Curren Chan: strikes for first time at top level in Sprinters Stakes
PICTURE: Japan Racing AssociationRocket Man only fourth as home team dominates
Report: Japan, Sunday
Nakayama: Sprinters Stakes (Grade 1) 6f, turf, 3yo+
THE home team filled the first three places as four-year-old filly Curren Chan (Takayuki Yasuda/Kenichi Ikezoe) took the Sprinters Stakes.
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The race attracted a degree of controversy as Hong Kong star Lucky Nine finished fifth after meeting interference, getting leaned on by the runner-up Pas De Trois.
Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Rocket Man also found a bit of trouble in close contact with third-placed A Shin Virgo - but neither horse would have troubled 10-1 shot Curren Chan, who scored by a length and three-quarters.
Rocket Man, sent off a hot favourite, slightly lost his position turning in and could only plug on for fourth. "He was caught up in traffic," said jockey Felix Coetzee, speaking to the Japan Racing Association.
"He started well and he was in a good position until I had horses around me. I could have taken him to the outside at the 600m but I wasn't too comfortable to do that because I thought it was a little bit early. So I held him in that position hoping that I could get her out of the way but that wasn't to happen and I was caught up. In the end I steered him to the outside but he had lost momentum at that stage."
Trainer Patrick Shaw added: "A Shin Virgo came across more quickly than expected at the turn and he got caught in a pocket and the race was over him at that stage. It was an unlucky race and not to be anticipated."
Lucky Nine's trainer Caspar Fownes, who also saddled Green Birdie to finish eighth, reckoned the interference had cost him dear.
"Lucky Nine ran extremely well and there was a gap which he could have taken but he was blocked and pinched back which cost him at least a second place," he claimed.
Curren Chan, a four-year-old daughter of Kurofune, was landing her first Grade 1 victory as she extended her winning streak to five.
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