Second favorite Gold Dream captured the February Stakes title this year and demonstrated his aptitude and liking for the Tokyo dirt mile course as he marked his third victory out of four, which includes his first grade-race triumph in the G3 Unicorn Stakes last June. The Gold Allure colt was entered off a disappointing 12th in the December Champions Cup after being sent off second favorite, but displayed a sound and convincing performance this time scoring his first G1 win as if paying tribute to his sire who passed away the previous day. This is the second JRA-G1 win for trainer Osamu Hirata who claimed his first with Curren Black Hill in the 2012 NHK Mile Cup, while jockey Mirco Demuro notched his 19th JRA-G1 victory, his latest with Queens Ring in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup last season, and celebrates his second February Stakes title since his victory last year on board Moanin.

Gold Dream broke fairly from stall three and was reserved in mid-division behind Best Warrior down the backstretch as Incantation headed the full field of 16 runners. As the bunched-up field fanned out rounding the final corner to secure room for their stretch-run, the Gold Allure colt also floated out wide entering the lane in seventh to eighth but galloped confidently picking off his tiring rivals one by one, finally pinning the brief leader Nishiken Mononofu before the furlong pole, and held off a fast closing Best Warrior by a neck for the title.

“In the Champions Cup, he broke poorly and was keen—he didn’t stretch at all. But today he was relaxed even after entering the track. His start was good, he was positioned well and responded beautifully in the straight. He still had a lot left at the end,” commented Mirco Demuro.

Best Warrior, sent off fifth favorite, was also reserved in mid-pack but took an inner route making the final turns and was blocked behind horses in early stretch. However, the patient seven-year-old found a gap chasing Nishiken Mononofu who pulled away in front of him two furlongs out, and unleashed a strong late run to threaten the winner for a neck second.

Off slow as usual, race favorite Kafuji Take sat unhurried near the rear and was last to enter the stretch but had no trouble finding his stride as he blew past the field clocking the fastest last three-furlong drive to finish 3/4 length from Best Warrior for third.
Other Horses:
4th: (13) A Shin Bakken—settled in rear pack, turned wide, showed acceleration, timed 2nd fastest last 3 furlongs
5th: (12) Nishiken Mononofu—stalked leader in 2nd, led 400m out, maintained lead until 200m out, held well
6th: (15) K T Brave—ran 3-wide in 5th, sustained bid until 100m out, weakened thereafter
7th: (11) Nonkono Yume—sat behind winner, showed brief effort but lacked needed kick
8th: (1) Sound True—took economic trip near rear, switched to outside for clear path, improved position
9th: (2) White Fugue—raced in 4th, sustained bid, but weakened in final strides
10th: (7) Brightline—saved ground towards rear, passed tired rivals in last furlong
11th: (14) King’s Guard—ran outside winner, turned wide, quickened in last 100m
12th: (6) Moanin—traveled in mid-group, failed to respond at stretch
13th: (16) Incantation—set pace from widest stall, sustained bid until 300m out, outrun thereafter
14th: (4) Copano Rickey—chased leaders in 3rd, led briefly at top of stretch, dropped back after 300m out
15th: (5) Asukano Roman—hugged rails in mid-division, unable to reach contention
16th: (8) Denim and Ruby—first outing on dirt race, throughout rear, no factor