Salios Wins Asahi Hai Futurity in Stakes-Record Time

Salios, with Ryan Moore in the irons, kicked away from 15 rivals in the stretch to win the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths in stakes-record time Dec. 15, remaining undefeated after three starts.

The Heart's Cry colt got a perfect trip through the 1,600 meters (about one mile) at Hanshin Racecourse. Starting cleanly, Salios raced third or fourth behind the pace made by Bien Fait. Turning into the straight, Moore asked him to pick things up, and the colt responded eagerly.

Leading through the final 100 meters, he wasn't threatened as Taisei Vision rallied to finish second, with Gran Rey third. Salios finished in 1:33.0, three-tenths of a second faster than the time posted by Danon Premium in 2017.

The disappointment in the placings was Red Bel Jour, a Deep Impact colt who finished 10th as the third choice.

Moore said the performance by Salios promises great things for owner Silk Racing and trainer Noriyuki Hori.

"He was a lovely horse," Moore said. "The track ran very fast, but he's a colt that's not short-paced, and he was still very green on the turn, so he should run even faster in the future. He's a big, powerful colt, and when I sat on him, (I got) the impression he's very strong already. But he should improve and be even better as he gets older, being the size he is, and hopefully he'll carry on."

Moore, riding under a short-term license with a brief side trip to Hong Kong a week earlier, scored his eighth grade 1 victory in Japan.

Salios, bred by Northern Racing, entered the race off a victory in the Oct. 5 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup (G3) at Tokyo. Red Bel Jour also won his two previous outings, including the Nov. 9 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes (G2) at Kyoto.

Coming into the race, assistant trainer Kazutomo Mori noted Salios, despite his perfect record, had some hurdles to overcome at Hanshin.

"He does have to transport over to Hanshin, handle the right-handed track, and also run in a race with a lot of runners," Mori said. "But I think he is a good enough horse to take in all of these things. He seems very talented for a 2-year-old."

The Futurity, along with the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) Hopeful Stakes (G1) Dec. 28 at Nakayama, helps establish early favorites for the following year's Japanese Triple Crown.