Sunrise Nova | Horse Racing Free Tips

Consistent as the day is long, with just three finishes outside the top three from 19 career starts, Red le Zele (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) looks to give his outstanding sire a first top-level scorer on the dirt in Sunday's G1 February S. at Tokyo Racecourse.

Victorious in the 1400-meter G3 Negishi S. at headquarters last January, Red le Zele ran on to finish fourth behind Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) in this event, then shipped to Dubai, where he was an excellent runner-up beneath Ryan Moore in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in March. A close third off a six-month break in the Listed Tokyo Hai at Ohi in early October, the 6-year-old exits a comprehensive three-length defeat of Sunrise Nova (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) in the valuable Listed JBC Sprint at Kanazawa Nov. 3.

“He is probably better now compared to last year, when he finished fourth in this race,” said trainer Takayuki Yasuda. “He has developed nicely and I think he can put in another big run.”

Cafe Pharoah seems to save his best for the Tokyo 1600 metres, where he is a perfect three-from-three. After accounting for the venerable Air Spinel (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) by three-parts of a length 12 months ago, he failed to land a serious blow in three subsequent appearances, including a distant 11th to the G1 Saudi Cup-bound T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) in the G1 Champions Cup over nine furlongs at Chukyo Dec. 5.

T M South Dam (Jpn) (South Vigorous) is in with a puncher's chance, with nine wins from 18 starts, including the Listed Hyogo Gold Trophy at Sonoda in late December followed by a one-length tally in this year's Negishi S. Jan. 30.

Two-time champion Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune), last year's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) heroine who defeated Eclipse Award winner Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen, tries the dirt for the second time in her career, having disappointed at skinny odds when a well-beaten 12th in the Champions Cup.

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Group 1 racing action returns to Japan with Tokyo's G1 February S., a 'Win and You're In' event for the Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be held at Del Mar this fall. Heading the 16-horse field is Café Pharoah (Jpn) (American Pharoah), who aired by 10 lengths in an 1800-meter maiden race at Nakayama in December 2019 before reeling off three consecutive wins, including Tokyo's G3 Unicorn S. (1600m) last June. Favored in the 2000-meter G1 Japan Dirt Derby at NAR-Oi in July, he finished an even seventh over the muddy track before returning from a three-month layoff to win the G3 Sirius S. at Chukyo in October. Jumping up in class for his latest, he came home sixth in the 1800-meter G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Dec. 6.

Red le Zele (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who has registered seven wins between 1200-1400 meters, rounded off last term with a runner-up finish in the 1200 meter-G3 Capella S. at Nakayama in December. Stepped up to 1400 meters for his latest, the 5-year-old took the Jan. 31 G3 Negishi S. at Tokyo.

The February S. will be the bay's first appearance at the 1600-meter distance, but trainer Takayuki Yasuda is unconcerned.

“The stretch-out in distance is not a worry,” he said. “I am very exciting to see his performance over the distance.”

Auvergne (Jpn) (Smart Falcon {Jpn}) comes into this event off a three-race win skein, including the 1800-meter G2 Tokai TV Hai Tokai S. at Chukyo Jan. 24.

“Last time out, he was able to run 1,000 meters in :59.3, and asserted well at the end to go on and win,” said assistant trainer Eiko Umeuchi. “He's quite easy to control and has good racing sense, as can be seen by him getting into good positions early in a race without too much effort.”

Sunrise Nova (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) makes his fourth attempt on the February S., a race in which he finished third last year. Winner of the G3 Procyon S. at Hanshin last July, he was fourth in Morioka's Listed Mile Championship in October before returning to score in the 1600-meter G3 Tokyo Chunichi Sports Hai Musashino S. Nov. 14. In his final start of the seaon, the chestnut finished 12th in Chukyo's G1 Champions Cup.

Trainer Hidetaka Otonashi said, “He doesn't seem suited by Chukyo for some reason, but the mile at Tokyo is good for him. On returning from a short break at the farm, he's been working with stablemate Danburite, and he's been moving well.”

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