Asia Express impresses in Asahi Hai Futurity win

Asia Express demonstrated his exceptional power in his

first test on turf and going clockwise to score a comfortable 1 1/4-length

victory in Sunday's Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Nakayama.

Asia Express became the first

Japanese Grade 1 winner for sire Henny Hughes, who is due to begin

stud service in Japan beginning next spring.

Having just made his debut on

November 3 at Tokyo Racecourse in a 1400-meter dirt race, the Florida-bred chestnut

quickly earned his qualification to run in the two-year-old championship contest with

his second win, also at Tokyo, in the Oxalis Sho going 1600 meters on dirt.

Asia Express bided his time along the rails in midfield before moving up to secure space behind the front group after the third corner.

The chestnut accelerated impressively into contention while angling out for a clear path at the

top of the stretch, rallying with two other foes while overtaking the tiring

leader 100 meters out, and then drawing away for a clear victory.

Ryan Moore registered his fourth JRA Grade 1 win and his second

title at the highest level this season after guiding Gentildonna to victory in the Japan Cup. The British jockey, who had also partnered

Asia Express in his last start over dirt at Tokyo on November 23,

expressed his amazement over the juvenile colt's ability to handle both dirt and turf with equal

strength and change of gears.

"He surprised me -- he quickened up so well," Moore said.

"When I rode him before, he looked like he was a horse with lots of gears. He's a

special horse, because not many do both dirt and grass. His future should be

bright. He feels like he hasn't got to the bottom of it yet -- like there's more

to come -- so it'll be interesting to see how much progress he makes."

Asia Express' trainer, Takahisa Tezuka, claimed his third career Grade 1 title and his second

score in the Asahi Hai Futurity after saddling Alfredo to victory in 2011. His his

other Grade 1 win was with Ayusan in this year's Oka Sho

(Japanese One Thousand Guineas).

Shonan Achieve handled this first test over 1600 meters

with class, finishing second after sitting midpack in front of the eventual

winner. He launched his bid after going wide around the last corner outside

Win Full Bloom as the two made headway to rally, and continued to show effort to

prevail by a neck for second while unable to keep up with the winner.

Win Full Bloom was always prominent while racing wide

throughout, and still had enough left to keep in contention for third.

Race favorite Atom saved ground along the rails around

seventh for most of the trip, had to wait for room as the field crowded going

around the final turn and showed good speed to join the rally while unable to

reach the leaders for fifth.

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