There is a sense of excitement around Paatihaan, a colt by Wootton Bassett, who will debut in the 2-Year-Old Newcomers race (1800m turf) on Sunday at Kyoto Racecourse. Owned by Makoto Kaneko and trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, a powerful duo known for producing two Japanese Derby winners (Makahiki and Wagnerian), expectations are high for this debut run.

Paatihaan boasts an impressive pedigree. His sire, Wootton Bassett, is a top European sire producing multiple G1 winners, while his dam, Green Bananas, hails from a prestigious line. His full sister, Audarya, won the 2020 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and the Prix Jean Romanet (G1) in France. Paatihaan was sold for 270 million JPY at the Yearling Select Sale last year.

In a strong sign of his potential, jockey Yuga Kawada rode him in a workout last week on the woodchip track, clocking an impressive 6F in 80.8 seconds with a sharp final furlong of 11.2 seconds. This week on the slope course, he finished his final furlong in 11.9 seconds, further showcasing his exceptional talent. With the formidable combination of Kaneko and Tomomichi behind him, all eyes will be on Paatihaan's debut.