Three individual Triple Crown winners in Japanese provincial racing
Tuesday, 05 September, 2023 19:37
Three individual triple crown winners in Japanese provincial racing
The NAR is the governing body of Japanese provincial racing, each jurisdiction organizes their own fixtures. In 2023, the NAR has produced three individual Triple Crown winners. Deservedly so, we would like to introduce them in this article.
Hokkaido Racing
Bell Pit has won eight races from his 10 career starts and has never been unplaced. During his two-year-old campaign, he won four consecutive races following a successful debut. Notably, he finished second against JRA horses in a black-type race.
The son of Pyro remains unbeaten this season, including victories in the Hokkaido Triple Crown races as the prohibitive odds-on favorite in each Classic leg.
Minami-Kanto Racing
Mick Fire became only the second unbeaten Minami-Kanto Triple Crown winner in its entire history. Although racing fans had doubts about him in the first leg of the Triple Crown as it was his first start of the year, the generously priced, 13/1 colt, won by an impressive 6 lengths, in a record time.
The three-year-old son of Sinister Minister continued his dominance when winning the second leg, the Tokyo Derby, also by a margin of 6 lengths. In the final leg, the Japan Dirt Derby, he won by two and a half lengths. Mick Fire ultimately claimed the first Minami-Kanto Triple Crown winner title since 2001, a remarkable feat given that the Japan Dirt Derby is a JPY 100-million-rich local Grade 1 race competing against JRA horses.
Kochi Racing
The experienced three-year-old colt, Yumeno Honoo, has won 12 races of his 14 starts. He narrowly won the first leg of the Kochi Triple Crown by only a head; however, he improved in the second leg with extra distance, winning by 2.1 seconds.
In the final leg, Yumeno Honoo missed the break but charged and took the lead on the backstretch to become the Kochi Triple Crown winner.
Hokkaido Racing
Bell Pit has won eight races from his 10 career starts and has never been unplaced. During his two-year-old campaign, he won four consecutive races following a successful debut. Notably, he finished second against JRA horses in a black-type race.
The son of Pyro remains unbeaten this season, including victories in the Hokkaido Triple Crown races as the prohibitive odds-on favorite in each Classic leg.
Minami-Kanto Racing
Mick Fire became only the second unbeaten Minami-Kanto Triple Crown winner in its entire history. Although racing fans had doubts about him in the first leg of the Triple Crown as it was his first start of the year, the generously priced, 13/1 colt, won by an impressive 6 lengths, in a record time.
The three-year-old son of Sinister Minister continued his dominance when winning the second leg, the Tokyo Derby, also by a margin of 6 lengths. In the final leg, the Japan Dirt Derby, he won by two and a half lengths. Mick Fire ultimately claimed the first Minami-Kanto Triple Crown winner title since 2001, a remarkable feat given that the Japan Dirt Derby is a JPY 100-million-rich local Grade 1 race competing against JRA horses.
Kochi Racing
The experienced three-year-old colt, Yumeno Honoo, has won 12 races of his 14 starts. He narrowly won the first leg of the Kochi Triple Crown by only a head; however, he improved in the second leg with extra distance, winning by 2.1 seconds.
In the final leg, Yumeno Honoo missed the break but charged and took the lead on the backstretch to become the Kochi Triple Crown winner.