• No.  2  TSR   52 14/1  BEST ROCK YET (IRE)
• No.  3  TSR   92 16/1  CLASSICUS
• No.  4  TSR    6    9/1  ONCE HAUNTED
• No.  5  TSR 115 11/1  GIANT’S BANJO
• No.  6  TSR   15 12/1  OFFSTAGE (GB)
• No.  7  TSR   63 14/1  PETE FOUNTAIN
• No.  8  TSR 110 10/1  TEQUILA WITH LIME
• No.  9  TSR 222 16/1  RAHY BREAKS AWAY (JPN)
• No.10  TSR     5 11/1  KIKI’S SOLD ROCK
• No.11  TSR   91 10/1  ONCE WYLDE
• No.12  TSR   10 17/1  ZIKLAG
• No.13  TSR   31   9/1  NIGHT’S DESIRE
• No.14  TSR     1   4/1  GENERAL’S CHARIOT

SCANDALOUS
(FUSAICHI PEGASUS x STORM BIRD x SEATTLE SLEW)
OWNER/TRAINER/BREEDER: GATTACA
JOCKEY: A. BRYANT (48: 5 – 4 – 9 10% Win)

Although ranked only #139 in the division Scandalous will go to the gate a clear 2nd favorite behind General’s Chariot. He has shown marked improvement since turning 5 and after progressing rapidly from allowance through to Stakes level with 4 consecutive wins before finishing 5th at his 1st Graded try. He put up some impressive times in those 4 wins and certainly will appreciate the extra furlong on Saturday.

Rating: 89 Do not overlook in your exotic bets as he should be right up in the firing line at the business end of the race.

BEST ROCK YET (IRE)
(ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE) x STORM CAT x CURE THE BLUES)
OWNER/TRAINER/BREEDER: BROOHAR2
JOCKEY: L. RIGDON (54: 5 – 5 – 11 9% Win)

I had the pleasure of reporting on his last race in California on Bikini Day, and other than my judging duties that day the finest thing I saw was Best Rock Yet‘s barnstorming stretch charge to win the Gr3 Simon & Simon. Coming from nearly 7 lenghts back on straightening at the top of the stretch he literally flew down the middle of the track to win eased down by nearly 2 L. That win stretched his unbeaten run to 4, including back to back Grade 3’s.

Rating: 94 The in form horse of the race, will be coming home hard over the final 2 furlongs. The best rock and definitely the best value bet of the day.

CLASSICUS
(SKY CLASSIC x PENTELICUS x TROY(GB))
OWNER/TRAINER: CLMSTABLE    BREEDER: CATDANCER
JOCKEY: T. BLAKE (47: 3 – 5 – 10 6% Win)

Trainer Clmstable‘s 1st of his 2 runners in the Rising Sun, and one can only think that he must have got a bargain 2 for 1 deal on the freighting of his horses. Classicus seems to be more suited as an allowance or lower level listed Stakes runner. So far since turning 4 he has shown very little to warrant competing at this level.

Rating: 24 Unless the climate in Japan has some kind of miraculous effect on him Classicus seems to be well out of his depth here

ONCE HAUNTED
(SILVER GHOST x DANEHILL x SADLER’S WELLS)
OWNER/TRAINER: LOUBROWN    BREEDER: VEGASJEF
JOCKEY: C. ROSER (158: 37 – 11 -13 23% Win)

One of the chances to cause a boilover if can keep his form from his past 2 runs. A very solid last start 2nd (beaten 1 1/4L) in the Kentuckymen Gr1 Elixer sprint bodes well for a forward showing here. Ranked #6 in this division and with nearly a Million dollars in lifetime earnings Once Haunted may just haunt the favorite punters if he brings his “A” game on Saturday.

Rating: 90 With one of Japan’s best jockeys (C. Roser) aboard will be given a perfect ride just off the pace.

