Copano Rickey shocks World Cup hopefuls in February Stakes

Sachiaki Kobayashi's Copano Rickey, the 271-1 longest shot on the board,

defeated Dubai World Cup-bound Hokko Tarumae and Belshazzar in his Grade 1 debut

in Sunday's February Stakes at Tokyo.

Going into the metric mile on dirt, trainer Akira Murayama was happy that

Copano Rickey had even gotten into the field.

"He definitely seems to have improved, so I'm hoping he'll take this

opportunity and make the most of it," said Murayama, whose only prior Grade 1

score had come in the 2012 February with Testa Matta.

Copano Rickey did indeed make the most of it. Under Hironobu Tanabe, the son

of Gold Allure stalked pacesetting A Shin Top, took command about a quarter of a

mile from home, and kept on determinedly.

"The long stretch felt especially long today," Tanabe said. "We just went and

gave what he had -- we ended up without being challenged and he responded well.

I want to thank him for giving me my first Grade 1 title."

Hokko Tarumae, winner of the Tokyo Daishoten and Kawasaki Kinen in his last

two, tried his best to peg back the unlikely winner, but fell a half-length

short. Trainer Katsuichi Nishiura confirmed that Hokko Tarumae, who was

uncharacteristically held up off the pace from post 15 here, would advance to

Dubai.

Favored Belshazzar, recently crowned as champion dirt horse in the wake of

his victory in the Japan Cup Dirt, turned in an eye-catching trial for the World

Cup. Rallying from near the rear of the 16-horse field, the Kunihide Matsuda

charge hit top gear in deep stretch to take third.

Northern River reported home fourth, followed by Brightline, Wonder Acute,

Danon Come On, Nihonpiro Ours, Dream Valentino, Gorski, Grand City, Solor, Best

Warrior, Admire Royal, Silk Fortune and A Shin Top.

Copano Rickey negotiated the 1,600 meters in 1:36, advancing his record to

9-5-0-1, ¥160,312,000, all amassed on dirt.

Unplaced in his lone start as a juvenile in December 2012, the chestnut came

right back to break his maiden at Kyoto and followed up in a Tokyo allowance in

January 2013. Copano Rickey thereby earned his way up the class ladder,

culminating in a six-length victory in the Hyogo Championship at Sonoda last

May. But he was not seen again for more than six months, and failed to regain

his form in the first two starts of his comeback. When returning in the November

17 Shimotsuki at Tokyo, Copano Rickey ended up 10th of 16, and he was most

recently ninth of 14 at Nakayama on December 23.

Bred by Yanagawa Bokujo in Japan, Copano Rickey is out of the winning Timber

Country mare Copano Nikita and hails from the family of Grade 2 hero Sunrise

Pegasus.

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