Consigliere took the lead at the top of the Tokyo Racecourse stretch at Cattleya Stakes on November 27 and staunchly won by neck in the first leg of the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.”
The foal, from the first crop of the Kentucky stallion Drefong , became a favorite after an easy win on his first outing. He was sent home by late long shots Café Karma and Geraldo Barows, selected by Henny Hughes and The sinister minister , corresponding.
Consigliere, among spanish dance mare Tasha’s Star , the race in the colors of Kazumi Yoshida and bred by his Northern Farm. Japan’s top racer, Christophe Lemaire, has added extra traction at the betting windows.
Never far from the 1,600-meter (about a mile) Cattleya controversy, Lemaire produced the Consigliere outside of the original leaders just inside the 400-meter marker. He led the day and although top rivals were dominating, Consigliere still had enough of a chance to go home first.
Consigliere earned 10 points on the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” leaderboard. Café Karma and Geraldo Barows received four and two points, respectively. Connect the world, One Link pony, rode by Ryan Moore, finished fourth and got one point.
The four-race streak moved to Kawasaki Racecourse on December 14 for Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, where the score was doubled. Hyacinth bets on February 7 at Tokyo Racecourse offer 30, 12, six and three points. The final was the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama, where the stakes increased again to 40, 16, eight and four points.
It remains to be seen whether the dominance of American mares in Cattleya reflects the renewed interest among Japanese riders in American Triple Crown races. The previous runs of the series did not have a significant impact on Run for the Roses.
Consiglieri’s son, Drefong, is a successful sprinter. Trained by Bob Baffert for Baoma Group, Drefong has had nine starts, posting six wins including Ketel One King (G1) Bishop Shares at Racecourse Saratoga and TwinSpires Breeders ‘Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita . Park in 2016. He won the Forego Stakes (G1) in Saratoga the following year.
Drefong stands at Shadai Stallion Station, owned by the Yoshida brothers.
Café Karma enthusiast Henny Hughes also won the King’s Bishop award in 2006. The career of Minister Sinister, also under Baffert, culminated with a 2006 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) victory at the Keeneland. He finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and were undefeated in the next seven starts, finishing eighth in the Longacres Mile (G3) at Emerald Downs.
Lani won the Cattleya in 2015, then finished third at the 2016 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) after overwhelming efforts in the first two stages of the American Triple Crown.
Master Fencer placed fourth in the series and accepted an invitation to the 2019 Kentucky Derby as the top three point earners all fell. NS Just a road colt ranked seventh, ranked sixth after being eliminated by Maximum Security. Master Fence then placed fifth in Belmont.
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