White Filly Sodashi Tests Dirt in Japan's Champions Cup

Sodashi, the pure white filly who has captured the hearts of Japanese fans, embarks on a new adventure Dec. 5 on the Chukyo Racecourse dirt track with the rest of the racing world hoping the result will be key to an international campaign.

The 3-year-old Kurofune  filly has won six of her eight starts with two of those wins in Grade 1 events. The Champions Cup (G1), formerly the Japan Cup Dirt, will be her first foray onto the brown track and it's hard to miss the fact it comes just two months before the world's richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), which also is contested on the dirt at the same 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

It's even harder to miss the connection since, for the second year, the winner of the Champions Cup, 1,800 meters gets an automatic entry into the Saudi Cup.

There are no commitments going in. And, realistically, Sodashi could use a bit of improvement on her recent form when she lines up against 15 rivals at Chukyo. After winning her first five starts, she has been defeated rather soundly in two of her last three outings.

Still, the prospect of the strikingly colored and hugely popular Kurofune filly hitting the international circuit is too tempting to ignore.

"Sodashi is obviously a very special and striking mare who has captured the hearts of Japanese and global racing fans and it would great to see her in action in Saudi Arabia," said Tom Ryan, director of strategy and international racing for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. "It will be interesting to see how she takes to the dirt this weekend. 

"Japanese runners have been particularly successful so far in the Saudi Derby and the Riyadh Dirt Sprint and we hope that success in The Saudi Cup itself will follow very soon," Ryan added.

First things first.

Sodashi will have to show she can handle world-class competition on the dirt. And while the Champions Cup field isn't Saudi Cup quality from top to bottom, it does include last year's winner, Chuwa Wizard , a son of King Kamehameha . He went on from this race to finish ninth in the Saudi Cup and then was second in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) on the Meydan dirt oval.

Café Pharoah, a 4-year-old American Pharoah   colt who won the February Stakes (G1) on the Tokyo Racecourse dirt early this year, also is contesting the Champions Cup. He has the "turf-to-dirt" angle after finishing ninth in his most recent effort and first try on the grass.

Sodashi's sire, Kurofune (French Deputy) , won the 2001 Japan Cup Dirt by seven lengths and trainer Naosuke Sugai said he thinks Sodashi, who races for her breeder, Kaneko Makoto Holdings, should be able to handle the surface switch.

"On her breeding, dirt races should be fine, and with the weight of 54 kilos (about 119 pounds) she'll carry here against the older horses, she must have a good chance," he said. "Her hindquarters have rounded out more, and it looks as if she'll be suited to racing on dirt."

Before the barrier draw, jockey Hayato Yoshida said he had "thought about how she might run on dirt since her debut ... I need to think about things once I know the draw, and also to keep her relaxed before the race."

The racing gods immediately threw Yoshido a curveball as Sodashi drew the inside stall. A good start from there would seem essential with Chuwa Wizard drawn No. 13 and Café Pharoah in the outside gate.

Chuwa Wizard's trainer, Ryuji Okubo, indicated the draw could improve his horse's chances of a repeat win. Noriyki Hori, who handles Café Pharoah, sounded a less positive note.

"Like last year, I hope he can get a good position and use his power at the finish," Okubo said of Chuwa Wizard. "An average to fast pace would suit."

Hori said of Café Pharoah, "As a horse with speed, he should respond well to the sharp turns at Chukyo, and the blinkers should help. But over the 1,800 meters and running with the blinkers, he might just pull a bit."

The Champions Cup starts in front of the Chukyo grandstand and runs left-handed around two turns before finishing back in front of the fans.