By Heather Anderson
Fresh off his Arma Veloce (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB})'s tally in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last Sunday, owner Teruo Ono has a chance to bag a Japanese juvenile Group 1 double with the undefeated Arte Veloce (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Kyoto on Nov. 15.
A winner at Sapporo in July and again in Tokyo's G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup besting Taisei Current (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) on Oct. 5, the colt carries the mantle of ante-post favourite. Japanese legend Yutaka Take will be perched in the irons. with the duo leaving from stall eight.
Take said, “He's moving well and seems stronger than before. The distance of a mile really seems to suit him.”
Another horse who has yet to taste defeat, Total Clarity (Jpn) already boasts a score over course and distance when unveiled in June. Kept at the same trip when switched to Niigata, the son of Bago (Fr) won the G3 Niigata Nisai Stakes on Aug. 25.
Fifth in the markets before Sunday is Panja Tower (Jpn) (Tower Of London {Jpn}). The undefeated G2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes hero will be trying the mile distance for the first time, after putting his stamp on a newcomers' affair at Chukyo in September. The Keio Hai Nisai Stakes was accomplished over good ground on Nov. 2, with the re-opposing G3 Kokura Nisai Stakes victor A Shin Wand (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) back in eighth.
Trainer Shinsuke Hashiguchi said, “He's been as expected in his recent work. He's chased down his training partners well, and there's no change with the way he's moving. The jockey thinks a mile will suit him, and that he could have done even better in his last race if the ground had been better.”
Another entry with two wins is Museum Mile (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}). The son of the listed-placed Museum Hill (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) was third on debut, before taking Kyoto contests over 1800 metres in October and stepped up to 2000 metres on Nov. 10.
“He looked a little heavy in his first piece of work since returning, but that was the same last time, and as he picks up in training, he doesn't seem heavy after being back for a while now,” said trainer Daisuke Takayanagi.
Nitamonodoshi (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}) won over six furlongs on debut at Fukushima in June, and set a new record of 1:28.60 at Sapporo in the 1500-metre Clover Sho when last seen on Aug. 18. Arlecchino (Jpn) (Bricks And Mortar), a winning half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Cervinia (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), will leave from gate six in the 16-horse field. He ran fifth to Arte Veloce on rain-soaked ground in October.
The second and third from the G2 Daiy Hai Nisai Stakes are also signed on in Dragon Boost (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) and Daishin Ra (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}).
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