NEWS
Champion Dream Journey best in Takarazuka Kinen
Posted: Sunday, June 28, 2009 2:40 PM
DREAM JOURNEY TAKES COMMAND IN TAKARAZUKA KINEN
Masakazu Takahashi photo
by Mike Curry
Champion Dream Journey signaled he is back in top form on Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse with a convincing 1 3/4-length score in the $2,950,833 Takarazuka Kinen (Jpn-G1), Japan’s spring championship and season finale.
Dream Journey, Japan’s champion two-year-old male in 2006, closed from off the pace with a powerful turn of foot under Kenichi Ikezoe and took charge inside the final 200 meters. The five-year-old Stay Gold horse was able to maintain his closing speed and shook free to post his first win at the highest level since 2006. He completed 2,200 meters (10.94 furlongs) on firm turf in 2:11.30, just a shade off the stakes record of 2:11.10 set by Tap Dance City in 2004.
“[Dream Journey] won the big title as a two-year-old, and I knew how hard everyone at the stable had worked on him since to try and give him one more shot at a Grade 1 title,” Ikezoe said. “I want to thank everyone who supported me and the horse throughout.”
Dream Journey also reaffirmed his affinity for the turf course at Hanshin, where he has recorded four of his six career stakes wins. Out of the winning Mejiro McQueen mare Oriental Art, he improved to eight wins in 21 career starts for trainer Yasutoshi Ikee and owner Sunday Racing Co.
“After winning the Grade 1 as a two-year-old, I kept saying that he was not maturing early and that he wasn’t done just yet,” Ikee said. “He will continue to grow. In the fall, we will aim for the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (Jpn-G1) and hope to travel to Hong Kong at year’s end.”
The Takarazuka Kinen lost some star power when the connections of reigning Horse of the Year Vodka opted to bypass the race.
Champion Deep Sky, winner of the 2008 Tokyo Yoshun (Japanese Derby), was sent off as the 8-to-5 favorite off a runner-up finish to Vodka in the Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-G1) on June 7 at Tokyo Racecourse. Dream Journey, who defeated Deep Sky by a neck on April 5 at Hanshin in the Sankei Osaka Hai (Jpn-G2), was sent off at 7.10-to-1 odds.
Cosmo Bulk set an uncontested pace with champion Screen Hero more than five lengths back in second, while Deep Sky and Dream Journey were reserved near the back of the 14-horse field. Screen Hero and Sakura Mega Wonder overhauled fading Cosmo Bulk near the top of the stretch and dueled for the lead. Dream Journey commenced his winning bid from just outside Deep Sky, who was in ideal striking position but could not keep pace with the winner.
Sakura Mega Wonder held off Deep Sky by a neck for second. Screen Hero faded to finish fifth.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
