Jack d'Or on track to go back-to-back in G2 Sapporo Kinen
Friday, 18 August, 2023 18:13
Jack d'Or (Photo: Shinya Miyoshi)
On the 16th, last year's champion Jack d'Or had his final workout on the Hakodate turf with jockey Yutaka Take. With nimble footwork, he conveyed a positive outlook. While the ultimate goal is the Tenno Sho Autumn in October, he has no intention of relinquishing the chance to become the fourth horse in history to achieve consecutive victories in the Sapporo Kinen.
Starting from the backstretch, he smoothly accelerated. In the straight, he maintained a natural gait yet displayed remarkable agility. The recorded splits were 5 furlongs in 68.9 seconds, with a final two furlongs of 39.6 seconds and a final furlong in 12.1 seconds. Despite the fact that the track retained the effects of rain from the previous day, his performance showcased a fluid and extending finish that was hard to believe on the soft ground.
Take wore a continuous smile. He commented, "It's really impressive, as expected. His movements are those of a top-class horse." Fukunaga was also the jockey during Jack d'Or's first G1 victory in the Osaka Hai, as well as the previous race, the Yasuda Kinen. He has taken the reins for these final workouts himself. Regarding the Yasuda Kinen, he mentioned, "There was a feeling that the horse was too well-prepared, but today he felt good. He's eager to run and yet he's not overly anxious." It was evident that Take felt that Jack d'Or was in optimal form for his upcoming race as he prepares for the autumn season.
Trainer Fujioka also nodded in satisfaction. He stated, "He's been training quite a bit over the past couple of weeks, and his physical condition is almost at its peak. I told the jockey not to worry about the time when riding him since he's been doing a lot of work, but he felt good. I believe he's at a high level in terms of both ability and adaptability. He possesses both speed and power." The horse's training progress has aligned well with the initial plan since his return to the stable, and they are confident in his condition as they prepare to send him out for the upcoming race.
Yutaka Take aims for his 9th victory in the Sapporo Kinen expressed, "With a horse of this caliber, he's likely to receive lots of support from fans so I want to deliver results." In response, the trainer added, "It doesn't feel like a mere lead-up race; we're going for the win in this G2 race." With the potential of achieving a rare consecutive victory, the first in 25 years, they are looking to gain momentum for a successful autumn campaign.
Starting from the backstretch, he smoothly accelerated. In the straight, he maintained a natural gait yet displayed remarkable agility. The recorded splits were 5 furlongs in 68.9 seconds, with a final two furlongs of 39.6 seconds and a final furlong in 12.1 seconds. Despite the fact that the track retained the effects of rain from the previous day, his performance showcased a fluid and extending finish that was hard to believe on the soft ground.
Take wore a continuous smile. He commented, "It's really impressive, as expected. His movements are those of a top-class horse." Fukunaga was also the jockey during Jack d'Or's first G1 victory in the Osaka Hai, as well as the previous race, the Yasuda Kinen. He has taken the reins for these final workouts himself. Regarding the Yasuda Kinen, he mentioned, "There was a feeling that the horse was too well-prepared, but today he felt good. He's eager to run and yet he's not overly anxious." It was evident that Take felt that Jack d'Or was in optimal form for his upcoming race as he prepares for the autumn season.
Trainer Fujioka also nodded in satisfaction. He stated, "He's been training quite a bit over the past couple of weeks, and his physical condition is almost at its peak. I told the jockey not to worry about the time when riding him since he's been doing a lot of work, but he felt good. I believe he's at a high level in terms of both ability and adaptability. He possesses both speed and power." The horse's training progress has aligned well with the initial plan since his return to the stable, and they are confident in his condition as they prepare to send him out for the upcoming race.
Yutaka Take aims for his 9th victory in the Sapporo Kinen expressed, "With a horse of this caliber, he's likely to receive lots of support from fans so I want to deliver results." In response, the trainer added, "It doesn't feel like a mere lead-up race; we're going for the win in this G2 race." With the potential of achieving a rare consecutive victory, the first in 25 years, they are looking to gain momentum for a successful autumn campaign.
Article Creds:Daily Sports