Salice, half-sister to the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes winner Salios, to debut on Sunday
Wednesday, 31 July, 2024 16:42
Salice (Photo: Kosuke Ishiyu)
This week, the racing action continues at Niigata and Sapporo, with several highly anticipated 2-year-olds making their first appearances on the track. Among them is Salice (2yo filly, by Duramente), who will debut in Niigata Race 2 on Sunday. Salice comes from an illustrious bloodline, with her siblings being notable G1 winners. Her debut race is highly anticipated.
Salice's pedigree includes her brother, Salios, the winner of the 2019 G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and runner-up in the 2020 G1 Japanese Derby. Her sister, Salacia, was the runner-up in both the 2020 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the G1 Arima Kinen, and Safira, who competed in this year's G1 Japanese Oaks, finishing 13th, is trained by Manabu Ikezoe. Trainer Ikezoe has high hopes for Salice, stating, "She had an excellent reputation at the breeding farm and is considered one of the top horses in the stable."
Unlike her siblings, Salice seems to be more robust and mature at an early age. Salacia showed her true potential only as an older horse, and Safira struggled to maintain her condition during the Classic races despite an early debut. However, Salice appears different. "Salacia was lean, and Safira had a hard time maintaining her form, but Salice has an excellent appetite and is the easiest to handle among them. She also moves exceptionally well, with a great turn of foot," said Ikezoe, emphasizing her strong constitution.
On the 24th, Salice had a three-horse workout at the Ritto Training Center woodchip track and followed up with a solo adjustment on Sunday. "Sunday's track work was effectively a 3-furlong run, and her performance was outstanding," Ikezoe explained. She comfortably clocked 38.0 seconds for 3 furlongs, with the final 2 furlongs in 11.4 and 11.1 seconds, respectively, showing impressive acceleration. "She's from a promising bloodline, and making her debut without any concerns at this time of the year is significant," he added.
With Christophe Lemaire set to ride, Salice aims to establish herself as a leading contender on the Classic racing scene.
Salice's pedigree includes her brother, Salios, the winner of the 2019 G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes and runner-up in the 2020 G1 Japanese Derby. Her sister, Salacia, was the runner-up in both the 2020 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the G1 Arima Kinen, and Safira, who competed in this year's G1 Japanese Oaks, finishing 13th, is trained by Manabu Ikezoe. Trainer Ikezoe has high hopes for Salice, stating, "She had an excellent reputation at the breeding farm and is considered one of the top horses in the stable."
Unlike her siblings, Salice seems to be more robust and mature at an early age. Salacia showed her true potential only as an older horse, and Safira struggled to maintain her condition during the Classic races despite an early debut. However, Salice appears different. "Salacia was lean, and Safira had a hard time maintaining her form, but Salice has an excellent appetite and is the easiest to handle among them. She also moves exceptionally well, with a great turn of foot," said Ikezoe, emphasizing her strong constitution.
On the 24th, Salice had a three-horse workout at the Ritto Training Center woodchip track and followed up with a solo adjustment on Sunday. "Sunday's track work was effectively a 3-furlong run, and her performance was outstanding," Ikezoe explained. She comfortably clocked 38.0 seconds for 3 furlongs, with the final 2 furlongs in 11.4 and 11.1 seconds, respectively, showing impressive acceleration. "She's from a promising bloodline, and making her debut without any concerns at this time of the year is significant," he added.
With Christophe Lemaire set to ride, Salice aims to establish herself as a leading contender on the Classic racing scene.
Article Creds:Daily Sports