Lone mare Presage Lift ready for a battle in the G3 Sekiya Kinen
Thursday, 08 August, 2024 16:12
Presage Lift in the center (Photo: Takao Sonoda)
Presage Lift, the only mare in the G3 Sekiya Kinen field, showed impressive form on the Miho Training Center woodchip track on the 7th. Despite the heat, she displayed lively footwork as she galloped between two other horses. Building on her recent victory, she aims to secure her second graded stakes win. Meanwhile, at the Ritto Training Center slope course, G3 Arlington Cup winner Di Speranza exuded a positive vibe.
Presage Lift garnered attention with her standout performance. She appeared on the woodchip track right after the gates opened at 5 AM, with her stablemates placed ahead and behind her. She maintained a steady pace and, in the final stretch, positioned herself in the middle of a three-horse group, showing a lively stride while being held together tightly. She clocked 67.8 seconds for 5 furlongs, with splits of 38.7 seconds and 11.7 seconds, finishing on par with Kreisleriana and King's Breath.
Rider Ota commented, "Last week we did a longer run (7 furlongs), so this week we focused on 5 furlongs. She responded well when the horses behind her approached and maintained a positive run until the end." Despite the continuous heat, Presage Lift has completed six training sessions since entering the stables on July 10. "She tends to get stiff in the summer, so we've been mindful of that during her training. She's been able to handle her workouts well," Ota added.
She secured her first victory in over two years in her previous race, the Open Class May Stakes, since the 2022 G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup. The trainer expressed optimism, saying, "She carried the top weight against colts and did a great job. The distance changes from 1800m to 1600m this time, so we hope she can adjust well."
Tetsuya Kimura's stable has succeeded in this race, with two wins from Primo Scene in 2018 and Avverare in 2023. This year, they aim for consecutive victories. "The mile at Niigata often allows for a relaxed pace. If she can get a good position from the gate, she'll have a solid chance," he added. Following the adage "mares excel in the summer," the rejuvenated five-year-old mare is set to shine at Niigata Racecourse this summer.
Presage Lift garnered attention with her standout performance. She appeared on the woodchip track right after the gates opened at 5 AM, with her stablemates placed ahead and behind her. She maintained a steady pace and, in the final stretch, positioned herself in the middle of a three-horse group, showing a lively stride while being held together tightly. She clocked 67.8 seconds for 5 furlongs, with splits of 38.7 seconds and 11.7 seconds, finishing on par with Kreisleriana and King's Breath.
Rider Ota commented, "Last week we did a longer run (7 furlongs), so this week we focused on 5 furlongs. She responded well when the horses behind her approached and maintained a positive run until the end." Despite the continuous heat, Presage Lift has completed six training sessions since entering the stables on July 10. "She tends to get stiff in the summer, so we've been mindful of that during her training. She's been able to handle her workouts well," Ota added.
She secured her first victory in over two years in her previous race, the Open Class May Stakes, since the 2022 G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup. The trainer expressed optimism, saying, "She carried the top weight against colts and did a great job. The distance changes from 1800m to 1600m this time, so we hope she can adjust well."
Tetsuya Kimura's stable has succeeded in this race, with two wins from Primo Scene in 2018 and Avverare in 2023. This year, they aim for consecutive victories. "The mile at Niigata often allows for a relaxed pace. If she can get a good position from the gate, she'll have a solid chance," he added. Following the adage "mares excel in the summer," the rejuvenated five-year-old mare is set to shine at Niigata Racecourse this summer.
Article Creds:Daily Sports