Horse To Follow: King Squall
1st of 8, 2YO Newcomer
1800 (Turf), Sapporo
Sunday July 21
Pedigree: Duramente × Rain On The Dune (Frankel)
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
At Sapporo Racecourse, King Squall made a sensational debut, surpassing Sodashi’s 1800m two-year-old record by 0.4 seconds with a time of 1:47.8.
Despite being pushed to the lead early in the race, an unfavourable scenario, King Squall continued to extend his lead down the home straight, ultimately securing a three-length victory. This performance not only broke Sodashi’s record but also showcased a highly meritorious effort in terms of time and margin, and the ability to absorb pressure.
However, King Squall’s temperament poses a challenge. The horse displayed unruly behaviour in the parade ring, even running loose at one point, and jockey Yusuke Fujioka commented on his mount’s immaturity after the race.
The G3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes looms as King Squall’s next target. In recent years, Classic winners like Satsuki Sho winner Geoglyph and Sodashi have won that race, so a victory there could signify a strong contender for the Classics.
Future Outlook: The frontrunner for the Sapporo Nisai Stakes.
