Japan
Costa Nova Accomplish Repeat Victory in February Stakes
Costa Nova wins this year’s February Stakes at Tokyo.
Second favorite Costa Nova became the third horse to claim the February Stakes two years in a row after Copano Rickey (2014-2015) and Cafe Pharoah (2021-2022). Last year, the son of Lord Kanaloa registered back-to-back wins in the Negishi Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,400m) and this race but was winless in the following three starts—third in the Kashiwa Kinen (Listed, dirt, 1,600m), 11th in the Sakitama Hai (Listed, dirt, 1,400m) and second in his previous Musashino Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,600m) in November. The six-year-old bay now has seven wins and a second in eight starts on dirt at Tokyo Racecourse. Trainer Tetsuya Kimura won his 15th JRA-G1 title, first since last year's Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Regaleira. Jockey Christophe Lemaire marked his 58th JRA-G1 title after his victory in last year's Tenno Sho (Autumn) with Masquerade Ball and third February Stakes win since Mozu Ascot (2020) and Cafe Pharoah (2021).
Costa Nova was rated in mid-division between horses in around 11th and came into the homestretch still well behind among the 16-horse field before picking up speed going the uphill stretch. Reaching contention at the furlong pole and joining a four-horse rally with Wilson Tesoro, W Heart Bond and Brian Sense as the early runners began to tire from their early efforts, the defending champion grabbed a narrow lead in the last 100 meters and continued to power on, out-finishing his rivals by half a length for a well-deserved consecutive victory.
"I am happy to have won the first G1 of this season with Costa Nova with whom I've partnered for some time. He broke nicely and we were able to relax during the trip behind Wilson Tesoro. I had great response from the horse as soon as I shifted him to the outside for the stretch drive and, from then on, he was extremely strong up to the wire," commented Christophe Lemaire.
Third favorite Wilson Tesoro raced in mid-field, about a length in front of the eventual winner and at the heels of the race favorite, keeping in touch with that foe as the two began to make their bid after the last corner. Creeping up on the outside of W Heart Bond with 200 meters to go, the son of Kitasan Black managed to stick his neck in front of W Heart Bond but was soon overtaken by the winner and succumbed to second place but bested the rest by 1/2-length.
Race favorite W Heart Bond, aiming to become the first female to win the G1 February Stakes title, settled nicely in around fourth or fifth position and had a clear path along the center lane after rounding the final corner. She gained ground impressively to engage in a four-horse rally from the furlong pole to the wire where while beaten to third, managed to cross the wire 3/4-length in front of Brian Sense.
Other Horses:
4th: (3) Brian Sense—hugged rail around 11th, launched 2nd fastest late drive
5th: (1) Omega Guiness—saved ground in 4th, showed tenacious run while overtaken by top 4
finishers
6th: (15) Peptide Nile—chased leaders in 3rd, led 300m out, weakened in last 100m
7th: (13) Natural Rise—sat wide in 13th, passed tired rivals
8th: (6) Ramjet—broke poorly, trailed in rear, showed belated charge
9th: (5) Sixpence—set pace after 300m, ran gamely until 100m out
10th: (4) Perriere—took economic trip around 7th, lacked needed kick
11th: (10) Lord Couronne—stalked leader in 2nd, sustained bid until 100m out
12th: (11) Sunrise Hawk—settled near rear, angled out, had too much ground to cover
13th: (8) Sakura Toujours—positioned around 11th, never fired at stretch
14th: (7) Long Run—raced 3rd from rear, unable to reach contention
15th: (16) Saimon Xanadu—traveled wide around 8th, failed to respond
16th: (2) Happy Man—ran near pace around 4th, outrun in stretch
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