Masakazu Takahashi -
Race favourite Jantar Mantar claimed victory in the 75th running of the 1600m Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse on Sunday. It was Jantar Mantar’s third consecutive win in as many career starts and it made the Tomokazu Takano trainee the first Palace Malice colt to win a Japan Racing Association Grade 1 title. Having won his first start at Kyoto over 1800m, Jantar Mantar went on to register a two-length win on his Graded debut in the Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes over 1600m at the same venue on November 11. Having sat off the pace under Yuga Kawada along the rail, Takano’s charge was asked to cut left and hit the front early in the straight. Brought under a hard ride by Kawada, Jantar Mantar breezed to win by a lengthand- a-quarter from Ecoro Walz (Mitsunori Makiura/Yutaka Take) with Takashi Saito’s Tagano Elpida a further neck back in third under Taisei Danno. The win marked trainer Takano’s sixth Grade 1 success and brought up a 26th title for jockey Kawada. The winning jockey said: “I rode his training and thought he was a very good horse, and as a two-year-old he still has a lot of room to grow.
'A VERY GOOD PERSONALITY’
“He ran in a good rhythm throughout, but after the third turn, he wasn’t in a good place, so I had to create the path early to move on. I think it was a bit of a tough race for him because I let him spurt a little early, but he has done well and I rode him with confidence. “He has a very good personality and is highly capable, and I think he is a colt who will continue to grow in the future.” Trainer Takano added: “I am so happy because it is hard to win a Grade 1. As far as his distance goes, I think a mile is best, but for the future, we have to work on him to be able to run over longer distances. Although his pedigree is a bit rare in Japan, I think it will bring a new breeze.”
