Luxor Cafe a American Pharoah Colt has nailed a guaranteed offer for the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a emphatic five-length victory on March 29 in the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama RaceCourse.
The 1,800 meter (approx. 1 1/8 miles) Fukuryu was the last stage of the Churchill Downs-Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Luxor Cafe already came on the ranking list in this four-breed series and the victory made its last burren as wide as its winner's edge over 10 exaggerated competitors in the final.
Luxor Cafe's connections have not immediately confirmed plans, but the Kentucky breds stallion foal is nominated in the United States Triple Crown Series, and Fukuryu's efforts have hardly left any doubt that he could master the additional furlong of the run for the roses. The Colt is trained by Noriyuki Hori and owned by Koichi Nishikawa.
After the well-known international jockey Joao “Magic Man” was used up for the first time, the Luxor Cafe broke out from the outer gate on the 11-hp field and raced Midpack, outside the rivals, through the first curve and down.
He took up the pace when he approached the second curve.
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Meisho Zuiun And Golden cloud The second or third place, as Luxor Cafe reported in 1: 52.1 on a icy, rainy day over a route.
“From the goal we settled well and we decided to stay behind the front of the front horses,” said Moreira, a former master jockey in Brazil and Hong Kong. “But we were all the way in a good rhythm. Around the last round, in the track, when I loosened the reins, the horse reacted very well and he took a mighty step in the last shipyards.
“It was another nice way to win today. He's a very good horse,” said Moreira.
The victory was the fourth in a row of Luxor Cafe after a fourth and a second in Sapporo to open his career last year. He did not contest the first two legs of the Japan Road, but took the lead in the series with a victory in the Hyacinth Stakes on February 23 in Tokyo Racourse.
Luxor Cafe was bred by Orpendale, Chelston, Wynatt and Westerberg Ireland from second class More than ready mare Mary's follies and is a full brother too Cafe Pharoah A two-time winner of the February 2021-22 (G1) at 1,600 meters (approx. One mile) on the racetrack of Tokyo and in third place in 2023 Saudi Cup (G1) 1,800 meters. The Luxor Cafe, which Nishikawa bought privately, is also a half -brother for several first class winners and 2022 Eclipse Champion Female Turf Horse Royal fame and several winners of class 3 Night Prowler .
Forever teenage won the second stage of the series, the 2023 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, but then took the route of the Middle East Mystic and And Sierra Leone In the Kentucky Derby.
password Received the baton to win the title 2024 Fukuryu and the Japan Road title, used the Free Pass to the Kentucky Derby and took fifth place with a nice delayed run after a ponderous start and a restless journey.
If Luxor Cafe makes it into the Kentucky Derby-Starttor, he may not be the only Japanese entry, since four more 3-year-olds in Japan are in the expected area for the Derby of the VAE. The winner of this race will qualify for the Kentucky Derby series as part of the Euro/Midost Road.
