Though three Japanese-trained 3-year-olds traveled to Saudi Arabia to compete Feb. 22 in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3), a cast of 10 promising 3-year-olds remained behind in Japan to contest the Feb. 23 Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse.
The 1,600-meter (about one mile) Hyacinth, the third of four races on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, drew some of the top Japanese 3-year-olds recently nominated to the American Triple Crown. Among these are Luxor Cafe and Taisei Dorado, colts by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah .
The more seasoned is Luxor Cafe, who, after losing his initial two starts, captured a pair of races topped by a 1 1/8-mile allowance Jan. 11 at Nakayama by five lengths under Rachel King. Noriyuki Hori trains the Koichi Nishikawa-owned colt, a full brother to 2020 Hyacinth winner Cafe Pharoah, a multiple grade 1 winner in Japan. Luxor Cafe is also half brother to Regal Glory, the champion North American turf female of 2022.
Taisei Dorado whipped maidens by 9 1/2 lengths in his lone start Dec. 22 at Kyoto under confident handling from Atsuya Nishimura. The Seiho Tanaka-owned colt, trained by Haruki Sugiyama, is out of the grade 1-placed Medaglia d'Oro mare Miss Besilu, a half sister to 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam.
The Hyacinth Stakes is worth points on a scale of 30-15-9-6-3 to the top five finishers as part of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series. Its winner will vault to the top of the current standings.
