The final Group 1 on the Japanese racing calendar and the lone international contest offered by the NAR circuit instead of the Japan Racing Association, the G1 Tokyo Daishoten will be held at Ohi Racecourse Tuesday afternoon. Two-time defending champion Hokko Tarumae (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) kicked off his 2015 season with a win in the Kawasaki Kinen to start off his year Jan. 28, but could do no better than fifth in the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Mar. 28. He bounced back with a victory in the Teio Sho over track and trip June 24, but ran third in the JBC Classic Nov. 3 to the reopposing G1 February S. hero Copano Rickey (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}), who ran second in the 2014 Tokyo Daishoten. Sound True (Jpn) (French Deputy) was runner-up with Happy Sprint (Jpn) (Ammirare {Jpn}) back in fifth place. The dark bay was fifth in defense of his title in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Dec. 6 and will have to return to his best form to find success for a third time Tuesday.
“We pushed him hard in fast work on Dec. 25 and I'm expecting him to go to the gate in top shape,” said trainer Katsuichi Nishiura.
Sound True owns a win over Copano Rickey in October's Nippon TV Hai, with that rival back in third, going 1800 meters at Funabashi and breaks from stall five.
“He came out of that race [JBC Classic] well and has maintained good condition,” said trainer Noboru Takagi.
The 2014 Tokyo Derby winner Happy Sprint (Jpn) (Ammirare {Jpn}) fourth in last year's Daishoten, adds some local flavor to the mix, but faces a tall order, as the Urawa Kinen was his lone victory from seven starts in 2015.
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