BC Classic Spot on Line in Japan's February Stakes

Not so long ago, it would have been unthinkable that any racing jurisdiction could outbid Japan for a top horse. But that's how things shape up for Japan's first grade 1 race of the year—the Feb. 21 February Stakes (G1) on the dirt at Tokyo Racecourse.

Chuwa Wizard, Japan's 2020 dirt champion and winner of last season's Champions Cup (G1), is giving the race a pass in favor of The Saudi Cup one day earlier in Riyadh. The difference? There's just more than $2 million on the line in Tokyo with almost $1 million for the winner. In Riyadh, the stakes are some 10 times higher.

Even without Chuwa Wizard, the 1,600-meters (about one mile) February Stakes has plenty of intrigue and offers a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" berth for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in November at Del Mar.

Two races in January serve as preps for the February—the Negishi Stakes (G3) over the same course at 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) and the Tokai TV Hai Tokai Stakes (G2), which was contested over a sloppy track this year at Chukyo Racecourse.

Auvergne, a 5-year-old son of Smart Falcon, won the Chukyo event for his third straight victory.

"He's had a break at the farm and he's come back refreshed. These past two weeks he's done just enough in training. He's a brave horse who's been more successful with age," assistant trainer Eiko Umeuchi said of Auvergne. "Particularly since last summer it's been noticeable. All in all, with the way he's been running, a grade 1 is certainly within his grasp."

Red le Zele, a 5-year-old by legendary sprinter Lord Kanaloa, took down the Negishi Stakes and has finished first or second in 12 of 15 starts.

Yuga Kawada, booked to ride Red le Zele, said he has "become a lot stronger and has more power now. He's come along well in training, and I think he'll be fine over a mile this time. He won well last time, and I want to get the best out of him this time, too."

Another to watch is Cafe Pharoah, an American Pharoah  colt, who was sixth in the Champions Cup (G1) in his final start of 2020 but otherwise has a strong record. He also has champion jockey Christophe Lemaire aboard for trainer Noriyuki Hori, who said he has made a few equipment changes.

"We can say there's a fresh condition about the horse now," Hori said.

Inti, the 2019 February Stakes winner, has had some difficulty maintaining concentration of late, and jockey Yutaka Take will try to fix that.

"He might be a 7-year-old, but he's still full of himself," trainer Kenji Nonaka said of Inti. "Rather than thinking about the other horses in the race, it's important for him to concentrate on his own performance. He's a horse that needs to get the feel for running the way he can and to keep things going right up to the end of a race. So he's reset again now for what I hope will be a big run this time."

Sixteen are entered for the race which starts on the grass for a few yards before heading down the dirt backstretch, around one sweeping, left-handed turn and through the uphill climb toward the finish.