Win Greatest aiming for return to winning ways
Tuesday, 23 July, 2024 18:45
The summer festival of racing will begin in Niigata racecourse starting from this weekend. The famous 1000-meter race, which marks the opening of the summer races in Niigata, has attracted several top sprinters this year. The horse to watch is Win Greatest, a close second-placed finisher in the G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes. Although he has not won a race since the G2 Swan Stakes last year, he has long been aimed at this race and will be looking for his second graded win. With his second win, he will be a major contender in the JRA sprinting ranks.
Connections of the 7YO chestnut gelding have stated that he will be the "leading of the summer". Win Greatest, runner-up in the G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes., is now ready to compete in the super fast 1000-meter race. Matsuoka, the main jockey, stated, "I'm going for the Summer Sprint Champion". He added, "The track was bad in the G3 Keeneland Cup. I'm aiming for the opening week of the season and will be arriving full of confidence".
This was his first race since his trip to Saudi Arabia in February (1351 Turf Sprint, 4th). The trainer Hatakeyama gave the horse an acceptable appraisal despite the defeat, saying, "He didn't suffer any issue on his return from overseas and he handled the first time running on a small track of 1200-meter race and the heavy burden of 59kg. He will be running at a shorter distance, but he was able to get a better position than I expected in the last race, so I think he will be able to go with the flow even over 1000 meters".
The jockey is getting a good feel for him. Matsuoka, who rode the horse in the pre-week track work, commented, "He maintains a high level of physical condition. The quality of his muscles may be better than last time".
This will be his 36th career race and his trainer said, "He is getting older and has reached the level of a veteran. He's been overseas and he doesn't mind the transportation. He's always been the type to gain weight easily, but he hasn't gotten fat by sweating day after day," he said, welcoming the hot summer weather. He is on his way to his second major race win after the G2 Swan Stakes last year.
Connections of the 7YO chestnut gelding have stated that he will be the "leading of the summer". Win Greatest, runner-up in the G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes., is now ready to compete in the super fast 1000-meter race. Matsuoka, the main jockey, stated, "I'm going for the Summer Sprint Champion". He added, "The track was bad in the G3 Keeneland Cup. I'm aiming for the opening week of the season and will be arriving full of confidence".
This was his first race since his trip to Saudi Arabia in February (1351 Turf Sprint, 4th). The trainer Hatakeyama gave the horse an acceptable appraisal despite the defeat, saying, "He didn't suffer any issue on his return from overseas and he handled the first time running on a small track of 1200-meter race and the heavy burden of 59kg. He will be running at a shorter distance, but he was able to get a better position than I expected in the last race, so I think he will be able to go with the flow even over 1000 meters".
The jockey is getting a good feel for him. Matsuoka, who rode the horse in the pre-week track work, commented, "He maintains a high level of physical condition. The quality of his muscles may be better than last time".
This will be his 36th career race and his trainer said, "He is getting older and has reached the level of a veteran. He's been overseas and he doesn't mind the transportation. He's always been the type to gain weight easily, but he hasn't gotten fat by sweating day after day," he said, welcoming the hot summer weather. He is on his way to his second major race win after the G2 Swan Stakes last year.
Article Creds:Daily Sports