Interview with Team Sunrise Zipangu on his upcoming run in the G1 Champions Cup
Thursday, 28 November, 2024 17:42
Sunrise Zipangu (left) (Photo: Kosuke Ishiyu)
Sunrise Zipangu, fresh off his impressive win in the Miyako Stakes, completed his final workout on the Ritto Training Center slope course on November 27 ahead of the G1 Champions Cup. With Yutaka Take, aiming for back-to-back G1 victories following his triumph in the Japan Cup with Do Deuce, aboard, the three-year-old colt displayed an impressive turn of foot, finishing half-a-length ahead of his work partner.
Initially campaigned as a dual-surface performer, Sunrise Zipangu contested both turf and dirt races as a two-year-old. After competing on the turf in this spring's Classic series, he shifted his focus to dirt races in the summer. He showed his class with a strong third-place finish in the Japan Dirt Classic, demonstrating his standing among the best of his generation. His dominant win over older horses in his last race underscores his rising form, and he now aims for the pinnacle of success in this G1 challenge.
During the workout, Sunrise Zipangu clocked 4F in 51.4 seconds, with splits of 37.6 seconds and a final 12.1 seconds, showcasing his fitness and readiness. Paired with Raketa, he trailed early before finishing strongly, moving fluidly and without tension, a positive sign for the upcoming race.
Trainer Hidetaka Otonashi
Interviewer - Reflecting on the Miyako Stakes (1st place)?
Trainer Otonashi - "In the Japan Dirt Classic, he hit his leg and developed some swelling, which meant we couldn't train him for about a week. I thought the Miyako Stakes might come too soon, but after a week, the swelling subsided, and we could ride him again. From there, we built him back up and managed to get him ready, though I wasn't very confident. This time, he's had a smooth preparation, so we may see some improvement from that."
Interviewer - On his progression so far?
Trainer Otonashi - "Switching between turf and dirt may have confused him earlier in his career. Now, after spending the summer entirely on dirt, he seems to understand his role better. Moving forward, we plan to keep him on dirt."
Interviewer - On the 2kg weight allowance?
Trainer Otonashi - "He's still developing as a three-year-old, so we can expect him to improve further. The 2kg weight difference should work in his favour and could give him a good chance here."
Jockey Yutaka Take Interviewer - Impressions from the final workout?
Jockey Take - "He feels energetic, and his movement was excellent."
Interviewer - On Sunrise Zipangu's strengths?
Jockey Take - "His temperament and racing style are still a bit immature, he has some childish tendencies. But his finishing kick is solid, and his potential is high."
Interviewer - Thoughts heading into the race?
Jockey Take - "He's not a particularly fast starter, so keeping up with the fast pace of a G1 race could be a challenge. However, the 2kg weight advantage is something we want to leverage. This will be his first time facing such strong competition, but he's still in the process of getting stronger. If he can deliver his best performance yet, I believe he can make an impact."
Initially campaigned as a dual-surface performer, Sunrise Zipangu contested both turf and dirt races as a two-year-old. After competing on the turf in this spring's Classic series, he shifted his focus to dirt races in the summer. He showed his class with a strong third-place finish in the Japan Dirt Classic, demonstrating his standing among the best of his generation. His dominant win over older horses in his last race underscores his rising form, and he now aims for the pinnacle of success in this G1 challenge.
During the workout, Sunrise Zipangu clocked 4F in 51.4 seconds, with splits of 37.6 seconds and a final 12.1 seconds, showcasing his fitness and readiness. Paired with Raketa, he trailed early before finishing strongly, moving fluidly and without tension, a positive sign for the upcoming race.
Trainer Hidetaka Otonashi
Interviewer - Reflecting on the Miyako Stakes (1st place)?
Trainer Otonashi - "In the Japan Dirt Classic, he hit his leg and developed some swelling, which meant we couldn't train him for about a week. I thought the Miyako Stakes might come too soon, but after a week, the swelling subsided, and we could ride him again. From there, we built him back up and managed to get him ready, though I wasn't very confident. This time, he's had a smooth preparation, so we may see some improvement from that."
Interviewer - On his progression so far?
Trainer Otonashi - "Switching between turf and dirt may have confused him earlier in his career. Now, after spending the summer entirely on dirt, he seems to understand his role better. Moving forward, we plan to keep him on dirt."
Interviewer - On the 2kg weight allowance?
Trainer Otonashi - "He's still developing as a three-year-old, so we can expect him to improve further. The 2kg weight difference should work in his favour and could give him a good chance here."
Jockey Yutaka Take Interviewer - Impressions from the final workout?
Jockey Take - "He feels energetic, and his movement was excellent."
Interviewer - On Sunrise Zipangu's strengths?
Jockey Take - "His temperament and racing style are still a bit immature, he has some childish tendencies. But his finishing kick is solid, and his potential is high."
Interviewer - Thoughts heading into the race?
Jockey Take - "He's not a particularly fast starter, so keeping up with the fast pace of a G1 race could be a challenge. However, the 2kg weight advantage is something we want to leverage. This will be his first time facing such strong competition, but he's still in the process of getting stronger. If he can deliver his best performance yet, I believe he can make an impact."
Article Creds:Daily Sports