GIANT’S BANJO
(DIXIELAND BAND x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x ACK ACK)
OWNER/TRAINER/BREEDER: ITSALOCK
JOCKEY: N. TIPPINS (125: 11 – 11 – 12 9% Win)

Has been racing over longer distances recently, but with a career record of 3 wins and 2 minor placings from 5 starts over sprint distances, this may be an astute move by trainer Itsalock. Though he may not show it 1st up over the shorter trip it may be something worth at least perserving with for at least 3 or 4 races.

Rating: 63 May be the surprise packet in this field

OFFSTAGE (GB)
(DIESIS(GB) x IN THE WINGS(GB) x ROBYN DANCER)
OWNER/TRAINER: CLMSTABLE    BREEDER: ANOTHER
JOCKEY: D. DAVIS (50: 2 – 4 – 4 4% Win)

Second runner that trainer Clmstable has brought to Japan for this race, and looks the better chance of his two runners. Much improved run last start in the Gr1 Sydney Sprint over 5.5f with a solid 2nd (beaten 1 1/4L). Has shown a preference for shorter journeys than the 7 furlongs being contested here. His 2 recent trips to Japan have proven disappointing for his connections with his best result being a 6th from 3 starts.

Rating: 57 Would prefer over a shorter journey.

PETE FOUNTAIN
(DIXIELAND BAND x ROBERTO x DAMASCUS)
OWNER/TRAINER/BREEDER: ZOOMR
JOCKEY: B. WALDO (46: 5 – 6 – 3 11% Win)

Has been mixing his distances in recent times (7 – 9f) and hasn’t won a sprint in over 6 months. His only graded victory was over 9 furlongs (Gr3 Haw Haw Derby as a 3yo). Taking on a monumental task here, and will be hard pressed to finish in the top half of the field.

Rating: 44 Looks outclassed

TEQUILA WITH LIME
(LEMON DROP KID x FAPPIANO x VICE REGENT)
OWNER/TRAINER/BREEDER: ZWYLDE
JOCKEY: V. GRAY (50: 3 – 2 – 10 6% Win)

Connections of this horse will be drinking champagne rather than tequila if he can pull off a miracle and win on Saturday. Unfortunately his record shows that this is highly unlikely, with his previous graded attempts returning very little. With only 1 listed Stakes win to his credit (along with 4 allowances and his MSW) it seems a little bit hopeful to expect much more from him. However, his one redeeming feature over his career has been his characteristic of throwing in an occassional race above his normal abilities. To date that has been mainly against lower class horses than these.

Rating: 31 Unlikely to trouble this field

RAHY BREAKS AWAY (JPN)
(SUNDAY BREAK (JPN) x RAHY x NODOUBLE)
OWNER/TRAINER: GREATDANE    BREEDER: WEGOTGAME
JOCKEY: C. WORD (45: 2 – 7 – 3 4% Win)

Only locally bred runner, and that is about all he has going for him. After 13 starts 12 of which have been around 2 turns, trainer Greatdane has decided to give his charge his 2nd lifetime sprint start (and his 1st over the turf). Has been racing at graded level for sometime now over a mile (usually) with minimal succes (never won in fact is still eligible for a NW2x allowance). Pretty much an unknown quantity (he has shown some good speed figures on occassion over turf miles), and would probably be better served racing a few classes lower.

Rating: 42 Prefer to wait and see if sprinting is his game before putting my money on him (at this level)

KIKI’S SOLID ROCK
(FORTY NINER x DANEHILL x CAERLEON)
OWNER/TRAINER: GDFARM    BREEDER: GD1
JOCKEY: A. HUDSON (173: 23 – 13 – 19 13% Win)

Looking over Kiki’s Solid Rock‘s form I was astounded to find what on initial glance appears to be the starngest training method by Gdfarm. Although Kiki has shown an obvious preference for turf and going no futher than a mile, Gdfarm decided 2 starts back to run him in a 2 mile listed Stakes on the dirt. Of course Kiki finished distanced only beating 1 other runner home, his trainer then followed up 2 weeks later entering in him in the Kentuckymen Gr1 Elixer Sprint where he finished a very credible 3rd (beaten 2 1/4L). Now if this was a once off event you may think it was just a training blunder, or Gdfarm rented a Chimpanzee from a travelling circus to select his entries that week, but no he did it last year as well. Kiki was entered in 14f listed Stakes on the dirt only to be a distanced last of 9 runners, then entered the very next week in the Gr2 Winthorpe Stakes (5f on the turf) which he duly won. Another interesting thing was that both these events were precluded by Kiki having won a Gr1 sprint the previous race. WEIRD!

