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Second favorite Moanin claimed the season’s first JRA-G1 competition in a record time of 1:34.0 over a course rated muddy against a field of renowned dirt specialists.
In his seventh race and in 282 days since his debut last May, the four-year-old chestnut has now become the fastest to claim a dirt JRA-G1 title in history. After registering four consecutive wins from the beginning of his career, Moanin turned in a close third, 0.3 seconds from winner Nonkono Yume in the Musashino Stakes (G3) last November and had just captured his first graded title in the Negishi Stakes (G3) last month. Since his success with Gentildonna in the 2014 Arima Kinen, trainer Sei Ishizaka celebrates his 13th JRA-G1 triumph and second February Stakes win since claiming it with Vermilion in 2008. For jockey Mirco Demuro this is his 15th G1 win, his most previous with Leontes in last year’s Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, and boasts a consecutive dirt JRA-G1 win, the first in the 2015 Champions Cup with Sambista.
After the field broke smoothly at the top of the backstretch, Moanin, making his dash from stall 14, edged up to settle wide but close to the front runners Corin Berry, Susan Joy, Monde Classe and Tagano Tonnerre and sustained his fourth to fifth stalking position rounding the final turn. Although briefly checked at the top of the stretch to find a clear path, the four-year-old chestnut unleashed an explosive kick, tagging the tiring leaders just before the furlong pole and drew away convincingly to a 1-1/4 length victory.
“I was aware of his strength and had every confidence in him so I`m truly happy we were able to win. The trainer warned me of his bad breaks, but he actually made a good spurt and after we were positioned well, I knew the title was ours. I’m glad that he stretched well in spite of losing concentration a bit after taking the lead rather early in the straight,” said Mirco Demuro in Japanese.
Race-favorite Nonkono Yume was unhurried earlier in the race sitting in fourth from the rear up to the top of the stretch, however demonstrated the fastest last three-furlong speed catching all but the winner for the runner-up seat.
Sent off seventh favored, Asukano Roman took a wide-trip in mid-division and after entering the lane near the rear, the five-year-old displayed a good and persistent stretch-run putting away all competition besides the winner only to be overtaken by the runner-up in the last strides for a head-third.
Defending champion Copano Rickey settled on the rails in mid-field and although stubbornly held on well in the stretch, succumbed to the intimidating speed of the winners to finish seventh.