Asahi Hai Futurity Continues Japan's 2-Year-Old Run

The parade of Japan's top 2-year-olds rolls on with a very competitive renewal of the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1T) Dec. 21 at Hanshin Racecourse. The Futurity follows by a week the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1T), won by Star Anise (JPN). Last up is the Hopeful Stakes (G1T) Dec. 27 at Nakayama Racecourse. The 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) Hopeful normally is the destination of choice for 2-year-olds being primed for the following season's classics. The Futurity, at 1,600 meters (about 1 mile), is more for colts and fillies whose options may be constrained by distance limits. The 2023 winner, Jantar Mantar (JPN), went on to win the 2024 NHK Mile Cup (G1T) at Tokyo Racecourse and this year's Yasuda Kinen (G1T) and Mile Championship (G1T). On the flip side, Do Deuce (JPN) parlayed a 2021 Futurity victory into a quite satisfactory career going longer, winning the 2022 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1T) and 2024 Japan Cup (G1T), both at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles), and the 2023 Arima Kinen (G1T) at 2,500 meters (1 9/16 miles). This year's field looks competitive with many of the runners exiting various graded races for 2-year-olds at Tokyo, Kyoto, and Niigata in the past few months. Admire Quads (JPN), an undefeated Real Steel (JPN) colt trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, won on debut at Tokyo going 1 mile in October. He followed that by winning the Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (G2T), at the same distance, in record time at Kyoto in November. Cavallerizzo (JPN), second by just a head in the Daily Hai, returns, too. "The jockey (Ryusei Sakai) has been working him on the woodchip course and thinks the horse's footwork has improved," Tomomichi said. "He's easy to switch on and off and there doesn't seem to be any bad points with him." Also 2-for-2, Realize Sirius (JPN) reprised his maiden win in June with a victory in the Niigata Nisai Stakes (G3T) in August. Both wins were at 1 mile and were visually impressive. Jockey Akihide Tsumura, who was aboard for both, keeps the mount. "He's better now for a recent piece of work," Tsumura said, "and is more relaxed now. He has a nice, big stride. One thing will be how he handles the gate to get into a good rhythm." Another colt undefeated after two starts, Ecoro Alba (JPN), scored in his first start at Niigata in July, going 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs), then won the 1-mile Saudi Arabia Royal Cup (G3T) in October at Tokyo—often a key prep for the Futurity. The Mozu Ascot colt is a hot closer with an impressive turn of foot. "He's moving well," trainer Yasuhito Tamura said. "And his reactions are better now than at the time of the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup. It'll be interesting to watch him run in this next race." Among the others, Diamond Knot (JPN), by Bricks and Mortar, comes off a win in the Keio Hai Nisai Stakes (G2T) at 1,400 meters at Tokyo Racecourse. Christophe Lemaire rides. And Florent Geroux, still looking for the first win on his short-term license in Japan, takes the leg up on Tagano Aralia (JPN), a likely long shot. There are two fillies in the 14-horse field—White Orchid (JPN), by Kizuna (JPN), and Cosmo Red (JPN), a daughter of California Chrome. Both won their only previous start. The course presents a particular challenge for any runner with stamina questions, as it features rising ground in the final 100 meters before the finish.