Sunday's listed Hyacinth Stakes over a one-turn mile at Tokyo Racecourse saw a new player take the lead on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Combustion, a 3-year-old son of Discreet Cat owned and bred by Godolphin in Japan, put in a determined bid along the rail to prevail by three-quarters of a length and earn 30 points toward the first Saturday in May.
Combustion also earned eight points in December when second in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, bringing his total to 38 points. However, the colt is not yet Triple Crown nominated.
Trained by Keizo Ito and ridden by jockey Yuga Kawada, Combustion has won three of his five starts and placed in the other two. The colt boasts earnings of US$557,666.
The colt is out of the winning Pyro mare Smoldering, a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner and $2 million earner Fashionista (Street Sense).
Churchill Downs introduced the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” to provide a potential entry in the Kentucky Derby for a horse based in Japan. If the winner of the Japan Road declines the offer, their position is offered to the next ranked Japanese horse. If none of the top four finishers accepts the offer, this position in the starting gate reverts to qualifiers on the regular Road to the Kentucky Derby.
In case you missed it
Combustion
takes a decisive victory in the Listed Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo for #TeamGodolphin
pic.twitter.com/HQZzui8GTU
— Godolphin (@godolphin) February 21, 2022
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