Japanese racing to the fore in Sunday’s Group 1 Derby
There has been plenty of international racing over the past few weeks, in particular the Group 1 Preakness Stakes in America and the Group 1 Champions and Charter Cup last Sunday in Hong Kong, but why are Australian punters being kept out of the lucrative Japanese market?
The casual Australian punter loves betting on the Asian product we are given each week – typically coming out of Hong Kong and Singapore, and we see no reason as to why the Japanese market is being held at arms length.
The only time we get a glimpse of Japanese racing is when they have a feature group one on the card, like this Sunday when the Group 1 Japanese Derby takes place. It is the second leg of the prestigious Japanese Triple Crown and it deserves more attention that it is currently getting.
We are seeing more and more Japanese-trained runners come over to Melbourne for the Melbourne spring carnival and to Randwick for The Championships, so it would be nice for punters to get more opportunity to see these horses in action before they come over to race in our biggest races.
The Japanese entrants in races such as the Melbourne Cup have had so much success, we can’t quite believe that the Japanese market hasn’t been more heavily exposed. There are 100,000 patrons expected to be on course this Sunday at the Tokyo Racecourse which rivals most of the major Australian race meetings and the quality of thoroughbred is much better than we’re currently seeing in Singapore.
The product out of Singapore each week is generally poor and the form of even the top horses struggles to hold up on the international stage. Some of the quickest Singapore-based horses have tried their hand in Hong Kong and Australia, usually for moderate or little success, but the same can’t be said for the Japanese middle distance and stayers which have an excellent record in Australia and Hong Kong.
Admire Rakti was considered the eighth best stayer in Japan when it won the 2015 Caulfield Cup and we haven’t yet mentioned Delta Blues which won the 2006 Melbourne Cup ahead of fellow Japanese raider Pop Rock. The only major win Delta Blues had next to its name before coming to Australia was a win in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), which is subsequently the third leg of the Triple Crown.
We’re not completely one-eyed when it comes to bookmakers and broadcasters providing more Japanese racing. There is no current deal that prohibits commingling pools on Japanese racing which means Australian punters are betting into small pools. The current commingling deal is with Hong Kong and Singapore, but the push for more Japanese exposure is needed and the quicker it happens, the quicker Australian punters will become aware of not only Japanese racing in general, but which horses will come over for the big carnivals.
One race that punters can have a bet on is the Group 1 Japanese Derby this Sunday at 4:40pm and Bet365.com.au already have a market available. We also expect both Crownbet and Sportsbet to open Japanese Derby markets later in the week.
2016 Group 1 Japanese Derby preview and tips
Makahiki – $4.00 at Bet365.com.au
Dee Majesty – $5.00
Satona Diamond – $5.00
Black Spinel – $9.00
Azur Rose – $11
Leontes – $11
Agnes Forte – $11
Prodigal Son – $11
Air Spinel – $15
Leukerbad – $15
Meiner Rafflesia – $21
Immortal – $21
Rainbow Line – $21
Lord Quest – $26
Mount Robson – $26
Brave Smash – $31
Shadow Approach – $41
Meiner Honey – $51
George Cinq – $81
Prophet – $101
The Japanese Derby is the most popular race in Japan due to the Triple Crown which punters and racing fans love to witness.
The three-year-olds get a chance to make history each year and with the Guineas being run and won by Dee Majesty, it’s the horse on everyone’s lips heading into the Derby.
Bookmakers are thinking a little differently, however, and have the Guineas winner as the second favourite behind Makahiki at $5. The colt by Deep Impact finished second in the Guineas after sustaining a long run around the Nakayama track and the loss was the first of its career to date.
It ran its last 600m in the quickest time of the 18-horse field which bodes well for the Derby and Makahiki’s trainer is very confident of turning the tables on Dee Majesty.
“His responses were good in the workout and his breathing was good too,” trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said. “He has a good appetite as well.
“Like for his last start, we’ll just breeze him up the hill this week. He always looks good when asked to move out in a race and I think this is his best distance.”
Makahiki looks the one to beat over the 2400m and the $4 available at Bet365.com.au is good shopping.
Dee Majesty deserves respect on its Guineas win and it’s also by Triple Crown champion Deep Impact. Bookmakers have it safe at $5 on the second line of betting, which is short considering it was the unpopular eighth pick to win the Guineas, but the win captured everyone’s attention.
It has had five starts for three wins and two second placings and it broke the Guineas record time in 1:57.9 which was 0.1 seconds faster than Logotype went in 2013. Its trainer believes the change of scenery won’t worry it and they have been looking for more distance which should give punters plenty of confidence.
“He looked good [in track work], both in his running and the way he changed leads nicely. He’s suited to the Tokyo course and the extra distance is welcome, so I’m looking forward to the race,” trainer Yoshitaka Ninomiya said.
On the same line at $5 is Santono Diamond. Prior to its Guineas failure, it had never been beaten as the favourite and it had never won by less than 2.5 lengths. It looked unsettled in the parade ring, but international rider Christophe Lemaire was confident coming around the home turn.
Its downfall came because it had no cover into a gale headwind, whereas Makahiki and Dee Majesty both came wide with cover. Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee says it didn’t have the best of luck and a change of riding tactics is in order for the upcoming Derby.
“He’s a big horse, with long legs so he can’t take small steps easily and is less agile. The interference in the stretch hurt,” Ikee said. “More importantly, horses on or near the lead were holding their ground for many of the races that day and so I’d given instructions to stay fore of midfield.
“Things didn’t work out as expected for us.
“The Tokyo 2400m is a race that’s very hard to predict, but this horse has good racing sense so I think he’ll be able to handle it.”
Makahihi looks the best bet at $4 with Bet365 and that price will likely drop throughout the week. Get involved with Japanese racing and tune in for what will be a great atmosphere come Japanese Derby time.