Keita Tosaki and Kikuka Sho winner Durezza will compete in the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring)
Tuesday, 23 April, 2024 16:40
The six-week spring G1 racing bonanza begins with the traditional Tenno Sho (Spring). Durezza is looking for his second G1 victory after winning the Kikuka Sho impressively last fall. He finished second in the G2 Kinko Sho in his last race, but this time he spent a longer time at Ritto Training Center preparing for the race.
Durezza will be ridden by Keita Tosaki for the first time in three races since his regular jockey, Christophe Lemaire, is still on the sidelines recovering from injury. Tosaki will be aiming for his first back-to-back JRA G1 victories after accompanying Justin Milano to Satsuki Sho spoils.
The Kikuka Sho winner has won the Tenno Sho (spring) seven times in the last 10 years. Among this year's runners, only Durezza has won the Kikuka Sho. It is reassuring to know that he has already won a similar long-distance race at Kyoto Racecourse, and even an extension of the distance appears to be desirable for Durezza.
His winning streak ended at five after finishing second in the G2 Kinko Sho. He was beaten by five lengths by Prognosis, but trainer Ozeki shows no signs of pessimism. "He was more rested than ever, so he was a bit overpowered. The Tenno Sho was our main spring target, so it was a trial-like finish," he said.
"After his seasonal reappearance, his condition has improved. He stayed in Ritto and has adapted well. I didn't have much of a reaction after the last race, and he's already relaxed," he said, emphasizing that he has a lot of potential.
Keita Tosaki, who will be in the saddle as Lemaire suffered injuries in a race fall on Dubai World Cup Night. Tosaki arrived at the Ritto Training Center on April 17th and got a good feel for the horse during a week of training. Keita Tosaki and trainer Ozeki teamed up in the 2019 Tenno Sho (Spring), finishing second on Glory Vase, losing by just a neck to Fierement. At the time, it took about 11 hours to get from the Miho Training Center to the Kyoto Racecourse due to traffic jams during the Golden Week holiday. With this in mind, connections decided to stay at the Ritto Training Center this time.
Durezza will be ridden by Keita Tosaki for the first time in three races since his regular jockey, Christophe Lemaire, is still on the sidelines recovering from injury. Tosaki will be aiming for his first back-to-back JRA G1 victories after accompanying Justin Milano to Satsuki Sho spoils.
The Kikuka Sho winner has won the Tenno Sho (spring) seven times in the last 10 years. Among this year's runners, only Durezza has won the Kikuka Sho. It is reassuring to know that he has already won a similar long-distance race at Kyoto Racecourse, and even an extension of the distance appears to be desirable for Durezza.
His winning streak ended at five after finishing second in the G2 Kinko Sho. He was beaten by five lengths by Prognosis, but trainer Ozeki shows no signs of pessimism. "He was more rested than ever, so he was a bit overpowered. The Tenno Sho was our main spring target, so it was a trial-like finish," he said.
"After his seasonal reappearance, his condition has improved. He stayed in Ritto and has adapted well. I didn't have much of a reaction after the last race, and he's already relaxed," he said, emphasizing that he has a lot of potential.
Keita Tosaki, who will be in the saddle as Lemaire suffered injuries in a race fall on Dubai World Cup Night. Tosaki arrived at the Ritto Training Center on April 17th and got a good feel for the horse during a week of training. Keita Tosaki and trainer Ozeki teamed up in the 2019 Tenno Sho (Spring), finishing second on Glory Vase, losing by just a neck to Fierement. At the time, it took about 11 hours to get from the Miho Training Center to the Kyoto Racecourse due to traffic jams during the Golden Week holiday. With this in mind, connections decided to stay at the Ritto Training Center this time.