Tosaki leads in World Super Jockeys Series; Stevens out of luck on first day

Tosaki leads in World Super Jockeys Series; Stevens out of

luck on first day

Keita Tosaki, in his first season with the Japan Racing Association after a

productive career on the regional NAR circuit, grabbed a slim lead from Great

Britain's Ryan Moore after Saturday's opening events in the World Super Jockeys

Series at Hanshin. U.S. Hall of Famer Gary Stevens was not as fortunate with his

two mounts, and found himself near the cellar going into Sunday's finale.

Tosaki got off to a terrific start in the first leg, an about seven-furlong

turf race dubbed the Golden Saddle Trophy. Landing the mount on favored Meisho

Yataro in the random draw, Tosaki guided the son of Agnes Tachyon to a 3

1/2-length decision, thus earning 20 points. Yuichi Fukunaga got big longshot

Three Artemis up for second, good for 15 points, while third-placer Makaha gave

Germany's Andrasch Starke 13 points.

Stevens rode Orchid Lei, who went off as the fourth choice in the wagering,

but could manage only seventh. That finish was worth five points.

"He did well," Stevens said. "It looked like we had a good chance after the

last corner, but he ran out of steam."

Moore wasn't helped by his partner, Shinko Prince, and checked in a

tailed-off last of 15, but rebounded with a victory in the second leg called the

Golden Bridle Trophy. Teaming up with third pick Kurino Star O in the contest's

only dirt event, Moore drove to a 1 1/4-length tally over favored American

Winner, the mount of fellow British representative Richard Hughes. Hong Kong's

Douglas Whyte took third with Tomiken Ardor, completing the trifecta for

international riders.

Stevens came home 12th aboard second choice Suzuka Lucent, netting only one

point for a Saturday total of six.

"I wanted to take him to the front, but had to race towards the rear due to

the slow break," Stevens said. "We also turned too wide around the corners. I'll

try to do better tomorrow."

Tosaki recorded two points after finishing 10th on Agnes Minuet, enough to

take the early lead with a first-day score of 22 points. Moore is just one

behind with 21, thanks to his win and a single point for his last in the initial

leg.

Fukunaga is a close third with 18 points, and Hughes and the Australian Craig

Williams are tied at 16. Whyte has put 15 points on the board, followed by

Starke (14), Irishman Pat Smullen (13), Shoichi Kawahara (12), France's Maxime

Guyon (11), Yasunari Iwata (eight), Suguru Hamanaka (seven), Stevens and

Hiroyuki Uchida (six apiece) and Yuga Kawada (five).

The competition concludes Sunday with two turf allowances -- the Golden Boots

Trophy and the Golden Whip Trophy. Carded as the 10TH and 12TH, respectively,

they bookend the Hanshin feature, the Grade 1 Japan Cup Dirt.

Stevens will ride three-year-old filly Tansu Chokin as she tries older males

in the about 1 1/4-mile Golden Boots Trophy. Although she gets a weight

allowance, her career record of 19-1-0-0 inspires little confidence.

Stevens' last chance comes down to the Irish-bred Lord Rock Star in the

Golden Whip Trophy. Unplaced in five of six starts this year, the seven-year-old

veteran has drawn post 2 in the metric mile affair.

For Saturday's complete results of the World Super Jockeys Series, click

here.

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