(1st Dec 01)

Unprecedented Hat Trick at Hong Kong International Races

Unprecedented hat trick of all Group One events was achieved by Japanese-trained horsesat 2001 Hong Kong International races.
Eishin Preston, owned by Toyomitsu Hirai and trained by Shuji Kitahashi, in G1/Hong KongMile was the first to do.
Eishin Preston was 23/1 long shot, but the 2-y-o Champion inin Japan in 1999 delivered the most impressive turn of foot on the homestretch of Sha Tinand held off the late challenge of local hero Electronic Unicorn.
Eishin Preston returned to Sha Tin in April 2002, and won another internationalevent in Hong Kong, G1/Queen Elizabeth Cup.
The most emotional moment for Japan came after the G1/Hong Kong Vase.
It was the finalcareer start for Stay Gold(JPN), who was going to retire and go to Hokkaido for studduty at the end of season.
Stay Gold(JPN) had won several G2 races, including SheemaClassic at Dubai earlier the year, and had placed so many times in G1 races, however,he has never won any G1 yet and it was the last chance for him to collect the stakes ofpremier grade.
Stay Gold(JPN) did not disappoint the audience at Sha Tin, which wasincluding hundreds Japanese who came to see his last race.
He just cought Godolphin'sEkraar at the wire in the final stride and picked up the G1 at last.
G1/Hong Kong Cup, the feature race of the day and the final leg of 2001 World SeriesRacing Championship, was contedted by 14 runners from 7 countries, and Tobougg fromGodolphin, who was runner-up to Nayef in G1/Champion S last time out, was 7/5 favorite.
However, the Godolphin's attempt to get the international event at Hong Kong wasinterrupted by Japanese-traind horse again.
It is Agnes Digital, trained by ToshiakiShirai who was responsible for Dance Partner at Deauville six years ago, who wassurperior than any other rivals.
Agnes Digital was the winner and Tobougg was second byhead.
As the Japanese royal anthem was played after the Cup, Chris Lincoln, thepresenter of international live coverage, commented, "this is the third time, and Ibelieve I can hum this song now. "

(1st Mar 01)

STAY GOLD & TO THE VICTORY sparkled in Dubai

Two Japanese horses who ran international events under floodlights at Dubai in March2001 shone all around brighter than the floodlights.
The Sheema Classic 2001 over one and a half miles on turf was contested by truelyinternational field, which was headed by Fanstastic Light, the reigning World SeriesChampion and succeeded to defend the title later the year, and this race was upgradedto Grade One Status after the 2001 running of race.
It went to Stay Gold(JPN), by Sunday Silence out of Royal Sash, bred by Teruya Yoshida'sShadai Farm and the property of Shadai Race Horse, the racing syndicate run by HaruyaYoshida, beating Fantastic Light by nose.
An even more valuable result for Japan was To The Victory(JPN)' second place to CaptainSteve in the G1/Dubai World Cup.
While Japanese-trained horses have been winning GroupOne stakes in Europe in recent years, other fellows who went to run on dirt in Americahad done no better, as well as the past Japanese representatives in Dubai World Cup,and it seemed Japanese dirt horses are not as competitive as turf horses.
However, To The Victory(JPN), Sunday Silence mare bred by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farmand owned by Makoto Kaneko, changed this situation dramatically.
Both of Stay Gold and To The Victory are trained at Ritto Training Center near Kyoto byYasuo Ikee and both were ridden by Yutaka Take.