La Perouse powers to Japan Road leadership in Hyacinth Feb 21, 2021 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com
Triple Crown-nominated
La Perouse was slow to begin in Sunday’s Hyacinth S. at Tokyo, but rolled late to take leadership of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Kazuo Fujisawa trainee banked 30 points, surpassing the winners of the first two scoring races – Alain Barows (20 points from the Dec. 16 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun) and Lemon Pop (10 points from the Nov. 28 Cattleya S.), neither of whom contested the Hyacinth.
La Perouse went off as the 5-2 second choice in Japan, with Cattleya runner-up Takeru Pegasus garnering 4-5 favoritism. Unlike the Cattleya, where Takeru Pegasus flashed speed, the nearly white colt lagged off the pace here. Even further back was La Perouse after his tardy start. As a closer, he was going to bide his time early anyway, but put himself in perhaps a worse position than jockey Christophe Lemaire expected.
Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse, awarding qualifications points on a 30-12-6-3 basis to the top four finishers. It is the third of four Derby points races on the Japan road.
A dozen promising 3-year-olds have been entered in the 1,600-meter event, which will take place at 12:25 a.m. EST. The 12-race card at Tokyo also includes the prestigious Grade 1 Mile Championship, in which reigning Hyacinth winner Cafe Pharoah will make his 2021 debut.
Who are the key contenders in the Hyacinth? And which horse(s) might we see compete in the Kentucky Derby 2 1/2 months from now? Let’s dig in and examine the most intriguing runners:
Takeru Pegasus looks to take flight in Hyacinth Feb 19, 2021 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com
Takeru Pegasus nearly wired the first race on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Nov. 28 Cattleya Stakes, only to be run down late by Lemon Pop. Sunday’s Hyacinth Stakes is held over the same metric mile at Tokyo, and with no Lemon Pop in the line-up, Takeru Pegasus will try to go one better.
A nine-length maiden winner here Nov. 7, Takeru Pegasus earned four points for his runner-up effort in the Cattleya. The Yukihiro Kato trainee was 10 lengths clear of the rest that day. A similar performance would make him the top threat in the Hyacinth, which is worth triple the points – 30-12-6-3 to the respective top four.
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Classique Legend draws inside for Hong Kong International Sprint Classique Legend wins The Everest. Source: Getty Images.
The barrier draw has been conducted for the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) which will be run on Sunday at Sha Tin.
This year’s The Everest winner was the last horse of the 14 runners to draw a barrier and the Casper Fownes-trained sprinter will start from barrier one in the $HK 22 million sprint feature.
Classique Legend is the $2 favourite to win his first start outside Australia, ahead of the John Size-trained Hot King Prawn, a $4 chance which will start from barrier 5.