Japan Road: 14 contenders set for Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun

A total of 14 juveniles entered the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. Five are affiliated with the marquee Japan Racing Association (JRA) – Derma Sotogake, Perriere, Omatsuri Otoko, the filly Maruka Rapid, and Copano Hampton. 

Although none participated in the Japan Road opener, the Cattleya S., there is a form tie-in. Derma Sotogake edged Continuar, the next-out winner of the Cattleya, in a Nov. 6 Hanshin allowance. From the first crop of Mind Your Biscuits, Derma Sotogake has improved since switching from turf to dirt and stepping up in distance to about 1 1/8 miles. He shortens up to a metric mile here. 

Perriere is undefeated in two starts, each by a daylight 3 1/2-length margin. The son of Henny Hughes captured an Aug. 27 newcomers’ race at Sapporo and a Nov. 12 allowance at Tokyo. This trip, lying in between his about 1 1/16-mile debut and about seven-furlong follow-up, should be right in the wheelhouse. Perriere comes from the same female line as the first Japanese-based Kentucky Derby (G1) runner, Ski Captain, who finished 14th behind Thunder Gulch in 1995.

Omatsuri Otoko, a perfect 3-for-3 on dirt, comes off a four-length victory in the Nov. 24 Hyogo Junior Grand Prix at Sonoda. His only loss was a third in the July 16 Hakodate Nisai (G3) on turf. By the Medaglia d’Oro stallion Vittorio d’Oro, he romped on debut at Hakodate and added a Chukyo allowance before his stakes breakthrough.

Two of his Hyogo Junior Grand Prix rivals re-oppose him – Special X and Maruka Rapid, the respective second and fourth at Sonoda. The speedy Special X started his career with a three-race winning spree at Mombetsu, then finished runner-up here at Kawasaki to the streaking Hero Call. Maruka Rapid, a Mind Your Biscuits filly, previously won a Chukyo maiden and the Edelweiss Sho at Mombetsu, both at about six furlongs.

Copano Hampton, by 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) champion Shanghai Bobby, romped in his third try Oct. 10 at a sloppy Hanshin. In an allowance at the same venue and about seven-furlong trip, but on a fast track, Copano Hampton was second as the favorite. 

Hero Call could be the best of the contenders competing on the lesser National Association of Racing (NAR) circuit. A nose away from being unbeaten in six starts, the son of Japanese dirt champion Hokko Tarumae has won four straight at Kawasaki. 

Real Me, another by a champion dirt horse in Transcend, won his first two at Mombetsu before a late-running third in the JBC Nisai Yushun. Oh My Goodness, fourth in the JBC Nisai Yushun, has also been a consistent performer at Mombetsu.

Haseno Gold improved his mark to 3-for-3 with a victory at this track and trip Nov. 9. Bultaoleune has won two of five, most recently scoring at Funabashi. Neo Ciel, by multiple U.S. Grade 1 star Came Home, has won three of seven.

Nishiken Bob is the most experienced entrant with 10 starts under his belt, all at Mombetsu. He’s won four and placed in five, never finishing worse than fourth. Kawasaki-based Comprador took four tries to break his maiden. Beaten twice since, he’s checked in fifth behind Hero Call and third to Haseno Gold.