FEBRUARY STAKES 2017 - Gold Dream Conquers Heavy Contest in This Year's February Stakes|Racing News|Japan Horse Racing Tips-Umanity.jp

Second favorite Gold Dream captured the February Stakes title this year and demonstrated his aptitude and liking for the Tokyo dirt mile course as he marked his third victory out of four, which includes his first grade-race triumph in the G3 Unicorn Stakes last June. The Gold Allure colt was entered off a disappointing 12th in the December Champions Cup after being sent off second favorite, but displayed a sound and convincing performance this time scoring his first G1 win as if paying tribute to his sire who passed away the previous day. This is the second JRA-G1 win for trainer Osamu Hirata who claimed his first with Curren Black Hill in the 2012 NHK Mile Cup, while jockey Mirco Demuro notched his 19th JRA-G1 victory, his latest with Queens Ring in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup last season, and celebrates his second February Stakes title since his victory last year on board Moanin.

Gold Dream broke fairly from stall three and was reserved in mid-division behind Best Warrior down the backstretch as Incantation headed the full field of 16 runners. As the bunched-up field fanned out rounding the final corner to secure room for their stretch-run, the Gold Allure colt also floated out wide entering the lane in seventh to eighth but galloped confidently picking off his tiring rivals one by one, finally pinning the brief leader Nishiken Mononofu before the furlong pole, and held off a fast closing Best Warrior by a neck for the title.

“In the Champions Cup, he broke poorly and was keen—he didn’t stretch at all. But today he was relaxed even after entering the track. His start was good, he was positioned well and responded beautifully in the straight. He still had a lot left at the end,” commented Mirco Demuro.

Best Warrior, sent off fifth favorite, was also reserved in mid-pack but took an inner route making the final turns and was blocked behind horses in early stretch. However, the patient seven-year-old found a gap chasing Nishiken Mononofu who pulled away in front of him two furlongs out, and unleashed a strong late run to threaten the winner for a neck second.


Off slow as usual, race favorite Kafuji Take sat unhurried near the rear and was last to enter the stretch but had no trouble finding his stride as he blew past the field clocking the fastest last three-furlong drive to finish 3/4 length from Best Warrior for third.