Japan
Cavallerizzo Claims Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes with Explosive Kick
Cavallerizzo wins this year’s Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin.
Second favorite Cavallerizzo claimed the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes to become the two-year-old champion miler of 2025. The son of Saturnalia broke his maiden in his debut start in late August (Chukyo, 1,600m) and was runner-up to race favorite Admire Quads in his most recent Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (Kyoto, G2, 1,600m) start on November 15. Trainer Tatsuya Yoshioka scored his second JRA-G1 title following last year's Takarazuka Kinen with Blow the Horn, while jockey Cristian Demuro, who is riding in Japan under a short-term license since November 1, registered his sixth G1 title, his latest being the 2024 Queen Elizabeth II Cup with Stunning Rose. This win gives Cavallerizzo's sire Saturnalia, the 2019 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) champion who stands at stud since 2021, his first G1 victory.
On yielding ground, Cavallerizzo was settled in midfield on the outside of Ecoro Alba running on the rails and behind Corteo Soleil as the field approached the final turns. As the field fanned out and still in a two wide position at the top of the stretch, Cristian Demuro, instead of shifting out, guided his mount to surge through an opening on the rails. With only the pacesetter Diamond Knot to beat by the 200-meter pole, the son of Saturnalia closed powerfully with the fastest late speed to overtake the leader just before the wire for a 3/4-length victory.
"After a normal start, I had a good position behind Yuga (Kawada). In the last corner I had a little bit of a trouble with another horse next to me but when I asked my horse to go inside, he had a good reaction, a good turn of foot. Christophe (Lemaire) was trying to escape but my horse was very strong in the end," commented Cristian Demuro after the race.
Fifth pick Diamond Knot broke sharply to set the pace putting a length and a half between himself and the rest of the field by the 800-meter marker. The son of Bricks and Mortar stubbornly held on to his lead up to the final strides but gave way to the fast-closing winner for second place.
Breaking moderately from a wide gate, Admire Quads was unhurried sitting in fourth from the rear before advancing rapidly from the outside before the last turn, making a wide bid into the lane. While the runners in front gradually tired, the race favorite closed from the outside and drew even to briefly rally with Ecoro Alba in the last 50 meters but dug in with another gear in the last strides to secure third.
Other Horses:
4th: (3) Ecoro Alba—raced wide around 10th, showed effort but outrun by Admire Quads before
wire
5th: (13) Realize Sirius—settled wide around 4th, lacked needed kick
6th: (1) Good Piece—keen to go early, ran around 4th, weakened in last 100m
7th: (2) White Orchid—saved ground in 12th, passed tired rivals in last 300m
8th: (6) Tagano Aralia—tracked leader in 3rd, sustained bid until 200m pole
9th: (5) Storm Thunder—trailed in rear, showed belated charge
10th: (4) Cosmo Red—unhurried in 13th, unable to reach contention
11th: (7) Corteo Soleil—sat around 4th, boxed in at early stretch, dropped back
12th: (11) Kakuuchi—chased leader in 2nd, faded after 300m out
13th: (14) Red Ligare—ran wide around 7th, checked at top of stretch, showed little
14th: (9) Spe Luce—traveled wide around 8th, met traffic at early stretch, failed to fire
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