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INTERNATIONAL DIARY JANUARY 5, 2007 by Kellie Reilly It's no accident that the first month of the year is named for Janus, the Roman god of thresholds and doorways, who looks both forward and backward. In this spirit, the new year offers an opportunity to catch up on developments in Japan and Hong Kong. We've bidden farewell to superstars at these venues recently, but we've also witnessed a few budding heroes begin to take flight. Thus a retrospective of the late season action in the Far East also points out horses to watch on the international scene in 2007. The most charismatic performer to take his final bow was DEEP IMPACT (Sunday Silence). It would be factually correct to say that he bounced back from his third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), and his subsequent disqualification for a medication violation, to post resounding victories in the November 26 Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) and the Arima Kinen (Jpn-G1) on Christmas Eve. That cold and clinical summary, however, fails to convey the real significance of Deep Impact's final act. His return to action in the Japan Cup wasn't just about adding another trophy to his cabinet. This was about redemption, expunging the record, proving himself all over again. As dispiriting as the Arc and its aftermath were, ironically it added to Deep Impact's mystique by making his story even more compelling. Instead of a hero scaling uninterrupted heights, he became a protagonist in a drama, striving to overcome a setback and recapture lost luster. Deep Impact played his role to perfection in the Japan Cup. He did not merely outsprint two-time European Horse of the Year OUIJA BOARD (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]). He left her -- a dual classic winner who boasts outstanding form with the best males in Europe -- as if she were standing still. In the Arima Kinen, he tidied up another bit of unfinished business. Deep Impact suffered his first career defeat, and his only Japanese reverse, in this prestigious event in 2005 at the hands of HEART'S CRY (Sunday Silence). While he had exacted sweet revenge on Heart's Cry in the Japan Cup, as his rival was beaten a long way in 10th and then retired, Deep Impact still had an Arima Kinen question to answer: would the relatively short straight at Nakayama foil him again? Deep Impact issued an emphatic retort to that question. The shorter stretch was of no consequence, for he slaughtered them on the turn. Mere words cannot convey how he catapulted around a distinguished field and strolled under the wire, geared down. "He flew like never before," Take was quoted as saying in the Japan Times. Deep Impact's final two performances leave no doubt that here was a truly great individual, not in the trite way that we often overuse the word, but a rarity whose like may appear once in a generation. He humbled first-rate foes while giving the impression of consummate ease, appearing to float effortlessly across the turf. One look at the clock, however, revealed that our eyes had been fooled by a masterful conjurer. In reality, Deep Impact sizzled his last three furlongs in :33 and change -- traveling uphill in the final eighth. Had Take not tapped the brakes in the Arima Kinen, would he have blazed in :32 and change? While it would be unfair to expect anyone to fill the void left by Deep Impact as he retires to stud, two who chased him home in the Arima Kinen figure to make waves in the future -- runner-up POP ROCK (Helissio) and fourth-place finisher DREAM PASSPORT (Fuji Kiseki). Pop Rock has already made a name for himself on the international scene, having just missed in the Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) when beaten a nose by his stablemate, DELTA BLUES (Dance in the Dark). In the Arima Kinen, he convincingly turned the tables on Delta Blues, who could do no better than sixth. A late developing type who's suddenly blossomed at the age of five, Pop Rock may continue his ascent in 2007. Trainer Katsuhiko Sumii was reportedly planning another attempt on the Melbourne Cup, but since his charge is also effective at 1 1/2 miles, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him fly the flag for Japan in other international events as well. Japan's sophomore crop of 2006 has been hailed as exceptionally deep, and Dream Passport is arguably the best of the lot. After placing in all three legs of the Japanese Triple Crown, with a couple of hard luck stories along the way, he finished second to Deep Impact in the Japan Cup, digging deep to keep Ouija Board at bay in third. Dream Passport found his way into trouble in the Arima Kinen, and after crying out for room at a crucial stage, wound up an unlucky fourth, a nose behind multiple Group 1 winner DAIWA MAJOR (Sunday Silence). While he wouldn't have troubled the conqueror even with a clean trip, Dream Passport could well have challenged Pop Rock for runner-up honors. Assuming Dream Passport stays in training at four, he is the Japanese campaigner who intrigues me the most. Lest he be dismissed as a "nearly" horse who routinely finds one too good, it's worth recalling that Heart's Cry had gone close several times in Grade 1 company before breaking through in the fall of his four-year-old year. Several other members of the 2006 sophomore class deserve special mention. ALONDITE (El Condor Pasa) made an ambitious graded stakes debut in the November 25 Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) and showed that he belongs in world class company. Slipping through along the rail, he rolled to a 1 1/4-length decision over perennial Grade 1 bridesmaid SEEKING THE DIA (Storm Cat), who gives the form a rock solid look. This marked Alondite's fifth straight victory. Trainer Sei Ishizaka has mentioned Dubai as a possible target, but he cautioned that the lightly raced colt has conformation problems and is injury-prone. FUSAICHI RICHARD (Kurofune), the champion two-year-old colt of 2005, had been disappointing in his first eight starts as a sophomore, capped by a dismal 13th in the Japan Cup Dirt. For his 2006 finale, the gray returned to the turf and cut back in distance to seven furlongs, and that worked like the proverbial charm. In the inaugural running of the December 17 Hanshin Cup (Jpn-G2), Fusaichi Richard recaptured his former brilliance and defeated a field of stalwart older horses, several of them exiting creditable efforts in the Mile Championship (Jpn-G1) won by Daiwa Major. The Hanshin Cup form therefore appears to be a reliable guide, and Fusaichi Richard could make his presence felt on the international mile scene. Among the three-year-old fillies, the