In the midst of a hot streak for Japanese-bred runners in Britain, 2017 G1 Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is gearing up for a second British start of the summer in the G1 Juddmonte International at York on Aug. 21.
The 7-year-old entire kicked off 2019 with a second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Mar. 30, after which he was beaten 13 lengths by Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. on July 27, an effort assistant trainer Yusuke Oe attributed to the soft going.
“Cheval Grand is in very good form,” Oe said. “He's training towards York and we're trying to get him better than last time. The ground was too soft for him in the King George. It was very unfortunate that it kept raining from the night before until the afternoon of the race and it was too slippy for him. He is a horse who prefers firm ground.
“He will have another few gallops before York. He was fit in the King George, but he was beaten by two very brilliant horses in Enable and Crystal Ocean. Last month I visited York myself to see the racecourse and meet with the clerk of the course, William Derby. It felt like a racecourse with a good atmosphere.”
Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) became just the second-ever Japanese-bred winner of a British Group 1 when taking the Nassau S. at Goodwood last week, and assistant trainer Yoshi Hashida reiterated on Wednesday that while the G1 Irish Champion S. on Sept. 14 is under consideration, a final decision has not yet been made. “No firm decision has been made yet,” he said. “The Irish Champion S. is one of the races we are considering for Deirdre and we will make a decision later this week.”
The Japanese brigade suffered a blow on Wednesday when it was revealed that this year's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Roger Barows (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who had been targeting the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, has been retired due to tendonitis. Roger Barows will no doubt have high hopes pinned on him to be the heir of his late great sire Deep Impact, especially considering he comes from the female family of his sire's highest earner Gentildonna (Jpn). Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii told Racing Post, “After a discussion with the owner we have decided he will be retired and sent to stud. His pedigree is very valuable because of his sire Deep Impact's death. It was good for him that he could win the Japanese Derby.”
Still under consideration for the Arc are Japanese-breds Blast Onepiece (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), Deirdre, Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}).
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