Dry Stout takes on Ice Giant in Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun

Ice Giant, 2-for-2 at about 1 1/8 miles, shortens up to a metric mile in this spot. Forwardly placed when scoring first up at Chukyo, the son of Dunkirk rolled from farther back to topple favored Nudge in the Nov. 3 JBC Nisai Yushun at Monbetsu. Runner-up Nudge had won three in a row, giving the form a solid look.  

Dry Stout ranks as the clear early favorite, however, as he tries stakes company for the first time. The Sinister Minister colt captured a Chukyo newcomers’ race, then moved forward to romp by five lengths at Tokyo. His time for the about seven-furlong allowance was a strong 1:23.4 over that track, and he keeps Keita Tosaki in the saddle. 

Sekifu brings a three-race winning streak. By Henny Hughes, sire of 2020 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun hero Alain Barows, and a half-brother to Grade 1-winning sprinter Big Arthur, Sekifu won twice at Hanshin before passing his first stakes test in the Nov. 25 Hyogo Junior Grand Prix. Bravely splitting foes in the stretch that day, he edged the wide-rallying Combustion by a neck. Mirco Demuro will be back aboard as Sekifu breaks from the rail.

Godolphin’s homebred Combustion had won both of his starts before just missing in the Hyogo Junior Grand Prix. The son of Discreet Cat dominated a newcomers’ event at Tokyo and rallied to take a Chukyo allowance. Now he gets a rider switch to Kohei Matsuyama. 

Also renewing rivalry from the Hyogo Junior Grand Prix are the respective third and fourth, early stalker Praelude and pacesetter Bow Chaser. Both would need to step up markedly here.

Like Ice Giant, Dry Stout, Sekifu, and Combustion, the filly Kaikano Kiseki belongs to the elite Japan Racing Association. The Carrot Farm colorbearer makes her dirt debut while stretching out to two turns. Runner-up in the July 17 Hakodate Nisai (G3), she resumed Nov. 14 with a fifth as the favorite in a Fukushima turf sprint. Cristian Demuro picks up the mount. 

The other contenders are all affiliated with their local racing jurisdictions. Noblesse Noah sports a 5-for-6 career mark. His only loss is a third, over this track, to S’il Te Plait, who is himself 4-for-5. Noblesse Noah has since bounced back at Oi Nov. 17. Ryan, a son of Deep Impact, is likewise nearly perfect at 4-for-5, with his sole reverse coming here. 

Nine Viper has raced exclusively at Kawasaki, winning twice and placing twice from five starts. Marine Sky is 4-for-4 at his home base of Kochi, but faces far stiffer competition in this spot. Moriden Black, most recently third at Morioka, looks up against it at this level.  

The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun offers points on a 20-8-4-2 scale to the top four finishers. Current Japan Road leader Consigliere earned 10 points for winning the Nov. 27 Cattleya S., so we’ll have a new topper on Wednesday.