Shamal wins the JpnI Kashiwa Kinen at muddy NAR Funabashi Racecourse
Thursday, 02 May, 2024 13:03
Shamal pulled off a front-running victory in the rain-soaked JpnI Kashiwa Kinen showdown, winning as the 6th favourite. In his fourth attempt at a major race, Shamal finally captured the top spot. Tagano Beauty, last year's runner-up, rallied from mid-pack to finish second, while Peptide Nile, who had been prominent from the start, took third place, marking the third consecutive year that JRA horses have dominated the top spots. The favourite, King's Sword, lacked a finishing kick and ended up fourth. Among NAR horses, Mick Fire had the best finish in fifth place.
Shamal executed a flawless start and aggressively took the lead, not allowing any challengers to dispute his position. Maintaining a safe lead throughout, he entered the straight with a commanding two-and-a-half length advantage. Jockey Haruhiko Kawasu reflected on the race, saying, "From the last 400 meters, I was telling the horse 'just 400 more to go' as I urged him on. After passing the 200-meter post and still not hearing any hoofbeats behind us, I figured we must be well ahead. It was great to show how strong he can be," responding to the loud cheers from the stands.
Partnering since his debut race, this pair has developed a deep connection, previously scoring four victories together at the Jpn3 level. For the jockey, this win marked his first major title in his 15th year of riding. Celebrating the victory, he made a flashy, emphatic victory gesture while mounted, visibly ecstatic. "The rain worked in our favour today. I came here intending to win with my trainer, so it feels great to actually do it. It's like a dream," he said, beaming with joy.
"The next race will be decided after consulting with the owner, but we're strongly considering aiming for revenge at the Sakitama Cup (June 19 at Urawa), which has been upgraded to Jpn1 this year. For autumn, we are dreaming of challenging the JBC (November 4 at Saga). With the prize money added from this win, we can enter races anywhere," commented trainer Matsushita, indicating the horse's full comeback and his vow to cause a stir again in the Japanese dirt sprint scene.
Shamal executed a flawless start and aggressively took the lead, not allowing any challengers to dispute his position. Maintaining a safe lead throughout, he entered the straight with a commanding two-and-a-half length advantage. Jockey Haruhiko Kawasu reflected on the race, saying, "From the last 400 meters, I was telling the horse 'just 400 more to go' as I urged him on. After passing the 200-meter post and still not hearing any hoofbeats behind us, I figured we must be well ahead. It was great to show how strong he can be," responding to the loud cheers from the stands.
Partnering since his debut race, this pair has developed a deep connection, previously scoring four victories together at the Jpn3 level. For the jockey, this win marked his first major title in his 15th year of riding. Celebrating the victory, he made a flashy, emphatic victory gesture while mounted, visibly ecstatic. "The rain worked in our favour today. I came here intending to win with my trainer, so it feels great to actually do it. It's like a dream," he said, beaming with joy.
"The next race will be decided after consulting with the owner, but we're strongly considering aiming for revenge at the Sakitama Cup (June 19 at Urawa), which has been upgraded to Jpn1 this year. For autumn, we are dreaming of challenging the JBC (November 4 at Saga). With the prize money added from this win, we can enter races anywhere," commented trainer Matsushita, indicating the horse's full comeback and his vow to cause a stir again in the Japanese dirt sprint scene.
Article Creds:Daily Sports