Mont Saint Legame will probably be Japan’s flag bearer in the competitive Race for The Roses. This is after the colt won the Cattleya Sho race that was held in Tokyo on the 26th of November. Although the sterling performance that Mont Saint Legame put forward during that competition did improve its chances of representing its country in the world- famous and highly competitive Kentucky derby, it still has some more hurdles to overcome in order to earn the position.

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Mont Saint Legame the Champion

After its dazzling performance on Saturday, Mont Saint Legame’s trainer, Koji Maki, said that he is hopeful that the horse will make it to the Kentucky Derby. He was however quick to add that it is yet too early to make a conclusive decision about the horse’s participation in the derby. The Kentucky Derby president Bill Mudd also quipped that the horse deserves to contest in the Race for The Roses. Mudd was speaking during a celebratory event in front of the grand Fuji view, where he and his fellow Churchill Downs officials had attended the victory celebrations.

However, it is clear that Mont Saint Legame is the best contender for the Kentucky Derby. In the Cattleya Sho race, the horse garnered a solid forty points. Other competitors in the race came up far behind it, with the second horse, Caucus, earning 16 points, the third, Blanc Eclat, 8 points and the fourth, Lavapies, earning 4 points. Mont Saint Legame, which is owned by Shinichi Yamashita, bred by Kawashima Bokujo and ridden by Takuya Kowata, clearly set an unbeatable record on Saturday. It covered about one mile on a dirt course in a record1:37 4/5, which is nothing short of spectacular.

The Hyacinth Hurdle

Although the Cattleya Sho race is an extremely competitive race, it is only one of the two Japanese races which are branded the Road to Kentucky Derby races. The second race, the Hyacinth race, will be held next year. In this race, Mont Saint Legame will still have to prove itself a worthy candidate for the Race for the Roses. If it succeeds in this second race as well, then there is a very high likelihood that will represent Japan in Louisville next year in May.

Former Champions

Other champions that have represented Japan in several races include Lani, a colt that was bred in Kentucky by Tapit. Some of its achievements include the fact that it represented Japan in the UAE Derby and won the race, came ninth in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Belmont Stakes an fifth in the Preakness Stakes. Another Japanese colt worth of recognition is the Blanc Eclat, which is ridden by Ryan Moore (pictured). The colt had a rather energetic start to the Cattleya Sho, but was drained by the middle of the race. The uphill climb proved to be too much for it, and it only managed to come third in the race.

When all is said and done, Mont Saint Legame is only a breath away from the Kentucky Derby. Should it keep up the stamina and energy that is displayed in the Cattleya Sho race, then it does indeed stand a good chance of winning this hotly contested derby.