Niigata hosts the G3 Leopard S. Sunday, with U. Carrot Farm's Epicharis (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) making his first start since an aborted attempt at the GI Belmont S. One of 15 sophomores to take part in the 1800-metre dirt contest, the Kiyoshi Hagiwara trainee won his first four trips to the post in his native land, including the Listed Hyacinth S. at Tokyo in February. A gritty second to GI MG1SW and subsequent GI Kentucky Derby starter Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in the G2 UAE Derby at Meydan Mar. 25, Epicharis was scratched out of the June 10 GI Belmont S. the morning of the race with lameness in his right foreleg after failing to pass a mandatory pre-race vet inspection. Returned to Japan, the dark bay is the $1.60 favourite in this latest career appearance.
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