By Alan Carasso
Sunday's fourth race at Tokyo, a 1400m turf maiden, has attracted a full field of 18, including a trio of Southern Hemisphere-bred 2-year-olds, who will receive a weight and/or sex concession from their Japanese-bred counterparts.
Flora de Mariposa (Aus) (Frankel {GB}) will look to become the third Japanese-based winner for her wildly successful young sire, who has already been represented by champion and G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies victress Soul Stirring (Jpn) as well as 'TDN Rising Star' Mi Suerte (Jpn), a Group 3 winner last year at two.
An August foal, Flora de Mariposa was bred in New South Wales by Cressfield, who sold the daughter of New Zealand Group 2 winner Jeu de Cartes (NZ) (Stravinsky) to Kazumi Yoshida for A$750,000 at the 2017 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. The filly's second dam, Prized Gem (NZ) (Prized), won the G1 Brisbane Cup in Australia and the G1 Capital S. at home en route to being named champion older mare in New Zealand. She has since gone on to produce champion Kiwi stayer and current Jindera Park sire Nom de Jeu (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}).
Flora de Mariposa drew awkwardly in gate 16 and will be ridden by leading jockey Keita Tosaki for trainer Noriyuki Hori. She is the 3-2 favorite in overnight wagering.
Strawberry Hill-bred Partout (Aus) (More Than Ready) makes her second trip to the races Sunday, having finished fourth on her Jan. 21 debut in a 1200m test on dirt at Nakayama. Purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for A$350,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the daughter of Aussie Group 3 winner Sugar Babe (NZ) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) should appreciate the switch to turf for this try. She is trading at 13-1 ante-post.
Cosmo Peridot (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) is the most experienced of the trio as he makes his third trip to post Sunday. Bred by Chouxmaani Investments, the NZ$210,000 graduate of the 2016 NZB Select Yearling Sale was a close fourth on Chukyo debut Jan. 22 before a midpack finish at Tokyo when last seen Feb. 11.
Race four on the Tokyo program jumps at 12:40 p.m. AEST.
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