Spectators packed into Chukyo racecourse witnessed the coronation of the JRA’s (Japan Racing Association) ‘Dirt Queen’ as W Heart Bond brushed aside concerns regarding her demanding schedule to capture the G1 Champions Cup.
It was the first victory by a filly or mare since Sambista in 2015. For jockey Ryusei Sakai, it was a third consecutive win in the race formerly known as the Japan Cup Dirt, following his back-to-back wins with Lemon Pop.
Since her debut in August last year, W Heart Bond has achieved remarkable results, winning seven times and finishing second once in eight starts with Sakai. In her previous run, her first challenge in a JRA graded race, the G3 Miyako Stakes, she claimed her first graded title with a run that broke the course record.
But after that spectacular victory there was some concern in the stable about the three-week interval after a record win against the colts. Could the four-year-old stand-up to the fast turnaround?
Trainer Ryuji Okubo revealed, “Honestly, I didn’t get the feeling she was on the rise.”
W Heart Bond’s recovery time after her races tended to be slow, but Sakai requested of the trainer, “I want you to raise the gear one more notch for the Group 1,” and tried to put a load on her in the workout. However, the horse showed signs of saving herself.
But the outlook changed in the lead-up to the race.
“The (horse’s) movement two days after the final workout during the race week had changed completely, so I thought, ‘We can do this,'” recalled Okubo.
Sakai also believed in the horse’s own intelligence. “I think there was a part of her that thought, ‘I just have to run seriously in the race.'” The team believed in W Heart Bond’s natural ‘sense’ of her own well-being.
When the gates opened, Helios and Tenka Jo missed the break, while William Barows and Sixpence actively claimed the lead, creating a smooth flow, passing 1000 metres in 60.3 seconds.
Sakai was calm before the two battling horses. “We didn’t have a specific race plan”, he said, and he assessed the movements inside and out, making the decision to let Sixpence go and drop back one position. W Heart Bond secured a ‘reserved seat’ alone in third position, in good rhythm and patiently conserving her energy.
The turning point of the battle was the entrance from the fourth corner to the final straight.
“She felt good … I trusted that she would give her best run,” Sakai said.
W Heart Bond powerfully quickened to the front. However, the Group 1 stage is not an easy task. Threading through the pack, Wilson Tesoro and Yuga Kawada, boasting a record of finishing second in this race for the past two years, came charging fiercely from the inside.
“Because it was that horse, the scariest horse, I thought ‘here he comes,'” said Sakai.
With 200 metres remaining, W Heart Bond and Wilson Tesoro were framed side by side and a fierce duel unfolded. Wilson Tesoro’s drive was so strong that it made even Okubo anxious that “we might lose out in momentum at the end.”
However, what W Heart Bond showed from there was not just natural speed, but a gritty and tenacious competitive spirit.
“I think the feeling when entering the stretch after breaking out was a gift of her senses. I understood she was trying to extend one more time after being matched.”
The moment they ran through the finish line, Sakai was confused, saying, “I felt like I won, but also felt like I lost.” Okubo also looked back, saying, “When they crossed the line, I was disappointed thinking ‘Is it second?'”
However, the result of the photo finish determined that the fierce battle was a victory for W Heart Bond by a nose in a time of 1:50.2. Wilson Tesoro came in second, and Ramjet third. Veteran Meisho Hario, who took on the challenge as his retirement race, fought well for fourth. Race favorite, Narukami, sank to 13th.
“She’s simply magnificent. Just making it to a Group 1 is tough enough, so winning it is truly amazing … I’m just happy that she became a Group 1 winner,” Sakai said.
A special thought was also imbued in the victory. Assistant Trainer Tatsuo Taniguchi, who was most involved with this horse at the Okubo Stable and continued to believe “she is a very good horse”, is currently battling cancer. Taniguchi is a skilled horseman who previously handled the idol horse Deep Bond and is loved by fans.
“While (Tatsuo) Taniguchi was away, I was riding while feeling ‘I wonder what that guy would have done’ in order to care for this horse’s weak points myself. I hope he sees this and hangs in there,” said Okubo.
Regarding future plans, the trainer showed a cautious stance. They will not head to the G1 Tokyo Daishoten at the end of the year, but plan to rest her for next year with 1800 metres as her main battlefield.
He also voiced concerns regarding overseas expeditions.
“I feel racecourses with gait inspections, like in America or Dubai, would be a sticking point,” he said. “It is certain that she does not have a pretty gait.”
Looming in the trainer’s mind was the recent heartbreak of Awesome Result, who was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Distaff following strict veterinary inspections.
W Heart Bond is by no means injured, but there is a risk that her unique gait would be judged unfavourably in strict overseas veterinary inspections. Therefore, the domestic dirt front looks to be the main arena for next year as well.
This year Sakai conquered the G1 Saudi Cup and G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic with Forever Young on the global stage, but through wins such as this the maturing ace has demonstrated his ability in his home country too.
“If I can win, I want to win many times, and I would be happy if I could do it four or five times in a row.” Smiling, he accepted this Champions Cup feat with gratitude: “thanks to everyone involved: the farm, and the stable.” ∎
