Trainer Hideyuki Takaoka is using Sunday’s mile race as a guide to Jupiter Gold’s campaign towards the Group 1 Singapore Guineas in May.
The Congrats three-year-old will be at his first test over 1600m in the $80,000 Class 3 race. While his first wins as an exciting two-year-old had been over pure sprinting distances 1000m and 1100m, his Japanese handler had always predicted a future over more ground.
Jupiter Gold scored a slashing win over 1400m in a Class 3 race on January 1, as usual coming from near last to account for his rivals.
From the way he raced away from the field halfway up the straight, the mile and even beyond should suit him down to the ground, but Takaoka remained prudent.
Jupiter Gold is ready to step up to the next level at Kranji.
“He is running over 1600m for the first time. Win or lose, it will give me a good idea how he will run in the Guineas,” said Takaoka.
“I have always thought he would be better over more ground, and looking at the way he wins, the 1600m should not be a problem.
“But he is carrying the topweight of 57.5kgs this time and giving weight all round, while he had only 53.5kgs at his last win, which was also in a Class 3 race.”
Takaoka said the Japanese-owned gelding has thrived since his last win, but he remained respectful of the opposition he will be pitted against on the second day of the Chinese New Year.
“I would say the company this Sunday is stronger. Desmond Koh’s horse Battle Of Troy is a nice horse and I’m also worried by the bottomweights, Elite Beast (52kgs) and Lim’s Elusive (50kgs),” he said.
“But he has trained on since his last win and if he brings his A-game, he should run a good race.”
Takaoka has not quite mapped out Jupiter Gold’s next race in the wake of this Sunday’s assignment, but as far as the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge goes, he is inclined to be heading more towards the longer Legs at this stage.
“I don’t think he has that early speed anymore. I may skip the first Leg (Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint over 1200m),” he said.
“I think he may struggle to keep up with the speed in a 1200m race. I would rather go straight to the second Leg (Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m) and the Guineas which is his main goal.
“I haven’t decided anything yet. I will have to speak to his owner Mr Kaz Hosaka first, but that is the way I’m leaning at the moment.”
Takaoka has again booked Alan Munro for the ride on his talented ridgling this Sunday which will incidentally see the unveiling of a new Japanese mare as well as new connections, Dance In The Wind in the $60,000 Open Benchmark 67 race over 1400m.
“It’s a new owner from Japan, the Galahad Racing Stable. That’s the first runner to run for us this Sunday,” said Takaoka.
“She is five years old and was not a bad mare back in Japan. She won three times between 1400m and 1600m on the dirt on the NAR (National Association of Racing) circuit, but she also raced nine times on the JRA (Japan Racing Association) circuit for two seconds and three fourths.
“The JRA circuit is tougher, but I have to say she was seldom beaten by big margins there. I saw some of her videos and she is a frontrunner with gate speed.
“Besides, at her barrier trial (January 19) here, she led all the way. But I think she may need the run at her debut.
“The owner sent me another horse, Hero In The Wind, but he is unraced and needs more education before he can have his first run here.
“They’re both by Screen Hero who is the sire of Japanese champion horse Maurice. I already have a Screen Hero, Golazo, but he’s no Maurice, and I think neither are these two.
“But I would be happy to see them do well for their new owners here.”
