Shirl's Speight, winner of the 2022 Maker's Mark Mile (G1) over the turf course at Keeneland, has arrived in Japan for his bid to become the first foreign horse to compete in the Group 1 February Stakes on Feb. 19. The Tokyo showpiece is contested over a mile on the dirt course.
“He traveled very well,” assistant trainer Allyson Hartfield told the Japan Racing Association on Thursday. “The horse was settled on the plane—ate and drank everything we offered. It was a long couple of days and he's tired but is in good form and has settled in nicely. The stables here are gorgeous, everything is clean and organized and everybody has been wonderful.”
Owner/breeder Charlies Fipke is one of a small number of North American owners who are licensed to race in Japan, advisor Sid Fernando told the Thoroughbred Daily News last month. Shirl's Speight's latest start was a strong second to Modern Games in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile on turf. His most recent dirt start, the G3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park on June 18, 2022, resulted in a third-place finish, beaten more than 11 lengths by Mind Control.
The 5-year-old son of Speightstown is out of Fipke's millionaire 2011 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul), and is conditioned by Roger Attfield. He'll be ridden in the February Stakes by Joao Moreira, a four-time champion rider in Hong Kong with experience in Japan.
Plans after the February Stakes call for Shirl's Speight to ship to Dubai for the Group 1 Dubai Turf over nine furlongs at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Mar. 25.
The post ‘Settled In Nicely’: Grade 1 Winner Shirl’s Speight Arrives In Japan For Historic February Stakes Bid appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
