Can Heaven Wind, a highly anticipated colt from the stable of trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa, make a dazzling debut? The 2-year-old colt by Epiphaneia is set to race for the first time in Tokyo Racecourse's Race 5 on Saturday (2000 meters on turf). Heaven Wind comes from a prestigious bloodline, as his dam's sister, Denim And Ruby, was runner-up in both the 2013 Japan Cup and the 2015 Takarazuka Kinen. He was purchased for 160 million JPY at the 2022 Select Sale, marking him as a colt with high expectations.

During his workout on the 16th on Miho Training Center's woodchip track, he easily clocked 6 furlongs in 83.2 seconds with closing splits of 38.1 and 11.4, working alongside two older horses. Trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa tempered expectations slightly, saying, "He's still a bit light and is in the middle of growing. He's not at his best yet." However, Kuroiwa couldn't hide his optimism, adding, "He's got stamina, and he's got a good temperament, so I expect him to show his ability from the start. He's a horse with the potential to aim for great things."

Heaven Wind will partner with top jockey Yuga Kawada as they look to make an impact on the turf.