By Alan Carasso
Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), in the eyes of most the two premier older dirt horses in Japan, are set to face each other for the fourth time in Wednesday's ¥68 million ($473,620) Listed Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi Racecourse located about 20 miles east of Central Tokyo.
Ushba Tesoro is the defending champion in the 1800-meter contest, having scored by a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths (video) before running on fairly to finish fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita about 5 1/2 weeks later. Since then, the bay has added a second consecutive victory in the G1 Tokyo Daishoten, a head second to Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) after looking home in the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 24 and a latest distant runner-up effort behind Laurel River (Into Mischief) in defense of the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Mar. 30. Yuga Kawada climbs back aboard from post four Wednesday.
WATCH: Ushba Tesoro winning the 2023 Nippon TV Hai
Derma Sotogake was forced to miss a critical Breeders' Cup Classic prep last year, but turned in a brilliant effort off a six-month layoff to be a close second to White Abarrio (Race Day). A first-up fifth, beaten just 2 1/2 lengths in the Saudi Cup, the chestnut was a soundly defeated sixth in Dubai. Christophe Lemaire, who guided Derma Sotogake to his G2 UAE Derby success and in last year's Classic, has the riding assignment once again on Wednesday from the seven hole.
The Nippon TV Hai goes as race 11 of a 12-race program Wednesday, with post time set for 8:05 p.m. local time (7:05 a.m. ET). Click here for the full field.
ドバイワールドカップ前日、ウシュバテソーロとデルマソトガケが一緒に馬場へ出ていきました。 pic.twitter.com/hVUJL1gpYw
— Toshi Onikubo 鬼窪峻大 (@toshionikubo) March 29, 2024
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