A highly anticipated blue-blooded horse is set to make his debut at Niigata Racecourse this summer. Masquerade Ball, a half-brother to Masked Diva, who was second in last year's G1 Shuka Sho and has won two graded stakes, is expected to show his full potential in his first race for the prestigious Takahisa Tezuka stable.

As Duramente's last crop continues to produce winners, Masquerade Ball is being hailed as the standout. He will debut in Niigata Race 5 (1600 meters on turf) on Sunday. This well-bred colt has a distinguished lineage, his grand-dam is Behind the Mask, a three-time graded stakes winner, and his half-sister is Masked Diva, who won the G2 Rose Stakes in 2023 and the G2 Hanshin Himba Stakes this year.

Initially slated for a debut the following week, Masquerade Ball's progress was so advanced that the schedule was moved up. On July 31, he worked alongside two other horses on the woodchip track at Miho Training Center with jockey Keita Tosaki aboard, showing impressive speed with a final time of 84.3 seconds for 6 furlongs, with splits of 38.1 and 11.3 seconds. Trainer Tezuka was pleased, saying, "He's been performing well since his first workout after re-entering training, and he's at a high level for a debut. We've been addressing various challenges in training, and he's improving."

Regarding his movement, Tezuka commented, "He has a sharp stride and his form is good once he accelerates. The spacious outer course at Niigata should suit him." Though his body weight is in the 450-460 kg range, his athleticism inherited from his sire is evident.

The key will be maintaining composure during the race. Tezuka noted, "He tends to sweat a lot and can get anxious, which is typical of Duramente's progeny. I believe in his high ability, and if he can get a good start and position well, he has a strong chance."

His name, Masquerade Ball, signifies elegance and grace, and he is expected to step onto the turf and lead the field with style.