Rating: 92 Looms as the major danger to the favorite (if there is one)

ONCE WYLDE
(TOUCH GOLD x PEINTRE CELEBRE (IRE) x THUNDER GULCH)
OWNER/TRAINER/BREEDER: ZEWANGO
JOCKEY: L. FENNER (146: 17 – 17 -14 12% Win)

This 4yo colt has gone ahead in leaps and bounds since trainer Zewango switched him over to the turf. He fired off a race winning streak at allowance level, before being moved up to Listed Stakes, unsuccessfully and his only 2 turf failures ensued. Thinking maybe the larger crowds were distracting Once Wylde, Zewango trialled him in blinkers, and lo and behold his original turf form returned with wins at listed Stakes level followed, giving him 6 wins from 8 turf runs. Zewango has obviously decided to strike while the iron is hot (so to speak) and move his charge on up to Graded Company, however he may have been wiser to try at a Grade3 level before trying to take on the elite.

Rating 49: Hopefully he will run a forward race as a bad beating here may damage Once Wylde’s confidence beyond repair. Expect a mid field finish at best until he gets more experience at this level.

ZIKLAG
(CHESTER HOUSE x PLEASANT COLONY x NORTHERN DANCER)
OWNER/TRAINER/BREEDER: RVD
JOCKEY: G. ARNOLD (276: 47 – 43 – 48 17% Win)

Although ranked #10 in his division it is on the basis of a Grade1 win and a place and show at Grade2 level all over 9 months ago. Since that time 2 4th place finishes in 9 starts is the best he has been able to manage. At 6 years old and this being his 50th race start, maybe his best is behind him and trainer Rvd may need to look at retiring him, or at least dropping him down a couple of classes. This will be the 3rd time Ziklag has contested the Rising Sun Spring Cup finishing a credible 4th last year after winning it when at the peak of his form in 2004.

Rating: 34 Will have some sentimental support from the local race fans but appears to be over matched this year.

NIGHT’S DESIRE
(NIGHT SHIFT x UNBRIDLED x HALO)
OWNER/TRAINER/BREEDER: TROY5
JOCKEY: B. VAN HOUTEN (62: 5 – 9 – 10 8% Win)

Seems that although Night’s Desire had a birthday last January 1st (as did all horses) he decided to give his owner/trainer Troy5 the present. On turning 5 he reeled off 4 straight wins (an allowance 2 listed Stakes then a Grade 3) before being narrowly beaten in his last start by Best Rock Yet in the Gr3 Simon & Simon. At the same time he fired off 5 straight triple digit efforts (something he had only managed once in his 12 previous starts as a 4yo). Now he gets to take on the world’s best in his 1st Grade 1 attempt and a tougher debut would be difficult to find.

Rating: 88 Definitely a threat for the minor prize money if he continues this years improvement, although I would consider him only an outside chance at stealing the major prize.

GENERAL’S CHARIOT
(GONE WEST x STORM CAT x FAPPIANO)
OWNER/TRAINER/BREEDER: PROUDTRUTH
JOCKEY: K. LEDWITH (302: 63 – 61 – 37 21% Win)

Definitely the classiest runner in this field of turf sprinters. Ranked #1 in his division based on 19 of his 23 lifetime starts being in graded company with 11 of them resulting in wins (5 grade 1’s) and 4 2nd placings. Also every one of his 23 lifetime starts he has earned a prize check……. Now that is consistancy at the highest level, and 13 straight races with triple digit speeds over the past 12 months isn’t too shabby either.

Rating: 100 With his outside gate being the only drawback, having the premier jockey K. Ledwith aboard should overcome that slight hitch. Looks the winner!