World Cup on agenda for brilliant Smart Falcon

Report: Japan, Wednesday

Kawasaki: Kawasaki Kinen (Grade 1) 1m2½f, dirt, 4yo+

A TILT at the $10million Dubai World Cup at Meydan on March 31 is on the cards for Smart Falcon (Ken Kosaki/Yutaka Take) after he registered a ninth successive win when smashing the Kawasaki course record. 

The leading Japanese dirt performer showed plenty of early speed to take this Group 1, seeing off the challenge of last year's winner Furioso who tried in vain to stay with Smart Falcon.

Turning in Take had Smart Falcon a length in front of his nearest challenger Furioso who could not follow him down the homestretch. Crossing the line Smart Falcon was four lengths ahead of Renforcer with Furioso finishing third.

The winner posted a record time of 2m10. 70s, more than two seconds quicker than that registered by Vermilion when he won this race in 2010.

Take said: "His condition was better than the previous start in the Tokyo Daishoten.

"This was his first time he ran at Kawasaki but I didn't worry because he had been sent to many racecourses all over Japan.

"I think his ability is already world class so I want to go to the Dubai World Cup with him."

Trainer Kosaki added: "I was relieved because his race was very good and his condition has gotten back into form.

"He has won nine consecutive graded races which is great. We will go to Dubai if they will invite us."