Japan Road: Fifteen entered in Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo

Five contenders are coming off victories in newcomers’ races, led by Consigliere. From the first crop of U.S. champion sprinter Drefong, Consigliere was so far in front in his Aug. 22 unveiling at Niigata that his margin of victory is simply listed as a distance. Others successful in their lone starts are Sekkachi Cane and Peisha Es, who scored at this track and trip, and Hanshin firsters Marubutsu Pride and Clos de Mesnil. 

Best Regard, the lone two-time winner in the Cattleya, has prospered since switching to dirt. Seventh on the Fukushima turf in his debut, he won sprinting at Niigata and handled a step up in both class and distance to upset an Oct. 16 allowance here. 

World Connector picks up the services of jockey Ryan Moore, who is in town for Sunday’s Japan Cup (G1). By freshman sire Connect, the Kazuo Fujisawa trainee was runner-up on debut before breaking his maiden in a dead-heat on the Tokyo turf. 

Barrel Zone, fourth in his mutual debut with World Connector, graduated next time at this course and distance. Cafe Karma likewise sports a maiden win over Tokyo’s metric mile in his second start. Also coming off recent maiden wins are Geraldo Barows (at Hanshin in his third attempt) and Love Pyro (at Fukushima in her fourth try). 

Tokyo maiden scorer Suzuka Kotekitai trailed in the Keio Hai Nisai (G2) on turf last out, but could be happier back on dirt. A similar point applies to El Paso, winner of his sole dirt try at Niigata but unplaced in his other two on turf. Copano Nicholson and Line of Soul were fourth and seventh, respectively, when they advanced to allowance company at Hanshin in their latest.

The Cattleya Stakes is the 9TH race at Tokyo on Saturday, with a 2:15 p.m. local post time (12:15 a.m. Friday night ET).