Wizard still producing the magic at seven as Dubai World Cup prep goes to plan

Last year's Dubai World Cup runner-up Chuwa Wizard justified odds of 1-5 in the Kawasaki Kinen on Wednesday, a local Group 1 over an extended ten furlongs on the dirt.

The seven-year-old entire, trained by Ryuji Okubo and ridden by Yuga Kawada, was settled in fifth position before moving up rounding the home turn to hit the front at the furlong pole.

It was straightforward from that point as Chuwa Wizard claimed his second Kawasaki Kinen triumph - the other having come in 2020 - by four lengths from longshot Ailes Du Courage, while Vertex was a head back in third.

The son of King Kamehameha, out of Durandal's winning daughter Chuwa Blossom, was recording his 11th win from 24 career starts.

Kawada said: "I am relieved I could win without a problem. I was riding him for the first time in a long time [since this race in 2020], but he was so fine. At that point in 2020, he was complete as a racehorse, and my feeling is that he has continued to maintain his high level.

"We got into a cramped place early on, but he was running rhythmically, so I was thinking just about how I would handle it. He is not a youngster but he responded well to my cue."

The rider added: "Two years ago, after winning this race, we had a plan to go to Dubai together, but couldn't because of Cocvid-19. I have gotten a chance again, so I'd like to go to Dubai for his challenge with determination this year. Please cheer us from Japan."

In other Dubai news, last year's Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Shahryar will contest the Sheema Classic without the prep race that had been announced on owner Sunday Thoroughbred Club's website.

He is at grass at Northern Farm Shigaraki, and will return to trainer Hideaki Fujiwara's yard at the Ritto Training Centre in the next week.

Also announced was that NHK Mile Cup Group 1 winner Schnell Meister, a son of Kingman, could take in the Dubai Turf next.

Meanwhile, 2021 horse of the year Efforia is set to make his seasonal reappearance in the Osaka Hai on April 3, while Deep Bond, who was runner-up to Efforia in the Arima Kinen in December, will be pointed towards the Group 2 Hanshin Daishoten as a prep for the Tenno Sho (Spring).

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