Is Gaia Force a geriatric greybeard or a cheeky child?
Sometimes, trainer Haruki Sugiyama is not even sure himself but he admits to being won over by the six-year-old grey’s boyish attitude.
“He is getting on in years, but he still acts like a bit of a child,” Sugiyama told Idol Horse. “That immaturity can be endearing in a way – I think that’s part of his charm and why he is so popular.”
In Japan, horses are idolised like celebrities. There are the greats – Deep Impact, Equinox, Almond Eye – and then there are those who have traits that bring them public adoration.
Take Sodashi, a star on the track but more famous for her rare pure white colour. Or Gold Ship, immensely talented and a champion in many respects but beloved as a cantankerous, unpredictable rogue.
Gaia Force is no Gold Ship, but he has a cult following that has made him one of Japan’s most popular horses. He is sometimes referred to as a “rock star” by Japanese racing fans – partially because of his quirky personality that sees him unleashing more expressions and poses than a teenage influencer and partially due to a bizarre segment in 2022 when former jockey Seiki Tabara emulated Japanese rock singer Yuya Uchida to depict Gaia Force’s character. (To this day, due to that segment, some fans refer to Gaia Force as “Shake It Now”.)
Even at Sha Tin trackwork this week ahead of the G1 Champions Mile (1600m), Gaia Force strutted across the turf, his head swaying from side to side in a display of brash arrogance and supreme confidence. He is a rock star in equine form.
“He has always been very cheeky and mischievous,” Sugiyama said. “When he was younger, he threw the jockey off a few times but he suffered an injury and had time off. When he came back, he was much more mature in the mornings – but he still has some of that cheekiness!”
Gaia Force will finally make his international debut at his eighth attempt at Group 1 level, tackling horses from Hong Kong, Australia and Bahrain in the Champions Mile.
His fourth in last year’s G1 Yasuda Kinen – the second year in a row he finished fourth in the race – reads well now given he was only a length and a half behind Romantic Warrior and just a length from Soul Rush.
He also has form around some of the best in Japan, including Equinox, Do Deuce, Rousham Park, Songline and Wilson Tesoro, while he beat Voyage Bubble by seven lengths last year.
“Given his age, there won’t be many more chances for him to race overseas,” Sugiyama said. “After discussing it with the owner, we agreed it would be a good opportunity to give him that international experience while we still can.”
A hallmark of Gaia Force’s career has been his versatility. He won the G2 St Lite Kinen over 2200m as a three-year-old but has been more effective at a mile, while his best Group 1 performance came in the February Stakes (1600m) on dirt when he finished second to Peptide Nile last year.
“He’s shown he can handle dirt, and I don’t think the softer turf in Hong Kong will be a problem for him either if it rains,” Sugiyama said.
Thursday’s barrier draw dealt Sugiyama a blow when Gaia Force drew gate 13 of 13, but the trainer believes that it could actually prove a positive for jockey Yuga Kawada.
“Gaia Force tends to win by making a late charge from the outside,” he said. “When he draws an inside post, his clean, rhythmic stride sometimes gets disrupted when he’s jostled in the pack, and that has led to poor results. So I’d say being drawn wide is actually a plus. It’s easier for him to run his race from the far outside than from a half-wide position like gate 11 or 12.”
Sugiyama also saddles up Lugal in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m). The son of Duramente finished 11th behind Ka Ying Rising in December but the trainer believes he is worthy of another chance.
“This is his second overseas trip, and he’s handling it very calmly,” he said. “I think he’s going into the race in a much better mental and physical state than last time.”
In fact, Lugal’s presence has proven to be pivotal for Gaia Force – a Brian Epstein to The Beatles or a Colonel Tom Parker to Elvis Presley.
“Gaia Force lost some weight on the journey over and is showing signs of nervousness – it is his first overseas trip, after all,” Sugiyama said. “But Lugal has been with him the whole time, almost like a travelling companion, and I think his presence is a big source of comfort for Gaia Force.” ∎
