Lord Kanaloa rewired perceptions of just what Japanese horses - renowned principally as middle distance runners of great merit - might do on the world stage with his back-to-back wins in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (2012 & 2013). With memories of Japan’s greatest sprinter powering clear of his rivals still fresh in the mind, three high-class contenders from that nation’s latest crop of sprinters will attempt to follow suit in Sunday’s edition of the 1200m contest.
One of those, Mikki Isle, could be the one to step into the vacated spotlight. The four-year-old Deep Impact colt - out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare, Star Isle - is trained by Hidetaka Otonashi at the Ritto Training Centre. Otonashi’s G1 victories since he opened his yard in 1995 include Japan’s premier early season sprint championship, the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (2006 Orewa Matteruze), as well as the February Stakes (2007 Sunrise Bacchus), the Satsuki Sho (2007 Victory), the Kikuka Sho (2008 Oken Bruce Lee) and the NHK Mile Cup, which Mikki Isle won in May, 2014.
Northern Farm bred Mikki Isle and in 2012 sent the bay to the yearling session of the Japan Racing Horse Association July Select Sale. Owner Mizuki Noda liked what she saw and parted with 76,000,000yen to secure the colt. The Noda family is doubly-represented at this LONGINES HKIR - Mrs. Noda’s husband, Masahiro Noda of Danox Co. Ltd, a software service company in Japan, is hoping to see his colours carried to victory by the exciting grey, Danon Platina, in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.
Mikki Isle grabbed his first win in a maiden race at his second start and carried four straight wins into the G1 NHK Mile Cup. It is said that winning wire-to-wire over a mile at Tokyo Racecourse is no easy feat given the track’s long stretches and stiff finish, but Mikki Isle showed a powerful drive to see out the distance.
“Mikki Isle still behaves like a baby. He likes people and tends to be happy when he is with other horses,” said his regular partner Yusuke Hirai who has been working him every morning at Sha Tin. “He always follows me in the box when I clean his barn. He is next to A Shin Hikari in the quarantine stable and works with him here. I think they are very good friends with each other now. He is so sweet, but once he goes racing he becomes very serious and faithful. He always runs powerfully.”
Five of Mikki Isle’s six career wins have come at a mile but the colt is winless since November last year. That latest victory came in the G2 Swan Stakes over 1400m at Kyoto. However, Hirai does not have any concern about the 1200m distance of Sunday’s race.
“He always jumps well and shows very good speed to take the lead, so the draw (gate 10) is not a problem. The 1200m is just right for him,” he said.
Mikki Isle’s tremendous effort last time out saw him gain command of the Sprinters Stakes with 100m remaining, but exertions early in that contest cost him in the final furlong as he was overtaken by the winner, the re-opposing Straight Girl, and faded to fourth.
“In the Sprinters Stakes he was getting at the bit and raced keenly, so he used himself too early and that took the edge off his finish,” said Hirai.
But Hirai has a lot of confidence in the horse’s condition now. “The travel to Hong Kong was delayed for one day due to an aircraft issue, but it did him no harm at all. Ever since he arrived here he has maintained his good condition and he has galloped comfortably on the Sha Tin turf.”
This LONGINES HKIR represents trainer Otonashi’s first venture overseas with his horses. Hirai, who is also accompanying horses overseas for the first time, is excited to be in Hong Kong and believes the trainer is looking forward to the challenge. “All I can do for him is to help tune Mikki Isle up for the big race,” he said.
Mikki Isle lines up in the 14-runner Group 1 alongside two compatriots, the Sprinters Stakes first and second, Straight Girl and Sakura Gospel. Straight Girl already knows how tough the Hong Kong Sprint can be, having battled through a wide run to finish third last year.
The question is, are any of the three Japanese sprint stars able to follow in the significant hoof prints of Lord Kanaloa? That is a question that can only be answered on Sunday!
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Photo 1:
Japanese runner Mikki Isle gallops on Sha Tin turf on Thursday (10 December) to prepare for G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint this Sunday.
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