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Jupiter Gold may have a Singapore Derby under the belt, but trainer Hideyuki Takaoka believes his best trips are between 1400m and 1600m.
Last year, the son of Congrats took out the last Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge run over 1800m. To the Japanese handler, it’s his sheer class that got him over the line, not really stamina.
He ran over the same distance once afterwards – with less happy results. It was in last October’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup when after being caught three wide without cover, he was beaten four lengths by Debt Collector.
To be fair, he had excuses, and he was still in contention until he petered out in the last 100m, but Takaoka has preferred to restrict Jupiter Gold to shorter distances this year.
First-up, he ran fifth to Constant Justice in a race that was admittedly too short, the Group 3 New Year Cup (1200m), but he then steamed home for third next time out in the Group 3 Fortune Bowl (1400m), beaten by around three-quarter length by Blizzard.
Takaoka is sticking to the seven furlongs in Sunday’s $100,000 Class 1 race, confident he can get there in time – before Debt Collector does nick them that is!
“I don’t think 1400m is too short for him. To me, his best distance is between 1400m and 1600m,” said Takaoka, who has built up a solid reputation for being a trainer of stayers over the years.
“He ran in the Derby, mostly because he was four, and that was his goal. He had to make it for the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge.
“After two runs, he will be fitter this time. Marc Lerner (his new racing partner) galloped him on Wednesday and I was very happy with his work – he chased Be Bop down.
“His work is getting better and better, and he’s in very good condition at the moment.”
Takaoka said that Jupiter Gold was also well in on weights this time, but that is because the highest-rated (116) horse Debt Collector has pushed the weights down.
“In the Fortune Bowl, Jupiter Gold gave weight to the rest, but he has only 54kgs on his back this time because the topweight is Debt Collector. It’s a big advantage,” he said.
“Will that be enough? I don’t know. Debt Collector is a champion and is in great form, it’ll be hard to beat him, but the pull in weights gives us some hope.
“He’s drawn four. I think he should be able to get a good position. I just hope he is not slow out of the gates like he has been a few times.”
While excited to see how Jupiter Gold will fare on Sunday as a gauge to bigger and better targets down the road, he was a bit disappointed Makanani could not get in.
“No horse dropped out, and that’s why Makanani could not get in,” said Takaoka of the Japanese-bred staying Black Tide mare who ran on for seventh in the Fortune Bowl at her last start.
“She will now either run in the Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) on April 7 or a Class 2 race over 1600m the following week.
“As for Jupiter Gold, after this run, I’d also be looking at the Chairman’s Trophy, which he would have run in this Sunday if it had not been moved to April 7.
“Then, I would like to run him in the Kranji Mile. Last year, he skipped that race as we were focusing on the Derby.”
To be run on May 25, the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) will for the second year be staged as an invitational race to both overseas and local horses.
