Race favorite Time Flyer claimed the newly upgraded G1 Hopeful Stakes this year and improved his record to three wins and two seconds in five career starts. After debuting in August, the Heart’s Cry colt marked two consecutive wins, the latter in the open-class Hagi Stakes, and is coming off a runner-up effort in the G3 Kyoto Nisai Stakes. Trainer Kunihide Matsuda marked his 14th JRA-G1 win, his first since claiming the Japan Cup Dirt with Belshazzar in 2013, while jockey Cristian Demuro, who is racing under a short-term license since October and has rode Time Flyer in his last two starts, celebrates his second JRA-G1 victory since claiming the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) with Ayusan in 2013.
After a modest break, Time Flyer was off slow making the first two turns near the rear while Trine, Sans Rival and Jun Valerot fought up front for the lead. The bay colt steadily made progress chasing Stay Foolish rounding the third corner and then drifting to the outside of Gendarme at the top of the lane for a clear path. Unleashing a spectacular fastest stretch drive, Time Flyer quickly pinned Gendarme and the tiring Sans Rival at the furlong marker and although encountered a stubborn rally by Gendarme, finally shook off the runner-up in the last 50 meters for a 1-1/4-length victory.
“Today we went very fast so I waited a little bit because I tried to stay behind. I had confidence that he could catch the front but we were tight and couldn’t find the space, so I followed Yutaka (Take) who was in front of me and after we went out, he was just a very good horse. He will improve for the classics because he’s still young and has a good turn of foot, and I think the distance will not be a problem,” commented jockey Cristian Demuro after the race.
Fourth favorite Gendarme took a wide trip in mid-division after breaking from stall 15 and while the front runner was running out of steam on the rails, the colt was tagged 200 meters out after making a wide turn into the straight, and in spite of a tenacious pursuit, succumbed to the speed of the eventual winner to finish second.
Sent off eighth favorite in a field of 17, Stay Foolish traveled two wide in lower mid-pack right behind Gendarme and in front of Time Flyer. Following the runner-up at the last corner, the Stay Gold colt chased the battling leaders down the straight with a good turn of foot and closed well threatening Gendarme in the final strides but was a neck short for third.
Other Horses:
4th: (9) Sans Rival―pressed pace in 2nd, took lead at early stretch, outrun by top 3 finishers in last 100m
5th: (17) Nasuno Symphony―broke poorly, ran 2nd from rear, showed belated charge at stretch
6th: (10) Lucas―traveled 3-wide in mid-group, accelerated briefly at early stretch, even paced in last 200m
7th: (6) My Heartbeat―took economic trip in mid-division, turned wide, passed tired rivals at stretch
8th: (3) Water Parfait―sat near pace in 4th, ran gamely until 200m out, failed to sustain bid
9th: (4) Lord Axis―settled in mid-pack, showed brief response, weakened in last 200m
10th: (16) Shaft of Light―raced 3-wide towards rear, unable to reach contention
11th: (1) Lune Rouge―hugged rails in mid-group, turned wide, lacked needed kick at stretch
12th: (8) Charlemagne―sat in 6th, showed little at stretch
13th: (11) Flatley―traveled in mid-division, driven after 3rd corner, failed to respond
14th: (12) Jun Valerot―chased leaders in 3rd, led at 3rd corner, ran out of steam at early stretch
15th: (2) Tosen Krieger―stalked leaders in 5th, fell back after 3rd corner, faded
16th: (14) Work and Love―trailed in far rear, no factor
Fail to Finish: (5) Trine―set pace, weakened before 3rd corner, pulled up before wire
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