Grade 1 Spring Cup Japan Headliner
Huge money can sure draw out the superstars! No less than eight of the Top 25 Long Turf runners will face the starter along with four other strong runners in what should be a fantastic renewal of the 2-mile $2,500,000 Grade 1 Spring Cup on Japan’s turf course.
Last year’s winner of this prestigious race, DYLAN TOM N JERRY,SHINE ON THROUGH, one who is still trying to regain the form that got him that fine finish.
VOODOO SMILE will start from the rail at 8/1. This 5yo son of Montjeu is aptly trained by texasace00, whose Livestrong Racing stable group is one of the most-respected in the Sim. The Irish-bred colt made his Graded debut just five starts ago with an easy win in a minimum-field Grade 3. Since then, he has a pair of Graded runnerup finishes. Ranked #33 in this division, he’ll need to prove that his poor effort at Japan was just one of those “bad days”. Will need his very best here, but has a solid veteran rider aboard.
MAJOR IRISH is a 4yo son of Daiwa Major who picks an extremely tough spot to make his debut in Graded racing and gets slapped with 39/1 odds by the ever-heartless CPU. His four allowance wins at this distance are encouraging, but this is a huge rise in class for the pirate trainee. Contention in this group is unlikely; however, even a mid-pack finish would stamp this guy as one with a strong-looking future.
GALILAYO goes off at 7/1 for the goldsmith stable. The 4yo Galileo colt’s dominant 7-length victory on this course in a Grade 2 was by far his best-ever Graded effort, but he’s never gone 16 furlongs on any course. His poor run last time out is a concern, but this one has a good shot. Interesting note: An in-the-money finish will make him his dam’s third million-dollar earner!
Defending Spring Cup champ DYLAN TOM N JERRY has five Grade wins and $4.4 million in his coffers, but his form has been inconsistent lately for lgbost6. Will this 5yo son of Dylan Thomas run like he did two starts ago in the G1 Auckland Cup? His best run would make the 7th-ranked runner in the division hard to beat, but his other recent runs haven’t been up to par. He gets a solid rider to go with his 7/1 odds. Which effort level will we see here? As silent-movie star Buster Keaton once named his boat… Damfino. 🙂
THE BODYGUARD will try to protect his turf at 6/1. This 5yo English Channel offspring was impressive last month on this course in crushing a good Grade 3 field, but woette4 was unable to get a return engagement for the rider he used that day; that rider chose to ride DYLAN TOM N JERRY instead. The spectacular closing run of this guy has grabbed three Graded wins, and a strong run here would be no surprise.
Likely pacesetter SEVENTH SENSE is ranked #2 in this division, but the 4yo Montjeu colt has never even raced in a marathon of this length. The rapt trainee has won $3 million Sim bucks including a desperate nose win in the 2010 Breeders Bowl Turf, but this distance might be a bit too much even on his best day. The CPU lists him at 8/1, even with the top rider aboard.
NOT SO CHEAP has six Graded wins and $2.7 million in his bankroll, but his last four tries show that the 6yo son of Forestry may be nearing the end of a long, productive career. Trained by elcheapo, the #14-ranked runner goes off at 10/1 and will need to find his old form to contend here.
SHINE ON THROUGH ran a bangup 2nd after leading midstretch in this race last year, but came back to the crown barn with an injury and wasn’t seen on the track again for over six months. The 6yo son of Bel Asprit has had a lot of trouble regaining his fitness and has finished off the board in all five of his starts since his comeback. Gets 14/1 odds in this tough spot.
LIGHT OF HEAVEN just beat a number of these in a Grade 1 at Australia last time out in his 16-furlong debut, and a win here at 9/1 would be no surprise. Trainer lenny14 was only able to land a journeyman rider for his 4yo North Light colt, but this colt has won with mid-level riders before and looks dangerous here.
SADLER ROCK has been solid in all of his seven stakes tries, only failing to light the tote once. However, the 4yo Rock Of Gibraltar colt has been only able to win once and was almost seven lengths behind LIGHT OF HEAVEN last time out. The daniel trainee seems to lack that extra gear needed to beat top runners, but is likely for a small bite off the purse at 11/1.
THE END BEGINS is another Lenny runner, this time lenny28. The 4yo Medaglia D’Oro colt seems to have slipped off-form, finishing well up the track in his last pair. Before that, though, he had a couple of stakes wins including a Grade 1. Can he regain his form at 7/1? You guess is as good as mine…
FUTURE DREAM is the 4/1 favorite despite a decisive loss to GALILAYO last time out. The #6-ranked kevoman2 trainee has an excellent rider aboard as this veteran looks to turn the tables. The consistent 5yo son of A. P. Indy has a trio of Graded wins to his credit and looks dangerous here.
In this tough-to-handicap race, a case can be made for as many as 10 to 12 of these… Here are three guesses.
LIGHT OF HEAVEN seems to be on the best roll here… Will be flying late.
DYLAN TOM N JERRY has top rider and loves the distance.
SADLER ROCK should have enough in the tank to grab the show dough.
Make sure to watch this one… 4666.5014… Good luck all!