By Alan Carasso
Danon Co. Ltd.'s Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) makes a much-awaited 6-year-old debut in Sunday's G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo Racecourse, as he goes in search of a top-level victory on home soil.
The son of Spinning Wildcat (Hard Spun), whose sire won this event back in 2013 for trainer Takayuki Yasuda, was only 10th behind the promoted Mozu Superflare (Speightstown) in last year's yielding-turf renewal, but would go on to win a pair of races at group level before finishing second to the outstanding Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Sprinters' S. in October. No better than a 21-1 chance to follow in his sire's hoofprints in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, Danon Smash was given an outstanding ride by Ryan Moore from a double-digit gate and came home a half-length winner. His return to action could be thwarted by Mother Nature, however.
“The weather is what concerns me,” Yasuda admitted. “He's in very good shape. The older he gets the stronger he gets. The weather forecast calls for rain over the weekend and I don't think that will be a help. It's supposed to be good through Saturday though, so I'm hoping there won't be enough rain to make the track any heavier than slightly heavy.”
Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), champion of her generation in 2019, was second to Filly Triple Crown winner Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the 2020 G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and was runner-up to Lauda Sion (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) facing the boys in the G1 NHK Mile Cup. She made a smashing seasonal debut in the Feb. 28 G3 Hankyu Hai, defeating Mikki Brillante (Jpn) (Deep Brillante {Jpn}) by two lengths while running the 1400 metres in a slick 1:19.20. She tries six furlongs for the first time Sunday.
Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) is a two-time Group 1-winning miler, but has made his two most recent appearances over the metric seven furlongs, finishing third to the mares Danon Fantasy (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Maltese Diosa (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the G2 Hanshin Cup in late December ahead of a fourth behind Resistencia last time. The trip is also a question mark for him.
Mozu Superflare, who makes her third straight appearance in this race, crossed the line a nose second in 2020, only to be awarded the race by the stewards. A low-odds 10th in the Sprinters' S., she faded to finish last but one in the G3 Silk Road S. Jan. 31, but should lead them a long way from gate four this weekend.
WATCH: Danon Sprint overcomes a bad gate to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint
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