brilliant KAWAKAMI PRINCESS (King Halo) reigned supreme. A June foal, she didn't race until February 2006, but she progressed rapidly enough to take the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (Jpn-G1) in her third career start, becoming the first unbeaten winner of the Oaks in 49 years (according to the Japan Racing Journal). After adding the Shuka Sho (Jpn-G1), she tackled seasoned older mares in the November 12 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (Jpn-G1) and crossed the wire first. Unfortunately, she was disqualified for causing interference and demoted to 12th, a decision the stewards had to make even though she proved her supremacy on the day. In my view, Kawakami Princess remains unbeaten on merit, and she would be a prime candidate to venture into international waters. Speaking of the distaff set, a few superb mares signed off last month in Hong Kong, led by Ouija Board and PRIDE (Peintre Celebre). Ouija Board was denied her intended swan song in the December 10 Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) when an old splint injury flared up on the eve of the race. It was an anticlimactic end to a brilliant career, but better that it should happen when it did and not in the stress of combat. In contrast, the outstanding French mare Pride went out in a blaze of glory in the 1 1/4-mile Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1). After sweeping past defending champion VENGEANCE OF RAIN (Zabeel) and kicking clear in the stretch, Pride was given a real scare by Japanese three-year-old ADMIRE MOON (End Sweep), who found a telling change of gear late. Pride held on by a short head, but Admire Moon served notice that he is a serious individual. On a strict reading of his Japanese form, he's not quite up to Dream Passport's level. His Hong Kong form, however, puts him in elite company. After all, Pride had just missed in the Arc, beaten a neck by RAIL LINK (Dansili [GB]), and then slammed males in the Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket. In the absence of Ouija Board, the 1 1/2-mile Vase produced a thrilling finish between the old ex-hurdler COLLIER HILL (GB) (Dr. Devious [Ire]) and the Aga Khan's KASTORIA (Ire) (Selkirk), who was a desperately unlucky runner-up. As he showed when battling to a photo-finish score in the Canadian International S. (Can-G1) in his previous start, Collier Hill is nothing if not supremely brave, and he knuckled down grimly again here. Although he doesn't make it look easy as he churns his way home, Collier Hill's remorseless pounding is still an effective weapon. It probably would not have been enough to secure the prize, however, if Kastoria had enjoyed a clear passage. After being bumped and shuffled back in traffic just when the serious running started, she stormed home late and missed by the slimmest of margins. I suspect that a sound Ouija Board would have had the measure of them both. Neither Collier Hill nor Kastoria could match the accelerative powers of Ouija Board. The two-time Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) queen had been training beautifully, and Frankie Dettori would undoubtedly have masterminded a clean trip for the best horse in the race. Before leaving the Vase, two other runners should be noted. Japanese sophomore SONG OF WIND (El Condor Pasa), who was exiting a narrow victory over Dream Passport in the 1 7/8-mile Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) (Jpn-G1) in record time, checked in a creditable fourth in his initial attempt at the international level. He could also be a player on the world stage this season. The Aidan O'Brien-trained SCORPION (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]), who disappointed me by fading to fifth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), threw in another grievous effort when folding tamely to finish seventh in the Vase. Those subpar performances followed a promising comeback from a fractured pastern. O'Brien admitted afterward that he had rushed Scorpion's preparation to make the Breeders' Cup and Hong Kong, so perhaps with more time, he can recover his sparkling form. Like the Cup and Vase, the Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1) was also settled by a photo-finish, as the local pair of THE DUKE (Danehill) and ARMADA (Towkay) were separated by a head at the wire. The Duke stole a march on his rival early in the stretch, and that canny move proved to be decisive, as Armada closed furiously but ran out of ground. The Duke is targeting the lucrative Asian Mile Challenge series, but I don't think he's as good as Armada. Instead, the Mile contestant most likely to make a splash internationally is third-placer RAMONTI (Martino Alonso), who was subsequently snapped up by Godolphin. Despite setting a demanding pace in the Mile, the Italian Group 1 hero hung on for third, only 1 1/2 lengths adrift of the winner in a time just off the 23-year-old course record. Ramonti promises to be a potent factor on the milers' scene while sporting his new royal blue silks. Alas, the Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) may not yield international dividends even though it unveiled a potential superstar. ABSOLUTE CHAMPION (Marauding) lived up to his name with a breathtaking performance, romping by 4 1/4 lengths while setting a new course mark of 1:07 4/5 for six furlongs. Unfortunately, trainer David Hall has ruled out a tilt at the Global Sprint Challenge (GSC), according to the South China Morning Post. The once-great SILENT WITNESS (El Moxie) finished an honorable runner-up on that occasion, fueling hopes that he could yet return to the height of his powers. Sadly, he failed to build on that effort in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup (HK-G3) on New Year's Day, winding up seventh. Owner Archie da Silva told the South China Morning Post that the former champion is suffering from a degenerative joint condition and is on the verge of retirement after one or two more races. In another discouraging sidebar to the Sprint, reigning GSC star TAKEOVER TARGET (Celtic Swing) was scratched by order of the stewards after testing positive for a steroid. We haven't heard the last word from the Hong Kong Jockey Club on the subject, so it's unclear what the future holds for the Australian speedster and his conditioner Joe Janiak. Despite the cloud, Janiak is reportedly formulating plans for another crack at the GSC. The next major event on the horizon is the Dubai International Racing Carnival, which begins on January 18 and culminates in the March 31 Dubai World Cup program. Our March installment will preview the fascinating clashes on offer.
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