Ho O Biscuits links up with Yasunari Iwata ahead of G3 Hakodate Kinen
Thursday, 11 July, 2024 15:03
Ho O Biscuits on the left
On July 10th, Ho O Biscuits, fresh from a victory in the Open Class Tomoe Sho, impressed during a workout on the Hakodate Racecourse woodchip track. Despite the short one-week interval since his last race, he showed no signs of fatigue, pulling away powerfully by two lengths during the gallop. His prospects for capturing a long-awaited title appear bright. David Barows, who is seeking redemption from the Tomoe Sho, also looked in fine form during his woodchip track workout.
The time has come for a decisive battle. Ho O Biscuits, who scored a convincing victory in the Tomoe Sho just a week ago, partnered with stablemate Shonan Amelia for a workout on the Hakodate Racecourse woodchip track. Starting two seconds behind from the five-furlong mark, jockey Yasunari Iwata skillfully managed the pace, and as they entered the straight, a slight urge from Iwata sent Ho O Biscuits into acceleration mode, quickly pulling away by two lengths.
Clocking a lively five furlongs in 67.0 seconds, with splits of 38.5 and 12.4 seconds, Ho O Biscuits looked in great shape. Jockey Iwata was pleased, noting, "He's calmer than he was for the Tomoe Sho and has improved overall. Maybe it's because he's on special feed. Being calm is a good sign." Trainer Takeshi Okumura, who oversaw the workout, also felt confident: "He's shown no signs of fatigue and is full of energy. We could start riding him again from the Wednesday after the race."
While the Tomoe Sho victory was as promised, the trainer remains cautious, "The performance wasn't perfect, but winning to earn prize money was our top priority. There's still a lot to teach him in racing." Despite his raw running style, the preparation for this race has gone smoothly.
The time for a breakthrough is near. In the spring of his three-year-old season, Ho O Biscuits finished second in the G2 Spring Stakes to Bellagio Opera, who later won this year's G1 Osaka Hai. He also performed admirably in the Japanese Derby, finishing sixth by just 0.2 seconds. "He needs to perform well in graded stakes. It's been a tough schedule since the Tomoe Sho, but I hope he can overcome it," said the trainer. It has taken some time, but Ho O Biscuits is poised to achieve significant results as he aims to return to the G1 stage.
The time has come for a decisive battle. Ho O Biscuits, who scored a convincing victory in the Tomoe Sho just a week ago, partnered with stablemate Shonan Amelia for a workout on the Hakodate Racecourse woodchip track. Starting two seconds behind from the five-furlong mark, jockey Yasunari Iwata skillfully managed the pace, and as they entered the straight, a slight urge from Iwata sent Ho O Biscuits into acceleration mode, quickly pulling away by two lengths.
Clocking a lively five furlongs in 67.0 seconds, with splits of 38.5 and 12.4 seconds, Ho O Biscuits looked in great shape. Jockey Iwata was pleased, noting, "He's calmer than he was for the Tomoe Sho and has improved overall. Maybe it's because he's on special feed. Being calm is a good sign." Trainer Takeshi Okumura, who oversaw the workout, also felt confident: "He's shown no signs of fatigue and is full of energy. We could start riding him again from the Wednesday after the race."
While the Tomoe Sho victory was as promised, the trainer remains cautious, "The performance wasn't perfect, but winning to earn prize money was our top priority. There's still a lot to teach him in racing." Despite his raw running style, the preparation for this race has gone smoothly.
The time for a breakthrough is near. In the spring of his three-year-old season, Ho O Biscuits finished second in the G2 Spring Stakes to Bellagio Opera, who later won this year's G1 Osaka Hai. He also performed admirably in the Japanese Derby, finishing sixth by just 0.2 seconds. "He needs to perform well in graded stakes. It's been a tough schedule since the Tomoe Sho, but I hope he can overcome it," said the trainer. It has taken some time, but Ho O Biscuits is poised to achieve significant results as he aims to return to the G1 stage.
Article Creds:Daily Sports